Sunnylands hiring college students as tour guides for 2026-27 season
RANCHO MIRAGE – Sunnylands is recruiting college students for its new class of guides for the 2026-27 season.
The Sunnylands tour guide internship program offers competitive pay and internship credit opportunities from participating colleges, universities, and majors. It is also designed to help students prepare for their future careers through professional development, individual assessments, and the exploration of “soft skills” to develop strengths as a team member and future leader.
The new interns will undergo training from the end of July through August this year. Their main responsibility will be to serve as Sunnylands guides from September through early June 2027. They will also staff Sunnylands convenings and have opportunities to work in other departments when Sunnylands is closed during the summer. Students may work as guides for a maximum of three seasons and take part in advanced skill-building programs each year.
A full description of the Sunnylands guide program, eligibility requirements, and links to an application can be found here: www.sunnylands.org/guide.
Sunnylands is the former winter home of the late philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the couple famously hosted Hollywood celebrities, U.S. presidents, British royalty, and other dignitaries at their 200-acre estate in Rancho Mirage.
Currently, the estate operates as a high-level convening center, drawing experts from various fields to address pressing societal issues. Guests gain access to the estate via Sunnylands Center & Gardens, which features nine acres of desert gardens, an art exhibition, and informational kiosks on Sunnylands and the Annenbergs.
“Tour guides are responsible for advancing the educational mission of The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands by providing a welcoming experience at the Center & Gardens, historic house, and grounds through guided tours,” said Michaeleen Gallagher, director of Sunnylands Center & Gardens. “As a tour guide, students will be able to gain work experience in a beautiful environment that incorporates art, architecture, history, hospitality, golf course operations, and environmental sustainability.”
Sunnylands Center & Garden is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage.
(Note to editors: Click ?this link for images? of Sunnylands guides on the job. Please credit: The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands.)
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The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is a nonprofit operating entity that hosts high-level convenings on serious issues facing the nation and the world. Programs offered through Sunnylands Center & Gardens educate the public about the history of Sunnylands, its architecture, art collections, cultural significance, and sustainable practices.
