SUN high school internship
naturalareasnyc.org · Forest Park, Queens, and in the Greenbelt in Staten Island · paid
- Paid
- Internship
About the role
SUN high school internship
Fostering interest in science and nature by connecting students to their local natural area and the fascinating ecology within.
We train the next generation
Empowering future leaders in conservation
Our internship and fellowship programs provide mentorship, technical training, and community to a diverse group of STEM students and those aspiring toward careers in conservation science.
By offering paid technical and professional development training to motivated students, we aim to create new opportunities for young New Yorkers to pursue and succeed in green jobs.
Since 2016, we have provided over 150 paid internships to more than 130 students from the City University of New York (CUNY).
We offer a paid high school Student Urban Nature (SUN) internship, working with students in Forest Park, Queens, and in the Greenbelt in Staten Island. In 2024, our new fellowship program launched for CUNY students interested in natural resource management.
The impact of our workforce programs
- 90% of interns believe they have a future in the profession of natural areas management
- 52 parks where interns have made an impact
- 133 interns served through the NAC alumni network
- 87% of alumni secured a full-time job within six months of their internship
- $71k is the average full-time salary of alumni
- 100% of participants recommend the program
Our partners
Our high school SUN internship program partners with the NYC Science Research and Mentoring Consortium, Forest Park Trust, NYC Parks, City Parks Foundation, the Greenbelt Nature Center, the Freshkills Park Alliance, Community Counseling & Mediation, United Activities Unlimited, and the Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECAN).