Youth Forest Council

Are you inspired by young environmental activists?

Do you feel called to make a difference in your own community?

The City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council is an immersive, yearlong paid internship connecting young people (ages 16-19) in Austin to careers in natural resources and public service. Youth Forest Council members work with Urban Forest Program professionals to support community activities and develop their own connection to Austin’s natural spaces.

Members have the opportunity to:

Plan community events and festivals
Design educational materials to be shared with Austinites
Represent the Urban Forest Program in their own neighborhoods
Gain valuable, firsthand knowledge about green careers

Members in the Youth Forest Council will earn up to $15 per hour.

Who is a good fit for the Youth Forest Council?

The Youth Forest Council provides an opportunity for young people to use their unique skills and talents to support our urban forest. While the main focus of the Youth Forest Council is forestry and environmental stewardship, we encourage young people with interests in arts, community organizing, business and more to apply.

An ideal Youth Forest Council member will be:

Curious about our natural world and interested in exploring careers related to it
Passionate about getting involved in their community
Able to attend one full council meeting each month (meetings will be held at locations throughout Austin; transportation assistance may be available)
Able to work about 10 hours per month for a full year (January – December 2020)

There are no academic requirements for participation in the Youth Forest Council.

The Urban Forest Program seeks to enhance Austin’s quality of life by fostering a healthy urban forest for all. We encourage all young people to apply.