Landscape and Horticulture Internship in Vail, Colorado
Landscape Technology Group is located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. We are a multi-faceted landscape business specializing in Landscape Design, Landscape Construction, Garden and Lawn Management, Irrigation Installation & Administration, and Plant Merchandising at our own Garden Center.
Our interns spend some time in all departments including the office so that they are well-rounded individuals and have a bigger picture of the industry as a whole. As they are spending time in each department we discuss which areas they are most interested in and knowledge they would like to acquire. We are a small to medium-sized company (35-45 employees in the summer), so unlike large companies, we have the flexibility to adjust each internship to the intern based on the skills they bring with them. Rich and Bill, the owners, have had interns for about 20 years and we love our interns! We enjoy the enthusiasm they bring with them to the landscape industry and for the area.
Landscape Technology Group is in the Center of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, more specifically in the Vail Valley and our Garden Center is in Gypsum, Colorado. The Vail Valley is a very active area. We are a ski area in the winter and great hiking, mountain biking, rafting, golfing, and fishing area in the summer. There are free concerts every week throughout the valley. And the temperatures are mild and without humidity. You can check us out on Facebook, Houzz and on our website www.LandscapeTechnologyGroup.com. We usually hire 2-3 interns a year.
Sample of Responsibilities: (Dependent on the skillset each Intern brings with them)
- In the Maintenance Department – Interns will be gaining knowledge of horticultural and landscape practices in areas ranging from formal to natural settings. As a team they will participate in all activities needed in a garden for high-end clients such as soil preparation, planting, watering, weeding, fertilizing, mulching and pruning. Along with the safe application of weed sprays, cleaning of work areas and maintaining tools and equipment. They may join our irrigation specialist on his route to learn how to troubleshoot irrigation issues and maintain water features.
- On the Enhancement Crew – Interns may be given responsibility for a specific project or an ongoing task. Interns will shadow Manager to client meetings so that they have first-hand knowledge of the client’s desired changes. Document and estimate the changes for the client and then help prepare a crew to implement those changes. Interns may spend a day or more on one property planting annuals and perennials, shrubs, or trees. Helping install edging, or rock work or adapting irrigation to the new design.
- With the Construction Department – Interns that have strong computer experience may help create a design in AutoCAD or create a 3-D conceptual design to help clients visualize what their landscape plan will look like after the construction. They will collaborate on presentation estimates and construction documents. Interns will work on the job site taking measurements and shooting grades. They may do plant layouts one day at one site and then help with irrigation installation the next day on a different site. If they have prior landscape construction experience, they will assist the project manager, projecting workflow, scheduling subcontractors and ordering products.
Every Intern will spend time in our Garden Center as well. Here they will show off their Horticulture knowledge to our clients and improve their plant ID knowledge. We ask that they share their knowledge so that every client that leaves with a plant also leaves with information to help the plant maximize its potential. The Garden Center is open seven days a week so some weekend work will be required.
The interns will also have a rotation in the office so that they get a feel for the industry as a business. They may help process a payroll, enter bills for irrigation parts, or help invoice a client. This way they see that the boulder they helped place last week is on this week’s invoice along with the hours they put into it, hopefully reinforcing the need for accuracy and efficiency on any job site.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual how loves plants and plant care and is passionate about our mountain environment. Much of the work involves a substation amount of physical activity in all kinds of weather: lifting, carrying, crouching, pushing, pulling and working dexterously with both hands and arms. The workweek will be 40+ hours with fluctuating weekends or weekdays off. Teamwork is essential so good written and communication skills are required. An ability to be flexible and respond to changes that arise as we work in a fast-paced environment and want to give the intern different opportunities while they are will us.
Landscape Technology Group’s Internship is a great way to step into the professional world of Landscape and Horticulture. You will receive on-the-job training that will boost your skillset and increase your technical knowledge with individual and teamwork participation.
Come collaborate with us in Colorado!