Beltline Collections Fellow

Employment Type: Fellowship (Internship)
Employment Classification: Independent Contractor
Supervisor: Beltline Arboretum Senior Manager
Apply By: March 14, 2025
Anticipated Start Date: June 2, 2025
End Date: August 23, 2025
Salary: $15.50/hr

Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized non-profit citizens' group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating. Founded in 1985, Trees Atlanta works tirelessly to address Atlanta’s tree loss, protect its forests, and create new greenspace. Empowered by its wonderful community of volunteers, Trees Atlanta serves the metro Atlanta area, and has grown to become one of Atlanta’s most widely known and supported non-profit organizations.

About Trees Atlanta and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum: The living collections within the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum are managed by Trees Atlanta. The Arboretum is a dynamic urban collection of cultivated tree and woody plant species, along with native grasses and wildflowers that showcases sustainable landscape management and the restoration of urban ecosystems. It is at once an urban forest, an ecological connector, a corridor for education and scientific research, and a collection of public spaces.

Job Description

The Trees Atlanta Arboretum Collections Fellow will assist Trees Atlanta with the completion of tagging and labeling trees and shrubs in the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum. The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Beltline Arboretum staff of Trees Atlanta and will lead plant inventory and data collection projects with the help of Trees Atlanta staff and/or volunteers. This role requires field work (outdoors) and data management (indoors). Requires ability to be onsite regularly at the Kendeda TreeHouse (825 Warner Street SW, Suite A, Atlanta GA 30310) and various locations of the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum.

The main responsibilities of this position include:

• Utilize GIS mapping software to enter plant records data
• Develop and assign accession numbers to recently planted trees and shrubs
• Install tree identification granite markers and plant accession tags.
• Update Beltline Arboretum Collections Report for submission to ArbNet
• Produce a summary of internship accomplishments.

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Produce a plant records accession report and other reports, as directed.
• Assist with development and design of arboretum educational and interpretative permanent signage.
• Provide information on Arboretum plant collections for Trees Atlanta staff, partners, and the public in the form of plant lists and maps for the production of reports, brochures, interpretative materials, guides, press releases, etc.
• On occasion, assist Beltline Arboretum staff with planting and weeding projects.
• Participate in and conduct arboretum educational programs/workshops, as assigned.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in (or a graduate of) a certificate/trade or degree program (preferred in landscape architecture, horticulture, ecology, natural resources, or forestry) or currently enrolled in a related field and can demonstrate a strong interest in leadership within a public horticulture setting.
• High level of competency in data management and reporting software, including Excel, Word, and Google tools. Competency in other related tools and software, such as ArcGIS, is a plus and should be demonstrated in your cover letter or resume.
• Must be physically capable of using, carrying or moving equipment and heavy objects (up to 50 pounds) necessary for the physical labeling of plants in the Arboretum. Ability to walk distances of up to 5 miles paved or unpaved terrain is required.
• Must have access to reliable transportation capable of moving tools to various locations, as needed, as well as to conduct field work at various locations of the Arboretum.

This is a 12-week long (480 hours), paid internship. Stipend and schedule commensurate with successful candidate’s experience and availability.

To Apply

Please apply online at treesatlanta.org. In your cover letter, please indicate dates or schedule of availability. (Estimated date ranges are acceptable; exact start and end of the internship and schedule is flexible and will be determined upon selection of the candidate.)