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Meet International Gardener Trainee, Won Soon Park

For the past year Won Soon Park, an International Gardener Trainee, has called Longwood Gardens home. And Kennett Square, PA is a long way away from his home country of South Korea.

Of how Park learned about Longwood Gardens’ International Gardener Training Program he says, “When I was working at Yeomiji Botanical Garden in Korea last year, I knew I really wanted to pursue an internship opportunity in a foreign country, and after a lot of research on the web, I discovered Longwood Gardens.”

Park has had such an inspiring experience that he applied and was accepted into the Longwood Gardens Graduate Program at the University of Delaware where he begins his studies in September 2011.

“I’m so excited to get another opportunity with Longwood Gardens. The International Gardener Training Program taught me that a career in public horticulture is what I want to do with the rest of my life. By starting the graduate program in the fall I am most looking forward to focusing more deeply on leadership skills, networking opportunities, and my own thesis in public horticulture,” says Park.

Additionally, Park’s other long-term goals include becoming a curator of botanical gardens.
“Eventually, I would like to conduct plant conservation projects as well as plant exchanges between gardens in Korea and the United States,” says Park.

Park is dedicated to immersing himself completely in the world of horticulture right now, and is soaking up every opportunity he can find. “Right now my wife and daughter are waiting for me where I live in Jeju Island. Even though it is so difficult to be so far away from them, I know my opportunities and my education through Longwood Gardens is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Park.

Before coming to Longwood Gardens, Park graduated from the Seoul National University with a degree in Horticultural Science. After graduation, Park’s first job was as a book editor.

“After six years in the publishing industry I decided to change careers and follow my true passion of horticulture, and began working at one of the biggest gardens in Korea, Yeomiji Botanical Garden,” says Park.

Even though his internship doesn’t end until the end of this month, Park says his favorite experience thus far has been working with Longwood’s water-platters.

“One of my most memorable experiences has been working with Tim Jennings, the head water-platter gardener. I had grown water-platters for years at my botanical garden, and I was able to answer so many questions I had about growing them by working onsite at Longwood,” says Park.

Wherever his future takes him, Park says Longwood Gardens will always have a special place in his memory for giving him an inspiring and strong foundation in public horticulture.

Learning at Longwood this Summer: Register today!

School is almost out for the summer, and Longwood is ready for summer break adventures and programs that feature exercise, exploration, garden writing, and teacher training.

School and Youth Programs Coordinator Kate Trzaskos created new summer activities that are now accepting registrations for kids and teachers.

“Our summer programs are unique because of the unparalleled setting of Longwood Gardens—most camps happen inside a gym or on a school playground, and I think we can engage and excite kids even further by immersing them in the heart of our Gardens,” says Trzaskos.

Make it your best summer yet! Be sure to check out all of our summer programs by clicking here.

What's NEW this summer?

Eco-Journalist, a camp for tweens!
In this new camp, young writers and creative thinkers will explore different areas of the Gardens and meet with our experts to learn about the environment.

“We developed this new camp to engage tweens by using social media, digital photography, and modern technology to spark awareness about environmental issues that are going on in their own backyards. The program provides a way to give students a voice, develop writing skills, and teaches ways to communicate stories digitally,” says Trzaskos.

Campers will explore Longwood’s different ecosystems while journaling the wonders of nature through digital photography. They will complete their own digital story and various other garden-based projects in this one week camp.

Program details
Ages: 11-14
Dates: July 25–29
Time: 9 am-1 pm
Cost: $200 / $180 Garden Pass Members
Registration deadline July 15, 2011
To register, please call 610-388-5210

Continuing Professional Development for Teachers: National Teacher Institute for Garden-based Learning

Discover Learning at Longwood Gardens. In partnership with The National Gardening Association, a variety of professional development opportunities are offered to integrate classroom content and the garden through a combination of tours, lectures, and hands-on activities.

“The goal for these professional development classes for teachers and educators is to inspire and educate on the importance of authentic learning experiences that happen when you create and nurture a school garden,” says Trzaskos. “At Longwood Gardens, we want to influence school learning by inspiring a new generation of students that value plants and stewardship of the environment. And that all starts with inspiring and educating teachers.” 

School Gardening 101
This workshop is designed to introduce teachers to the benefits of schoolyard garden programs that incorporate direct links to classroom curriculum. Click here to learn more and to register.
Dates: July 11-12
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $90/100 member/nonmember

School Gardening 102
Building on the information presented in the workshop ‘School Gardening 101,’ this workshop will dig more deeply into the principals of designing and implementation of schoolyard gardens. Workshop activities will include presentations on garden budgets and funding sources, visits to area school gardens, hands-on activities, and collaborative working sessions focusing on design, installation, and maintaining a sustainable schoolyard. Click here to learn more and to register.
Dates: July 13-14
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $90/100 member/nonmember

Introduction to Digital Storytelling
This workshop is designed to introduce educators to digital storytelling technology and its applications for classroom use. Participants will learn practical tips about basic digital photography, how to manipulate images, and add narration and music to complete a digital story project that can be shared with others. Click here to learn more and to register.
Date: July 8
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm 
Cost: $54/60 member/nonmember

Introduction to Digital Storytelling II
This workshop is designed to build on the concepts and skills developed in the Introduction to Digital Storytelling course, while focusing on how to implement this technology in their classrooms. Participants will explore examples of various ways educators use digital storytelling and learn how to gather raw media that can be adapted to a variety of uses. Click here to learn more and to register.
Date: July 15
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm 
Cost: $54/60 member/nonmember

For larger camp groups
Additionally, Longwood offers hands-on 90-minute lessons for summer camp groups! Click here to learn more and to make a reservation for your campers today.