Building Community and Engagement among Public Gardens through Regional Intern Field Days and Service Learning Projects

Internships in a public garden allow the unique opportunity for our future leaders to learn in an immersive environment while gaining hands-on practical work experience. Many institutions compliment learning outcomes through field trips, lectures, workshops, projects, or classes.  The Philadelphia region has been designated as America’s Garden Capital, with over thirty gardens within thirty miles. Gardens of this region have transformed their respective interns’ experience by partnering together and with community organizations to offer an innovative day-long collaborative intern experience. For many years the gardens of the Philadelphia region have gathered to host interns from as many as 15 institutions for a picnic and most recently, a community outreach project. This program has proven successful in building relationships across interns from regional gardens, celebrating the public horticulture profession and creating awareness of the importance of public gardens in our communities.