Green Jobs Program

The City of Wilmington’s Green Jobs Program is a 6-week summer employment program that engages the City’s youth by providing green-collar work opportunities. Participants experience hands-on work and classroom environmental education introducing them to environmental issues and careers. By participating in this program, the youth help to transform Wilmington into a greener, cleaner, safer city while experiencing meaningful employment and education opportunities. The program is coordinated by the University of Delaware Water Resources Center and led by the City of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

Activities during the 6-week program include:

• • • • Gardening in community gardens;
      • Removing invasive plant species;
      • Water quality testing;
      • Canoeing;
      • Fishing:
      • Exploring local natural areas and waterways;
      • Exposure to environmental research and academic programs;
      • Learning about environmental careers; and
      • Professional development.

Program Details

• • • • Participants are 14-18 years old.
      • Program schedule is 25 hours/week for 6 weeks.
      • Interns earn minimum wage.
      • Interns are chosen based on application to the City of Wilmington’s Youth Career Development Internship Program and Green Jobs Program interview process.

Program Timeline

• • • • Applications are due to the City of Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation in April.
      • Interviews are conducted in May/June.
      • Internship program begins in late June and ends in early August.

Project Partners

The program is focused on bringing urban youth outside and exposing them to environmental issues and careers. Host organizations work to ensure the interns exit the six-week program with a greater understanding of the local environment, how to improve it, and their individual impacts on it. The program is coordinated by the University of Delaware Water Resources Center and led by the City of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The partner host organizations are critical to the program’s success and since 2011 over 30 organizations have hosted the City of Wilmington Green Jobs Program. Project partners include, but are not limited to:

• • • Brandywine Red Clay Alliance
    • City of Wilmington, Public Works Department
    • Delaware Center for Horticulture
    • Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
    • Delaware Nature Society
    • Delaware Sea Grant
    • Delaware Solid Waste Authority
    • Delaware State University Cooperative Extension
    • Food Bank of Delaware
    • Junior Achievement of Delaware
    • Lincoln University
    • The Nature Conservancy
    • Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
    • Straughan Engineering
    • Stroud Water Research Center
    • University of Delaware Cooperative Extension

How to Apply:
The application process and more information about the City’s Youth Career Development Program can be found on the City’s website here. For questions about the City of Wilmington’s Green Jobs Program contact, Martha Narvaez, mcorrozi@udel.edu.