Trees New York’s Young Urban Forester Internship is designed to remove the barriers that prevent urban youth from entering environmental careers.
The objective of the internship is to expose interns to a range of environmental career opportunities through education, hands-on stewardship, field trips, and seminars with professionals. Work-based learning in which students learn technical, academic and employability skills are critical for better employment outcomes of young and inexperienced workers.
The interns acquire specific occupational skills and broader employment skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving in a way that is not typically possible in the classroom. The interns make a visible and lasting impact in their communities. On average, the interns care for 600 street trees, transforming their neighborhoods as they develop the skills and commitment necessary to serve as effective stewards of the urban forest long after the program ends.
The comprehensive curriculum includes urban forest conservation, restoration, and planning, air and water quality, invasive species, introduction to GIS and map making, soil science and tree care, biology, tree identification, and pruning.
Interns are encouraged to apply to college, learn how to navigate the application and selection process, and receive assistance with their application essays. As part of the internship, students research an environmental topic of their choosing and present their findings. The presentation prepares students for college-level research and the lessons on public speaking help them both professionally and academically.
Click here and watch the video to learn more about the Young Urban Foresters from the Interns.
“My expectations for this internship were not only met but wildly surpassed! I was introduced to parts of the city that I had never seen or known before while learning about our local ecosystem and its rich
biodiversity. I became part of a community that shares my desire to continuously grow our knowledge base in connection with the pivotal roles ecology and biology play in everyday urban living.”
– Zhoe Emmanuel, Young Urban Forester Intern 2022
Click here and watch the video to learn more about the Young Urban Forester Program in 2022.
“The Young Urban Forester Internship was exactly what I was looking to do over the summer. I wanted to find some way to engage with nature and give back to the community. The program is perfect for that. I love that it is so hands-on, and we get to explore so many amazing greenspaces in New York City. Before the internship, I never thought I would be helping make compost, watering trees, or knowing the difference between an American Linden and a Littleleaf Linden, but that is the cool part. Every time I pass a tree, I think about how the street tree’s environment can improve.”
– Victoria Murphy Young, Urban Forester Intern 2021
Click here and watch the video to learn more about the Young Urban Forester Program in 2021.
If you are interested in becoming an intern for Trees New York’s Young Urban Forester Internship, please click on the following link to fill out the application form:
https://forms.office.com/r/eWAbMXTMRP.