Located at 8,200′ in the central Rocky Mountains, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens’ internship program provides the next generation of horticulturists, conservation scientists, and educators with the opportunity to build their professional skills through hands-on learning and immersive experiences. Supported by our dedicated garden staff and a passionate community, each internship allows emerging professionals to deepen their understanding of mountain ecosystems, alpine plants, and the operations of a public non-profit botanic garden.
Thanks to the generous support of the Frechette Family Foundation, this program continues to invest in the future of environmental education, horticulture, and conservation. We are excited to introduce this year’s talented summer interns!
Say hello to this summer’s Horticulture and Curatorial Intern, Natalia Garcia! Nat brings both creative design experience and a strong horticultural background to the Gardens. Originally from coastal North Carolina, Nat earned her degree in Horticulture with a concentration in Landscape Design at North Carolina State University. She recently completed a year-long internship at Longwood Gardens focused on display design, and is now excited to dig into the ecology of the Rocky Mountains. Nat is especially eager to expand her knowledge of rock gardening and the care of rare and endemic plant species. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, vinyasa yoga, hiking, and going to concerts with friends.
Meet Jackson Fox, our other 2025 Horticulture Intern! Jackson joins us from Wilmington, Delaware, where he studies Landscape Architecture at the University of Delaware. With three seasons of experience at Longwood Gardens, Jackson brings not only practical horticultural skills but also a deep love for public gardens and plant design. His particular passion is for conifers, making the Rocky Mountain region a dream setting for his summer internship. Jackson is looking forward to learning more about alpine ecosystems and honing his plant care skills in a high-elevation environment.
Joining our team as this summer’s Education Intern is Tori Auger! A Colorado native, Tori grew up in Denver and is currently pursuing a degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources with a minor in Conservation Biology at Colorado State University. Her background includes teaching with the Greenway Foundation and studying interdisciplinary ecology at CSU’s mountain campus. Tori brings a love for wildlife and a passion for environmental education to the Gardens. This summer, she’ll be sharing that enthusiasm at our education table and programming for visitors of all ages. When she’s not working, Tori enjoys wildlife watching, crocheting, and exploring the outdoors with friends.
This is Ellis Addleman, the new Conservation Intern! Ellis grew up just outside of Baltimore, Maryland and recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a major in Ecology and a minor in Geospatial Technologies. She has spent previous summers working on riparian conservation projects in Alaska and as a drone pilot with the UVM Spatial Analysis Lab. Ellis enjoys hiking, baking, camping, and reading in her free time. She is very excited to get into the Alpine this summer!
Diana Gaffner is our first-ever Conservation Apprentice! Diana is from Avon, Colorado, but she is headed off to Tufts University in the fall to begin studying Environmental Studies and Philosophy. In her free time, Diana enjoys hiking, playing music, climbing, and camping. She loves the alpine, and she is excited to spend her summer dedicated to the Colorado flora!
Each of these interns brings unique skills, perspectives, and passions to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Their work this summer will support the mission of the Gardens while helping to preserve the fragile alpine environment for future generations. Be sure to say hello if you see them out in the Gardens!
