Ready to transform Pittsburgh’s green spaces?
Join SCA Urban Green for a summer of paid conservation work. With over 20 years of experience in Pittsburgh, we’re making a difference in city parks and community green spaces – and you can too.
Pittsburgh Opportunities: High School Summer Program
Our six-week paid summer program offers high school students the chance to:
No previous experience is required – just a strong desire to be outdoors and a willingness to try new things.
The Student Conservation Association has been fielding conservation crews in Pittsburgh for more than 20 years.
Dates: Starts the last week of June and runs through the first week of August each year.
Future Opportunities: Successful summer program participants may be eligible for fall and spring jobs.
Join us this summer and launch your green career with the SCA Urban Green!
The Pittsburgh Urban Green High School Summer Program starts the last week of June and runs through the first week of August each year.
Our high school summer crews are made up of 10 crew members and two adult (age 21+) crew leaders.
The crews meet for 30 hours a week, Monday through Friday, performing service work such as improving trails, removing invasive species, and improving community gardens.
See some of our recent work through our 2023 GIS Story Map.
The Urban Green’s Spring and Fall High School Program is designed with offers job opportunities designed around school schedules.
The spring and fall programs are available for people who have successfully completed the Pittsburgh Urban Green summer program.
Join The Crew!
The SCA is seeking Field Leaders (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Urban Green Pittsburgh Summer Trail Crew. The crew will consist of 10 youth members aged 14-19 and two field leaders and engage in hands-on conservation projects including trail maintenance, invasive species removal and community garden maintenance. Crew members will also gain environmental education, leadership development and workforce readiness skills. The Field Leaders will mentor students, facilitate teamwork, train members in technical conservation work skills and facilitate an overnight camping trip during the work week. Leaders must live locally and have a valid driver’s license for 3+ years.
Program Dates: June 2 – Aug. 8 Pay: $750/wk.
Questions?: Email Pittsburgh’s Program Manager Darren Gruetze
Apply NowApplications open April 2025.
Program Dates: June 23 – Aug. 1
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pay: $11/hr. for first-time members, $15/hr. for returning members
To be the first to know when the application is live, email Pittsburgh’s Program Coordinator Stephanie Dax.
Explore green jobs in Pittsburgh and gain valuable skills and hands-on environmental education that will help you better understand the eco-systems you live and work in, how your work is vital to improve habitats for plants and animals and the relationship between humans and nature.
CPR & First Aid
Environmental Education
Habitat Restoration
Job Readiness
Team Building
Trail Skills
The SCA's Pittsburgh Urban Green program runs in conjunction with the City of Pittsburgh’s Learn and Earn Summer Youth Employment Program and the Parks Department. More than a dozen foundations and local organizations provide financial, material, and educational support to help make this program possible.
Hear what Urban Green crew members say about the program.
Protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries and community green spaces across the U.S.
Be a part of the movement to protect the planet and the communities we serve.
We are the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults.
SCA Pittsburgh Office
Darren Gruetze
SCA Pittsburgh Program Manager
Phone: (412) 325-1854
Email: DGruetze@theSCA.org