Refugia is an ecological landscape design/build and stewardship firm, with

our design office and greenhouse facility located in Narberth, PA. Since 2015, Refugia has been offering distinctive native landscape design for both residential and commercial green spaces throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area and Jersey Shore. Annual major exhibitor and award-winners at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show, Refugia is known for an immersive, naturalistic design aesthetic and meadow expertise at projects ranging in size from city yards to suburban estates.

Refugia’s ground-breaking ecological initiatives include mapping the impact of 200+ suburban native habitats via our Greenway Network to promote connectivity for wildlife and restore ecosystem function to neighborhoods. Accolades include APLD International Landscape Design Awards, Perennial Plant Association Residential & Show Garden Awards, PA-DE ASLA Residential Award, Go for the Green Award for Green Design & Development:

Meadow Conversion 2021 & Commercial Site Greening 2017 as recognized by Lower Merion Township

Environmental Advisory Council (EAC). Also, the Governor’s Trophy for most innovative, visually stimulating, unique design (PHS Flower Show 2022), American Horticultural Society Environmental Award, PHS Educational Award & PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award, Special Achievement Award of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania.

Consciously led, and locally grown, Refugia offers an exciting opportunity for individuals committed to a career in ecological landscape design, conservation and stewardship.

Summer Internship 2024 – Field Focus

Refugia’s three month summer internship is a unique opportunity for those seeking to immerse themselves in real-world landscape design and stewardship with an award-winning, mission-driven firm. During this internship, candidates will experience multiple facets of ecological design-build, its methodology and best practices. This is a field focused internship with regular opportunities to shadow the Design, Analysis, Nursery and Install teams. Plus involvement in company-wide field trips and educational team-building events.

• Daily integration with Refugia’s Land Stewardship team on general landscape management at a diversity of properties ranging from small city yards to larger estates. Hands-on tasks to include cues of care and ecological driven stewardship practices, meadow establishment/remediation, invasive plant id/management.
• Weekly rotation through Design, Site Analysis, Nursery & Install teams to experience the various ways in which a project moves through design-build. Opportunities will include shadowing the Design team at various phases of the design process including plant layout; assisting Site Analyst with drone flyover and data collection; assisting Nursery team with plant production tasks; assisting the Install team with site prep and planting.

Objectives

Provide experience and opportunities to learn about the landscape design-build business at all stages

Deepen knowledge of native plants, habitats and their requirements in the mid-atlantic region with immersive application in-the-field

Hands-on teaching that imparts keen practical knowledge and horticulture skills, with a focus on residential design-stewardship

Grow and develop in a supportive, collaborative environment with real world experience and problem solving

Offer mentorship and networking opportunities within a fast-growing, innovative ecological design-build firm

Requirements

• Current or recent BLA, BSLA, MLA, BS, BHort, MHort
• Academic background in forestry, ecology, arboriculture related field
• Must be physically comfortable heavy lifting and working in all weather
• Eagerness to learn about native plants and ecosystems
• A proficiency with plants and gardening tasks
• Drawing skills and familiarity with design software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar) a plus
• General hours 6:30-2:30pm Monday through Friday (in field)
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team ● Punctual, organized, motivated and diligent ● Car preferred for commute to Narberth facility.
• Must be available for 3 months during May – August
• Must have own housing within commuting distance

Compensation

Hourly compensation $16 for a 40 hour work week. Internship duration is three months with flexibility on start/end dates within May-August. Housing not included. Interns should be located within commuting distance of our Narberth PA facility, nearest public transportation located in downtown Narberth.

Application via email to admin@refugiadesign.com with the subject heading ‘intern2024’ including:

• Resume
• Contact details for 3 references
• Cover letter expressing your experience, what skills you can offer us and your interest in the work of Refugia. Also include what you hope to gain from this internship and the dates you are available.

Application deadline January 31st 2024.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences.