City Trees

The Trees New York Young Urban Forester Internship for high schoolers in NYC is a model for nonprofits in other parts of the world. Program coordinator Ashleigh Pettus describes it here. AP: Trees New York's Young Urban Forester Internship is a seven-week, 175-hour urban and community forestry paid experience. The goal of the annual summer program is to intro- duce up to 16 high school juniors and seniors from low-income households in New York City to careers in the fast-growing field of environmental science and in urban forestry specifically. 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. They also make long-lasting friendships! The comprehensive curriculum includes urban forest conserva- tion, restoration and planning, air and water quality, invasive species, introduction to GIS and map making, soil science and tree care, biology, 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 essay. As part of the internship, students research an environmental topic of their choosing and present their findings. Some of the recent topics interns investigated: The presentation prepares students for college level research and the lessons on public speaking help them both profession- ally and academically. We partner with other programs; for instance, this summer we worked with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy Youth Green Team. Gowanus Green Team is a summer job training program for high school students focused on environmental issues in the Gowanus Watershed. That day we teamed up to learn about the Gowanus Watershed and had a work day in their plant nursery. The Young Urban Forester Interns become Citizen Pruners, another program of Trees New York. They are trained, take the test, and receive a license. Until they're 18, they can only prune with someone who is 18 years or older. Once they turn 18, they can prune on their own. We spent much of this year's internship in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, pruning trees and doing other forms of tree stewardship. At the end of the program we make sure to keep in contact with the interns, providing extra opportunities to work with Trees New York throughout the year. I strive to hire an intern from the previous year to be the next year's Team Lead. They already know the ropes and it's nice for new interns to have a younger person to talk with if they don't feel comfortable talking to an older supervisor. NYC Economy and the Environment Green Infrastructure of NYC Water Pollution in NYC Urban Farming in NYC Invasive Species in NYC Air Pollution in NYC Newtown Creek – Superfund Sites By Ashleigh Pettus Trees New York's Operations Manager and the Environmental Educator for their Young Urban Forester Internship Some of the 2017 Young Urban Forester Interns, with Ashleigh Pettus at far left. An Urban Forestry Internship … for High Schoolers An Urban Forestry Internship … for High Schoolers www.urban-forestry.com 7

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