Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Discovery ProgramKerri Colbert

About MeSenior in Crop ScienceBrook Park, Ohio – outside ClevelandA.S. Horticultural SciencePlan to earn my Master’s in Extension

Education or Horticultural Therapy

Internship GoalsShort Term

To gain knowledge and experience in public garden education departments

Long TermWork in Education and Community Outreach

department at a public garden or environmental center

Become a registered Horticultural Therapist

Phipps Conservatory &Botanical Gardens

One Schenley Park Dr.,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

Public Victorian Glasshouse and gardensNon-ProfitHenry Phipps189273,000 guests a year“Green Heart of Pittsburgh”

Application ProcessHireABuckeye – HR, Linda HolsingJune 15 – Sept 17Relocated to Pittsburgh

$8/hr wage$500/month rent

Discovery Program at the Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

Part of the Education Department. The goal of the Discovery Program is to

provide informal, fun and interactive educational experiences that teach about plants and the environment.

Daily ResponsibilitiesSet up Discovery tablesAttend morning staff meetingGreeting Discovery volunteers as they arriveMake rounds throughout the ConservatoryBreaking down stations at the end of the dayWork on projects

Pot-A-Plant

Children are welcome to pot a

plant to take home with

assistance by volunteers

Discovery Garden

A kid-friendly garden with

sensory plants, a stream, maze,

tree house, and more! Kids are

excepted to explore and “discover”

nature.

Discovery Garden

A kid-friendly garden with

sensory plants, a stream, maze,

tree house, and more! Kids are

excepted to explore and “discover”

nature.

Major ProjectsCreate/Plan Discovery Garden Day Create programs for Discovery Garden’s

Edible GardenCreate Drop In ProgramsCheck and feed worms weekly Create a new story time schedule for 2010. Fix discovery library- stickers, alphabetize etc

Join Phipps as it celebrates our annual anniversary party of the Discovery Garden. Pittsburgh’s own Rachel Carson provides the inspiration for this year’s event – No matter your age, always have a sense of wonder about the natural world!

Make your own Rain Stick!The rain stick was created by native peoples from various cultures.  Some cultures used rain sticks during droughts as a gift to the skies. In return, the skies would bring rain to help grow food.

Some native people in the rainforests, made rain sticks to carry seeds and precious items from one

place to another as they traveled.

Where does food come

from?

All Food Starts From The Soil!

There are many different placeswhere we get food.

marketshome gardens

shops supermarkets

Plant a garden at home

Buy from a farmers’ market

Buy from a local farm

Become a member of a co-op or CSA

Eat foods labeled “organic” or “local”

Great Ways to Eat Fresh Foods

Learned about ProgrammingInteresting TopicLesson planInformational SignageProps (plants, toys, books)Activity/craft

Learned about ProgrammingStory TimeDiscovery TablesDrop InsWeekend Public Program

Skills DevelopedCommunication skills

Conversing with diverse populations, especially families

Dealing with authority and constructive criticism

Programming skillsLesson PlansOrganizationGuest-oriented

Routine

Useful prior knowledge Horticulture knowledgePrevious customer /guest servicesLeadership Course

Could have used…

Agricultural Education coursesKnowledge of Early Childhood Education

Value of Internship7/10 rating – recommend for other studentsExperiences not offered in classLow risk means of career explorationBasic knowledgeNeed to be more conscious of chain of

commandAsk more questionsPay attention better

Questions?