Position Overview
Do you enjoy working outside and learning from the land? Would you like to connect with community experts and knowledge keepers to deepen your learning? Want to increase your job skills and find work in the environmental field? Apply to join EYA’s Roots & Shoots Program!
We’re looking for five young adults to join this fully-paid job skills program, which includes:
10-week land-based program (February 16 – April 24): Spend 12 weeks learning and working on the land at EYA’s outdoor garden sites in East Vancouver. Learn and apply skills in horticulture, ecology, Indigenous plant knowledge, group facilitation, and community-building, as well as job skills like resume building, interview skills, goal setting and teamwork with the EYA team, local knowledge keepers and experts in the field.
12-week supported work placement (April 26 – July 16): EYA staff will help you find a well-suited work placement in the environmental field that aligns with your values and career goals. You’ll build a community of other youth, community partners and EYA staff and receive one-on-one support throughout the work placement, as well as continued afterwards to support career navigation.
Key Responsibilities and Program Highlights
As a Roots & Shoots intern, you will
Develop job skills like written and oral communication, teamwork, problem solving, adaptability and digital technology
Develop environmental job skills like native plant horticulture, medicinal plant knowledge, ecological restoration, teaching and facilitation
Learn to improve your resume and cover letter, prepare for interviews, set goals, and improve your communication
Learn about and participate in cultural ceremonies and practices led by Indigenous knowledge keepers and Elders
Restore & maintain urban wild spaces like medicinal plant gardens and wildlife habitat through weeding, watering, removal of invasive species and planting native species
Get your Occupational First Aid Level 1 and Food Safe certifications
Gain practical experience in website, social media, and other marketing tasks
Gain valuable work experience for your resume
Participate in other activities related to your personal and professional goals
Skills & requirements
Available to participate in full 22-week program (Mon-Sat from 10am-4pm)
Interested in self-growth and learning new job skills
Interested in exploring job options and building skills in the environmental field
Able to do physical work in an outdoor setting in all weather conditions
Reliable and able to show up on time
Willingness to learn communication skills and how to work on a team and individually
Excited to learn more about plants and wildlife
Familiar with the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood
Able to work responsibly and safely in urban parks and gardens
Able to follow EYA’s safe work practices – e.g. safe use of landscaping tools, rakes, shovels, hammer, saw, etc.
Able to follow EYA’s COVID-19 safety rules including physical distancing, mask wearing, frequent hand-washing, and no sharing of tools or gloves
Satisfactory criminal record check, including vulnerable sector check
This program is open to all youth age 18-25 who identify as Indigenous, racialized minorities, LGBTQ2, or living with a disability. We strongly encourage past EYA participants to apply!
How to apply
If interested, please fill out the Roots & Shoots Internship application form at https://eya.ca/project-view/roots-shoots-internship/. If you have any questions, please email: erica@eya.ca .
Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received, so send us your application as soon as possible! Deadline is January 24th, 2021
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