The Value of Internship Programs
OneSource Landscape & Golf Services, Inc. Summer Landscape Internship Program at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
OneSource Landscape & Golf Services, Inc. hosted seven bright college interns from across the country and across the ocean this past summer at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida. OneSource has maintained the beautiful landscapes there for a remarkable 26 years. Seasonal interns offer enthusiasm, solid work ethics, and a fresh perspective as well as new ideas. They are excited to be working for OneSource at one of the finest theme parks in Florida with an award winning horticultural team. The intern group we had this summer was among the best we have ever experienced.
Participating interns included Sara Pate from the University of Tennessee, Laura Lanzon, Ondrea Kassarijian, and Kelly Brady from Michigan State, Jody Naegeli and Janelle Werk from North Dakota State and Monica Cassanovas from the University of Barcelona, Spain.
The landscape management team at the 365-acre Busch Gardens has actively recruited and looked to the intern program for new management talent for the past several years. Karen Odden, alumni of the internship from 1998, currently serves as a supervisor at Busch Gardens and as the internship coordinator.
When a supervisory position opened at the park a couple of years ago, we immediately thought of Karen as a potential candidate. The internship is an excellent screening process for future employees. Karen has a strong positive attitude. She is very flexible and finds a way to solve most problems and accomplish her goals. During her internship she volunteered to work landscape construction after the normal internship hours. The work was hard, dirty and the schedule was extremely demanding. Her outstanding performance left a very favorable impression which was remembered by the interviewing staff when it became time to fill the supervisory opening. Karen was already familiar with the project. She hit the ground running and has never slowed down.
New interns normally arrive in May or June and stay until August, although we have had students in the program through October. The program is typically about ten weeks long, but is flexible and can be lengthened to meet the individual needs of the student. We have been so pleased with the quality and caliber of the students participating that we are considering accepting students for a winter session. It is stressed during the interview process that a potential participant can expect an eye opening summer full of hard work, much practical and useful information, and real hands-on experience unavailable in a textbook setting. We have a job to get done and a service to provide. The students receive no favoritism, but blend in as an important part of the permanent team.
In pairs, the group is mingled with the full time employees. Some start out learning irrigation by installing new systems, performing maintenance or repairs. Others work with the annual color crew working with color beds or on containerized materials. Interns have the opportunity to test their creativity combining plant material, colors and textures in hanging baskets, pots and planters. The best are placed on display inside the park. Other parts of the schedule include turf or pest management, arboriculture and general landscape maintenance. The turf quality segment covers turf scouting, pesticide usage and sod installation. Arboriculture covers chainsaw usage and safety, proper pruning techniques and equipment maintenance. Volunteers can tower 40 to 50 feet above the ground in a high reach or put on a safety harness and get a feel for climbing. General landscape maintenance may include small equipment, utility vehicle and tractor operation and safety. We cover the basic essentials of pruning, weeding, watering, raking, mulching, fertilizing and detailing. Time permitting, we include some plant material information and landscape installation. Since the park is also a well-respected zoo, we stress animal safety in regard to plant foraging and pesticide usage. The group gets to mount a feed truck and head out onto the African-themed veldt for a close encounter with the park’s animal inhabitants. The group is also treated to a visit to Busch Gardens’ one hundred-acre zoological breeding and holding facility in neighboring Pasco County. To further diversify the program, students may choose to fulfill their internship requirements at the 30-acre Adventure Island waterpark adjacent to Busch Gardens, where OneSource also maintains the landscapes.
Our client sincerely appreciates the added value brought to Busch Gardens by our interns. The interns are beginning lifelong careers, are keenly interested and willing to learn. While here, they are encouraged to visit other area theme parks and maintenance operations during organized field trips. At the internship’s conclusion, the participants are required to complete a program evaluation. Every student remarked about the quality of their experience and offered that they would recommend the program to future students.
This information is brought to you as an ALCA service by the Education Committee. If you would like additional information on the educational opportunities offered through ALCA, please contact Elise Lindsey, Education Committee Liaison at 800-395-2522 or by e-mail at [email protected].