Youth Environmental Advocates

Location: Queens Zoo
Duration: October 2026 – June 2027

Schedule

Thursday afternoons 5pm–7pm in person at the Queens Zoo, plus occasional weekends for events and field trips during the fall/winter. Weekend events are more frequent in the spring (March–May). Approximately 100 hours total.

About the role

Youth Environmental Advocates are students interested in advocating for wildlife and habitats. Students in this program will learn the ins and outs of advocating for conservation actions in local communities. Youth Environmental Advocates work within the NYC community to support various wildlife conservation issues, learn how environmental policies impact communities and the health of the environment, and explore ways to influence change as a young leader. Students will learn best practices in large-scale event planning, including assisting, planning, and coordinating a Youth Summit and World Wildlife Day activities.

Learning Outcomes

• Learn about the environment, conservation, and advocacy techniques
• Hone public speaking skills while teaching the public about wildlife conservation and actions they can take to protect our environment by educating Zoo visitors and community members at local events
• Learn about environmental justice issues and their impact on communities, wildlife, and how to encourage action
• Plan and coordinate conservation projects like local lake cleanups and develop activities for educational tabling at community events such as “World Wildlife Day” & “It’s My Estuary Day”
• Assist with the development, planning, and execution of the Youth Conservation Summit, to be held Spring 2027
• Participate in advocacy opportunities with WCS and partner organizations, including meetings and hearings with elected officials

Requirements

• Must be a high school student in good standing
• Must be a NYC resident
• You are interested in supporting wildlife conservation programs and strengthening your skills as a youth leader
• You are interested in understanding how environmental policy works and how it impacts communities
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• If accepted and 18+ years of age, must successfully pass a background screening (provided by WCS)

Application Details

The application will ask you to upload a resume (not required) and provide the name, email, and phone number of at least one reference. You will also be asked to provide 100–200 word responses to the following questions:

• Tell us about something you have done to benefit the environment or your local ecosystem (these can be big or small actions)
• What are some sustainable actions you would like to promote and how do they support conservation?
• What are your career aspirations? Why?
• What do wildlife, science, and/or conservation mean to you? How do you want to make a difference?
• What roles have you had in school or work/volunteer experience that demonstrate your potential to be a good team member and/or leader?
• Why should you be selected to participate in this opportunity? In other words, what makes you stand out from other applicants?

Pay

Approximate total stipend of $400, paid as one lump sum upon completion of the position, less applicable taxes.