Who We Are
Just down the road from the Forty Acres, you’ll find the university’s world-renowned botanic garden, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. As part of Longhorn Nation, we are committed to changing the world, one native plant at a time. Last year, we welcomed over 244,000 guests to our gardens and connected with more than 2.4 million people online through our popular native plant database. Among our gardens and landscapes, you’ll discover nearly 900 species of Texas native plants, from iconic bluebonnets to rare West Texas oak trees. Through environmental education and interdisciplinary research, we are committed to cultivating an appreciation for Texas landscapes and supporting the next generation of conservationists.
Why We’re Fundraising
Undergraduate Internships
The Wildflower Center offers internships to qualified undergraduate students in the areas of education, science and conservation, horticulture, communications, operations and finance. Spanning 284 acres of gardens, woodlands, and savanna meadows, the Center is a stimulating teaching and learning center that nurtures experiential education. Student interns gain real-world, hands-on experience as they work side-by-side with Center staff and visiting experts. Internships take place during the fall, spring and summer school terms.
To overcome financial barriers in pursuing internship experiences, we will offer a competitive stipend of $4,000 per student each school term.
Please help us raise $16,000 to support four undergraduate student internship experiences in any of these areas:
Education
Education interns will have opportunities to develop interpretive materials, plan experiential lessons, and interact with guests of all ages during educational exhibitions and programs.
Science and Conservation
Science and Conservation interns will have opportunities to work as part of a research team on real-world projects. By conducting fieldwork in the gardens and natural areas that serve as our laboratory, interns will gain experience studying pollinators, identifying prairie plants and more.
Horticulture
Horticulture interns will have opportunities to apply classroom knowledge and skills in a working botanic garden. Interns will gain experience in propagation, weeding, planting, watering, pruning, grooming, preparing beds, mulching and labeling species by assisting staff horticulturists in the gardens, nurseries and greenhouses.
Communications
Communications interns will have opportunities to assist the Center’s Marketing and Communications staff with public relations, marketing and social media efforts. Interns will hone their writing skills and gain experience in a wide range of communications strategies.
Operations
Operations interns will have opportunities to develop professional skills beneficial to careers in museums. Interns will play a key role in organizing and preserving the Center’s robust collection of art and artifacts.
Finance
Finance interns will have opportunities to assist staff with various office duties, including data entry, filing (electronic included), data validation, and the development and testing of standard operating procedures. Through ad-hoc reporting and dashboard creation, interns will grow and apply their financial and business analysis skills.
Your Impact
Supporting the Wildflower Center today helps cultivate a much needed new generation of environmentalists. With your gift, the Wildflower Center will:
- Provide real-world experience to undergraduates via paid internships, eliminating financial barriers for students in need of paid employment.
- Introduce undergraduates to careers and foster job skills in the fields of education, natural sciences, research, communications, operations and finance.
- Provide a community that nurtures experiential education, resulting in increased self-confidence and leadership skills.
“Interning at the Wildflower Center and working with Texas native plants and their pollinators was very rewarding. Interactions between plants and pollinators are a really important part of the ecosystem that I hope to explore further, along with the impact of land restoration on creating sustainable landscapes.” Allison Morales, 2022 Wildflower Center Summer Intern
“The most rewarding part about working at the Wildflower Center is the potential for my research to inspire future research and improved land management/restoration techniques. Knowing that my efforts contribute to a more holistic understanding of the land is exceedingly gratifying. This experience has provided me with the opportunity to explore interests outside of my core studies in an immersive environment, broadening my scope of knowledge for graduate school and beyond.” Jacob Kruel, 2022 Wildflower Center Summer Intern
“Thank you for all your help this summer and for securing the scholarships for us. You always made me feel my presence and my work were valued and I appreciate that more than I can express.” Zane Ortega, 2021 Wildflower Center Summer Intern
“I just wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to intern at the Wildflower Center this summer. I am leaving not only with more experience and knowledge, but a better person... You truly showed how much you cared about my experience here with regards to my education, but also my well-being.” Faith Golz, 2021 Wildflower Center Summer Intern
Thank you for your support!
