Urban Ecology - Green Career Pathways Intern (Social & Environmental Justice Program - SEJ)

Job Title:                     Green Career Pathways Intern                      

Reports To:                      Green Career Pathways Manager

Status:                                    Internship, Limited Term, June 1st or 8th to August 14, 2026

Work Location:         Multi-Branch, Milwaukee

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The Urban Ecology Center hires nearly 30 people annually for our Green Career Pathways summer employment & internship experience. Our model of creating neighborhood-based environmental education centers energizes urban public natural areas. Located in vibrant public green spaces in Milwaukee, our fast-growing organization serves over 200,000 people of all ages annually.  Our Green Career Pathways efforts are providing people with an immersive green career experience while having a significant impact on our mission. 

The UEC’s People & Culture Department will hire (2) Green Career Pathways interns for the summer of 2026. 

Position Summary:  As a Green Career Pathways Intern, you will assist with refining and implementing the GCP program with a primary focus on our High School Outdoor Leader internship program. The GCP program engages urban youth and young adults in studies of ecology, environmental justice, leadership, job readiness, and practices of equity, dignity, and justice. This highly collaborative position works closely with Green Career Pathway Manager to meet program goals.

As a co-lead and mentor for our High School interns, this position includes co-leading our weeklong summer trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park from July 5 to 11, 2026 (program funded by Alumbra Innovation).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Green Career Program Design

• Assist with planning to implement educational strategies to meet GCP outcomes of environmental literacy, job readiness, leadership, and social responsibility.
• Assist in refining curricula for the High School Outdoor Leader internship
• Work with our Impact Evaluator to review systems that measure, track, and improve the effectiveness of GCP programs.

 Green Career Program Implementation

• Collaborating with the GCP Manager to teach ecology, team-building, leadership, outdoor recreation, public speaking, customer service, job-readiness, and equity, dignity, and justice skills.
• Assist GCP Manager in planning and leading travel experiences for high school outdoor leaders, such as college visits, Teton Science School trips, and northern Wisconsin trips.
• Responsible for assisting with high school intern onboarding and training
• Generate interest and excitement for GCP by collecting and sharing written, video and verbal success stories, in coordination with the marketing team
• Coach, support, and mentor high school outdoor leaders.
• Assist GCP Manager with planning graduation celebrations for youth completing their internships.

Green Career Program Alumni Relations

• Outreach to our alumni network to update alumni contact information and understand the influence of their Green Career Pathways experience on their career path and progression.
• Contribute ideas to develop post-internship networking and support systems; this may include a job board for alumni, social media alumni platforms, or alumni mentoring programs

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Skills and Abilities

• Conflict Management: you can navigate interpersonal challenges with a high degree of empathy and a commitment to resolution.
• Efficient: You have strong attention to detail, are self-motivated, and can multitask. You can prioritize your work based on importance and urgency.
• Reliability and Agency: You build trust and exercise good judgment by meeting deadlines, delivering on commitments, prioritizing needs, and making considered and effective decisions.
• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers while following organizational processes.
• Growth Mindset: You have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities. 
• A strong ability to establish rapport and engage with diverse, urban youth is highly recommended.
• Savvy utilization of social media and the Google Suite platform.
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• You have at least 18 months of experience engaging with youth in a community or educational setting; this could include designing and/or teaching programs for middle or high school youth in environmental education, land stewardship, ecology, outdoor recreation, youth development, job readiness, and/or social justice.
• High school diploma or equivalent is required; candidates must be at least 20 years of age or have completed 2 years of higher education (entering Junior year in fall 2026).

OUR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

• Our summer employment term runs from June 1st or 8th to August 14, 2026.
• You will attend training for the first two weeks of your experience, with opportunities for further learning & development throughout the summer. We host both a Summer Kickoff event and an End of Summer Celebration.
• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
• You will have the ability to attend all UEC events or programs at a low or no cost.

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Condition & Location: Open office workspace with an active team atmosphere. Using shared workspaces at all three UEC locations; must be able to work from all three branch locations throughout the summer. 
• Physical Requirements: Sitting for prolonged periods, typing on a computer keyboard, lifting objects of 25 pounds or less. Hiking, biking, paddling, and other outdoor recreational activities are part of the summer Outdoor Leader experience.
• Equipment Used: Computer equipment, fundraising software, HRIS, Google software, outdoor recreation equipment
• Schedule: Standard business hours with occasional evening and weekend events

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.

Compensation:
This internship is part of the Lawrence University Social & Environmental Justice Cohort, which provides an opportunity for Lawrentians to explore social and environmental justice impact careers, gain professional experience, and develop as leaders. Students complete a full-time summer 2026 internship with an identified social and/or environmental justice impact organization in Milwaukee or Appleton, while participating in ongoing reflection with fellow students, Professor Jason Brozek, the Career Center, community leaders and alumni.  Students may apply for as many positions as they are qualified for and interested in. Each student in the SEJ program will receive a $5k stipend to help cover housing and transportation costs and living expenses. For additional details and to see other SEJ opportunities, please see the SEJ Cohort webpage.

• Before applying, you must meet with a Career Center's Ty Collins for a resume review, or your resume must achieve green status in VMOCK.  If your resume does not meet professional expectations, you may be asked to resubmit your resume.  Please make an appointment with Ty here on Handshake.
• Once your resume is approved, you will then apply directly to one or more of the designated SEJ Internship options in Handshake by February 13, 2026 at 11:55 p.m. A separate application should be prepared for each position.
• Complete this form to indicate your transportation needs. The form only needs to be submitted once.

Please ask Michelle Buchinger for more details about how funding works Michelle.m.buchinger@lawrence.edu