Past Event: URI Community Forestry Internship Summer 2025

Every summer, URI offers Community Forester internships through the Greenspace program to all Yale students (incoming, continuing, and graduating). Interns take practical experience and apply it in a hands-on manner, working side-by-side with volunteers to coordinate, design, and implement locally-driven restoration projects. 

The goals of the Community Greenspace program are environmental restoration, community building and stewardship. Depending upon community priorities, Greenspace projects most often include planting street trees, converting abandoned lots to "pocket" parks, improving city parks, and expanding public access. Over the past three decades, 40-50 community groups have undertaken planting projects each summer. 

URI Community Forester interns work with these citizen groups, as well as city officials and non-profit agencies, to restore neighborhood open spaces and streetscapes. Working with up to seven community groups, interns provide both technical and material support to implement projects. URI Foresters receive training in urban forestry, project planning, site assessment, outreach strategies, and monitoring techniques. The exact nature of community projects depends on the needs and opportunities of each neighborhood site. Generally, Community Foresters train and guide local volunteers in tree inventory, species selection, site preparation, tree maintenance (watering, mulching, pruning, etc), and planting methods. 

May 13 – August 9 with one-week unpaid break June 29 – July 7. Summer dates are not flexible. 12 paid weeks. 40 hours per week. Interns must be in New Haven for the duration of the program. 

To apply: email your resume to christopher.ozyck@yale.edu (Chris Ozyck, URI Associate Director), and do not hesitate to email or call Chris with any questions (203-432-6189). If not applying through PPSF, applications are due by February 3, 2025, or until all positions are filled.