High School Summer Internship Outdoor Leader

High School Summer Internship: Outdoor Leader

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Our Outdoor Leader Experience

We are thrilled to offer high school students an engaging hands-on opportunity through our Green Career Pathway program. Over the course of an interactive 8-week internship Outdoor Leaders will develop leadership and professional skills gain ecological and environmental justice knowledge and experience traveling to the Tetons Science School all while making a meaningful impact in the community.

Through a partnership with EmployMKEs Earn and Learn program Urban Ecology Center will be hiring a cohort of 18 Outdoor Leaders for the 2026 summer season (6 at each location: Riverside Park Washington Park and Menomonee Valley). As part of Earn and Learn Outdoor Leaders must reside in the City of Milwaukee and be available for a required Earn & Learn paperwork orientation the week of June 15 in order to begin work on the June 23 start date.

Why Join Us

• Work alongside environmental professionals at our three Urban Ecology Center branches (Riverside Park Washington Park and Menomonee Valley).
• Gain real-world experience in ecology urban adventure programming and community engagement.
• Develop career readiness skills and soft skills essential for future success.
• Explore career paths in environmental science and stewardship community engagement outdoor education and more.
• Build friendships and connections with peers and networks that last a lifetime!

Application Review Date: April 5th

• It is strongly recommended that all interested applicants submit their applications by this date.
• Interviews for selected candidates will be held the last week of April.

Employment term: June 23rd 2026 to August 24th 2026 Required Orientation Day the week of June 15

Pay and Schedule: Outdoor Leaders are paid $13/hr and will work 20 hours/week at their assigned branch. As part of their employment Outdoor Leaders go to the Tetons Science School July 5-11 2026 expenses paid and are not compensated their hourly rate during the trip.

Position Summary

The Outdoor Leader program is designed to expose high school students to careers in the environmental field. They will engage in a variety of outdoor activities hands-on experiences and professional development workshops and choose between two specialized tracksEcology or Community Engagementwhile also participating in general training and career development.

Ecology Track

Interns in this track will work closely with the Land Management andResearch teams learning about invasive species local ecology and climate issues. Activities include:

• Assisting in habitat restoration and park stewardship
• Conducting wildlife surveys and ecological research
• Gaining hands-on experience in conservation and land management

Community Engagement Track

Interns in this track will collaborate with the Community Programs and Community Engagement teams to facilitate outdoor adventure programming and engage with the UEC community. Activities include:

• Assisting with canoeing biking and other urban adventure activities
• Conducting participant surveys to inform future program development
• Learning skills in customer service group management curriculum development and community engagement

Travel opportunity to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park!

As part of this program Outdoor Leaders will have the incredible opportunity to embark on a fully-funded trip to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park July 5th - July 11th 2026! This exciting experience includes all travel accommodations and activities at no cost to the interns. Participants will stay at the Teton Science School a renowned environmental education center where they will engage in hands-on learning outdoor activities and team-building exercises.

The trip will feature:

• Guided tours of the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone with expert naturalists offering insight into the unique ecosystems and wildlife.
• Workshops at the Teton Science School focused on environmental science conservation and connecting our learnings back to ecology in Milwaukee!
• Outdoor adventures including hiking canoeing camping and much more!
• Team-building activities to enhance leadership collaboration and communication skills.

This unforgettable experience allows interns to connect deeply with nature build confidence and gain valuable knowledge in environmental careers.

The Tetons trip is an essential part of this internship; please consider your ability to attend this trip before applying as it is an essential component of the experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Please note that duties and responsibilities may vary by rotation/department.

• Assist with daily operations at the Urban Ecology Center applicable to each department.
• Assist with events and programs related to outdoor urban adventures and community events.
• Support teams in monitoring wildlife research and data management.
• Engage with volunteers in various departments in an indoor and outdoor setting.
• Participate in land management activities such as moving lifting digging dirt and learning related ecological concepts.
• Warmly greet guests and provide a great center experience including physical space maintenance.
• Conduct summer camp participant surveys to gain valuable insight for future program development.
• Alongside staff participate in community outreach to increase awareness of the Urban Ecology Center.
• Learn about and provide support for Ecology Rooms.
• Engage with the Facilities team to support waste reduction recycling and light custodial/maintenance.
• Weekly professional development training.

To be successful in this position you will demonstrate the following competencies:

We know that hardly anyone checks ALL the boxes on job requirements and thats okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences were excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• Strong communication skills and a learning attitude
• Ability to perform well in a fast-paced creative environment
• Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to organize and manage time to complete tasks
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal skills

Required Qualifications:

• Completed one year of high school upon the start of internship
• Willingness to learn and try new things

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ability to speak Spanish (Menomonee Valley branch) or Hmong (Washington Park branch)

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to sit and stand for long periods of time bend and lift objects weighing no more than 50 pounds with or without accommodation. Reach overhead. Use fingers and hands to manipulate objects

What does a typical workday look like

Work Conditions & Weekly Schedule:

This position will work in a shared office space and in an outdoor setting. Work hours are:

Ecology Track:

• 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Tuesday Thursday and Friday
• 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Wednesday

Community Engagement Track

• 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Wednesday
• 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Thursday Friday and
• 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday

*On Wednesdays Outdoor leaders participate in career development training and hands-on field trips as part of Milwaukees Environmental Youth Collaborative. On Wednesdays all Outdoor Leaders will report to Riverside Park by 9:00 am.

Equipment Used:

• Computers screens and keyboards
• Gardening tools
• Outdoor adventure equipment
• Audio visual equipment

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.

Required Experience:

Junior IC