This summer, Trees New York's Young Urban Forester Summer Internship Program is helping twelve high school students to gain a competitive advantage in green jobs.
Young Urban Foresters Prune Street Tree In Queens New York. (PRNewsFoto/Trees New York)
This paid internship extends for six weeks and exposes students to a myriad of career openings in the environmental sector through extensive classroom studies, practical field work and discussion with professionals and community members.
Lessons on urban forest planning, restoration and conservation help students improve their environmental knowledge and stewardship skills. Topics include plant identification, tree biology, tree maintenance, climate change, storm water runoff, invasive species identification and the urban heat island effect. Students get a license, which certifies them to perform the legal pruning of trees owned by New York City. This official certification inspires the interns and encourages environmental stewardship.
Sunnyside Community Services, a partner of Trees New York, is equipping students to acquire job readiness skills such as job etiquette, interview techniques and resume writing. The 12 interns are acquiring knowledge on the technologies typically utilized in environmental fields where they map and record street trees in Western Queens. Students get the chance of listening to experiences shared by several guest speakers, which include Eric Dalski from Highview Creations, a green roof and vertical garden design-build company.
Students get a chance to visit unique locations across the five boroughs, which include the commercial organic farm called the Brooklyn Grange situated on an adjacent building rooftop of Queens. Students will deliver a presentation on their work to community stakeholders at the end of their internship.