Are you a high school student interested in learning about the environment?

Do you want to earn money and have fun while learning, meeting new people, and challenging yourself?

Then look no further, this is the internship opportunity for YOU!

About the Role:
King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps (kcpyouthcorps.org) is offering 10 - 16 incredible paid student internship opportunities for high school students to gain hands-on experience in environmental leadership, restoration practices, and completing group and individual projects. This is a six-week program that runs from Monday, July 8 –Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Who should apply?
We are looking for high school aged youth from King County interested in learning about parks and the environment to join the Youth Conservations Corps (YCC). No previous experience in conservation or environmental topics is required. We welcome teens of all identities to apply; the lived experiences, perspectives, and expertise of Black, Indigenous, and youth of color are especially essential to the success of this work. People identifying as LGBTQ+ and people living with disabilities are also encouraged to apply.

About the Team:
The Volunteer Program works to provide meaningful opportunities to connect people of all ages to our parks through hands-on service learning, environmental education opportunities and teen career pathway development programming. The Volunteer Program is interconnected throughout DNRP and views their work as collaborative, taking an intersectional approach to environmental work.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a YCC Intern you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.What You Will Be Doing :
This program is not your typical Youth Conservation Corps. Though restoration projects in Parks is a focus of the program, more than half of the internship experience involves workshops on different environmental topics and independent project work. Below are some examples of activities from previous years:

• Interns have completed restoration projects at Dick Thurnau, White Center Heights, Skyway, and North Shorewood Parks.
• Interns have explored the intersections of race and the environment through workshops on climate justice, urban heat, and air quality.
• Interns are tasked with completing an informational interview with an employee in Parks to learn more about their career path.
• Interns are expected to complete an independent project with support from YCC staff and the other interns in the cohort. Past projects have included plant identification trading cards, environmental zines, and creative writing about nature.

Throughout the program, interns can expect to:

• Build skills related to ecological restoration and plant identification.
• Participate in workshops about local environmental challenges.
• Explore solutions to problems impacting human and environmental health.
• Develop and build-upon career skills such as writing, public speaking, and interviewing.
• Complete creative independent project.

Qualifications You Bring :

• Must be at least 15 when programs begins and a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student in King County.
• Resides in King County.
• Has interest in learning about Parks and/or the environment.
• Able to attend entire 6-week internship program (July 8 –August 15, 2024).
• Open-minded, inclusive, and enjoys working on a team.
• Ability to work outdoors on uneven terrain with or without accommodation.

Competencies You Bring :

• Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with high energy and enthusiasm.
• Ensures Accountability: Holds self accountable to meet commitments.
• Collaborates: Works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Relates openly with diverse groups of people.
• Self-Development: Actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness: Uses a combination of feedback and reflection to gain insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: Thurnau Park/TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space, 605 SW 108th St, Seattle, WA 98146.
• Transportation: Interns will be responsible for their own transportation to and from Thurnau Park each day. Orca cards can be provided upon request. Interns will travel together in a 15-person passenger van to various project sites and for weekly field trips.
• Work Schedule: Work hours are Monday – Thursday each week as follows:
  1. Monday: 9 am – 4 pm meet at Thurnau Park
  2. Tuesday: 9 am – 4 pm meet at Thurnau Park
  3. Wednesday: 9 am – 2 pm meet at Thurnau Park
  4. Thursday: 9 am – 12 pm meet virtually from personal computer; All Thursdays throughout the program will be virtual except for the final Thursday on August 15. This day will be an end-of-program celebration. Interns should plan to be in-person from 9 am – 4 pm.
• Computers/Virtual Work: Interns must have access to a computer and internet for virtual sessions and independent work each Thursday. If you do not have a computer or access to WIFI, program staff will work with you to find a solution for virtual work days.

Application and Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity and completeness. A cover letter and resume are NOT REQUIRED for this application. Please be sure to complete the required supplemental questions to tell us why you are interested in the Youth Conservation Corps and what you hope to gain from this experience. The most competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a panel interview.

• Applications due by April 21, 2024.
• All applicants can expect to hear if they were selected for an interview by Friday, May 3, 2024.
• Interviews will be scheduled the week of May 6, 2024.
• Those accepted into the YCC should plan to attend our YCC New Hire Paperwork Session on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space from 4 pm – 6 pm. This is an opportunity to meet your cohort, complete required paperwork, and ask any question you may have.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Sahar Arbab at sarbab@kingcounty.gov or 206-276-5773

Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our website www.kingcounty.gov/parks.
Check us out on the socials at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vimeo.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resourcescategory for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

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Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

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No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.