Join the movement to protect Cleveland’s parks and green spaces!
With the SCA’s Urban Green program, you’ll gain hands-on conservation experience working with Cleveland Metroparks and other local organizations in Northeast Ohio. Build trails, plant trees, restore habitats, and explore exciting career opportunities in the environmental field – all while getting paid.
What We Offer:
Paid Opportunities: Green jobs for teens, high schoolers, and young adults.
Real-World Experience: Build skills in trail maintenance, habitat restoration, urban forestry, and more.
Career Development: Get training, mentorship, and connections to launch your green career.
Community Impact: Make a difference in Cleveland’s environment and communities.
Since 2015, we’ve helped dozens of young people in Northeast Ohio make a difference and build skills for a brighter future.
Ready to join us? Explore our current opportunities and apply today!
Whether you're a student looking for a paid summer job, a teen seeking volunteer experience on weekends, or recent graduate who's curious about nature, SCA's Urban Green Cleveland has a program for you. Explore our diverse opportunities and start your journey toward a greener future.
Summer High School Conservation Crews
These paid six-week positions take place June to August and offer high-school-age participants a transformative experience outdoors, completing conservation projects and learning about the career field.
School Year Conservation Crew
These school year programs, typically on weekends, introduce high school-age participants to urban forestry, environmental education, stormwater management and related outdoor conservation projects.
Young adult conservation crews (age 18+) complete various field-based conservation projects throughout the year. Each crew has its own goals and focuses on removing invasive species, restoring habitat, constructing trails, maintaining trails, urban forestry and more.
Crew Leaders supervise and train SCA conservation crews working in the field. These paid outdoor positions guide, inspire and motivate our high school and young adult participants while making critical decisions daily regarding the safety and well-being of our crew members. During training and throughout the season, crew leaders gain experience and expertise in various conservation skills like trail building, habitat restoration, environmental education, urban forestry, and community outreach. These positions are great for young professionals building their conservation and environmental work experience.
Join The Crew!
Members of the Urban Forestry Team will work together to learn and practice tree care to support Cleveland’s urban canopy. The team will work on urban forestry projects including tree maintenance, watering, mulching, invasive species removal, and related projects in multiple neighborhoods of Cleveland, and will learn and practice job readiness skills. Pay: $15/hour. Expected dates: Oct. 12 – April 25.
Apply NowUrban Green members learn how to work with a diverse team of peers; gain knowledge of public land resources, environmental issues, and career readiness skills; increase their understanding of environmental and trail restoration techniques; acquire experience in public service and outdoor recreation; and develop valuable professional skills through team building and leadership activities.
Environmental Education
Habitat Restoration
Job Readiness
Leave No Trace
Outdoor Ethics
Team Building
Trail Skills
Thanks to generous support from local and national parks, environmental organizations, schools, youth development organizations, corporations and community groups, the SCA continues to provide conservation opportunities for Cleveland's youth.
SCA Cleveland
Elyria Little, Community Program Manager, Northeast Ohio
Phone: (571) 895-1861
Email: elittle@thesca.org