Green Teen Program

Green Teen Program
The Green Teen Program engages teens to become stewards of their local parks and recreation centers. Green Teens learn how to make a “green” positive impact in their local community and encourage the public to recycle. If you are interested in being a "Green Teen," please email us at Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov.

Urban Park Rangers! Volunteer with the Rangers!

Urban Park Rangers

Volunteer with the Rangers

http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/rangers/volunteer

The Urban Park Ranger Volunteer Program is conducted in all five boroughs and is based out of our nature centers. Volunteers serve as much-needed supplements to our surprisingly small staff numbers, aiding Rangers and Nature Center Coordinators in their many duties. In turn, volunteers gain the opportunity to positively contribute to the development of their community while learning new skills and knowledge in beautiful parkland environments
Some of your opportunities as a Volunteer include:

• Research local history for a Ranger program
• Greet visitors at the reception desk
• Design fliers for upcoming lectures or programs

In order to volunteer you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid picture ID
• Attend one Volunteer Orientation session
• Be able to give 2-3 checkable references

As an Urban Park Ranger volunteer, you will receive the following benefits:

• Invitations to volunteer-only workshops, such as Birding Identification or Aquatic Ecology
• A sense of satisfaction!

To receive an invitation to the next volunteer orientation, either call or stop in to your local Nature Center.

Urban Park Rangers: The Ranger Conservation Corps

http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/rangers/conservation-corps

Urban Park Rangers

The Ranger Conservation Corps

The Ranger Conservation Corps (RCC) is an urban environmental internship for high school students. RCC participants work on environmental restoration in Forever Wild sites located in our flagship parks. There are two RCC sessions each year (fall and spring), and each session lasts a total of 10 weeks. The program is offered every school day afternoon from 4-6 p.m. Students attend one day a week. There are openings for 900 students each year.
RCC participants receive community service hours, and the experience looks great on a college application. They also go on exciting field trips, such as trips on the Clearwater Sloop.
For more information, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside of NYC) and ask for the Urban Park Rangers.
Information for RCC Members and Parents
RCC Contract (PDF, 30 KB)RCC Student Application Form (PDF, 305 KB)

“In the beginning of the year, I wasn’t doing so well in Biology, and Mr. Young encouraged me to join the program. Ever since then my grade point average has risen to 90%. Working with the Rangers has really, really showed me the dedication some people have for the environment, and it has inspired me to aspire for a career as a Ranger. Also, because of the program, I had one of the best Regent’s scores in my class; 84%!!”
Edwin, RCC participant, Urban Park Rangers
“It’s hard for me to write about one thing I enjoyed about RCC. I liked so many things that I did. I especially liked all the turtles. The best part of that is coming back every week and seeing all the different kinds of turtles we found. The BIG snapper was awesome. It was interesting to learn how turtles live, swim, hibernate, and eat.”
James, RCC participant, Urban Park Rangers

Central Park Zoo Volunteer Program

William Holmstrom ©WCS

Become a volunteer Zoo Guide at one of the nation's greatest institutions. You'll assist the Education Department at the Central Park Zoo in delivering wildlife and environmental conservation information to zoo visitors, leading tours, supporting zoo school programs, participating in a variety of events, and offering administrative support.
Zoo Guide Responsibilities Volunteers must be flexible and prepared to serve in any of the capacities listed below.

• Engaging public visitors in interactive discussions about selected animals, their exhibits, and environmental conservation. A volunteer should initiate conversations with visitors to make them feel welcome, as well as, share information.
• Conducting guided tours for the casual visitor and selected organized groups, including school groups and adult groups. These tours can encompass multiple exhibits, focus on a specific region and its wildlife, or concentrate on a specific topic, such as animal adaptations or behavior.
• Delivering amplified sea lion narration at feeding times. Narrators use a microphone to speak to large audiences.
• Reading to children during summer story time activities.
• Participating in a variety of promotional, corporate, private, and special events.
• Helping our youngest visitors explore the wonders of the Tisch Children's Zoo.
• Helping the Education Department with administrative duties such as record keeping, light administrative duties and preparation of arts and crafts for special events and educational programs.
• Attending additional trainings following the initial 9-session Zoo Guide training program. Opportunities for continuing education will be available for guides to attend to further their knowledge of wildlife and environmental conservation. Volunteers are required to attend a minimum of three continuing education programs per year.
• Presenting live animal encounters to zoo visitors. Note that you must complete one year of volunteer service to be eligible to apply for the animal handling program. You must also successfully complete the animal handling training course in order to work with the education animals.

Time Commitment Requirements
After acceptance into the Zoo Guide program, each volunteer is required to complete a 9-session training course, occurring from January through March, followed by a 3-month probationary period. Volunteers are expected to make a minimum 1-year commitment of service to the Central Park Zoo upon successful completion of the training course. Weekday volunteers must commit to working one full day per week; a minimum of 175 hours of annual service. Weekend volunteers must commit to working one full day every other weekend; a minimum of 108 hours of annual service. Arrangements may be made with the Coordinator of Volunteers to work additional days, if desired.
The Zoo is open every day of the year, including all holidays. Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Training Program
All volunteers are required to complete a multi-week training course taught by zoo staff. The 9-session training course will take place from January through March. The cost of training is $100. This includes fees for training refreshments, materials, uniform shirt and explorer vest. Final acceptance of a volunteer into the program is contingent on successful completion of the training course and a 3-month probationary period.

We are no longer accepting applications for new volunteers at this time. We will resume accepting applications in Fall 2012. Please check our website for an application and information at that time.

Program Organization The Coordinator of Volunteers and the Manager of Education are responsible for selecting, supervising, and evaluating volunteers. For each day of the week, a Day Captain will be elected by the day's members or appointed by the Coordinator of Volunteers. The Day Captain is directly responsible for assigning jobs to that day's volunteers, making up a schedule, supervising volunteers, and maintaining records for the day. If a problem arises that the Day Captain cannot handle, he/she will contact the Coordinator of Volunteers.

http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife/volunteer/central-park-zoo-volunteer.aspx

Wed Nov 28

All Day	4 -D Theater
2:45 PM	Bee-Eater Buffet
3:30 PM	Penguin Feeding

More >>

Bronx Zoo Volunteer Program

Bronx Zoo Education Docents

Become a member of the Friends of the Zoo, the docent organization based in the Education Department at the Bronx Zoo. Enthusiastic adults 18 or older, who can serve weekdays or weekends for a minimum period of two years, are prime candidates for the program. Weekday docents serve one day per week; weekend docents serve one day every other weekend. Docents enjoy free admission to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s four zoos and aquarium in New York. They receive continuing education courses on wildlife and biology, and discounts at WCS gift shops.

As part of the Education department, docents:

• Offer guided tours of zoo exhibits to schoolchildren, organized groups, and families.
• Work as exhibit interpreters in the Children’s Zoo, Africa Plaza, Wild Asia Plaza, and more.
• Deliver interpretive talks about specific exhibits and provide visitors with valuable lessons that promote wildlife conservation.
• Assist the Education Dept. with their environmental education programs.
• Assist at special events.

To become a Friend of the Zoo, candidates need to pass an interview and successfully complete a 3 month training course.

The Training Program
The staff of the Education Department and the members of the Friends of the Zoo will mentor trainees. Trainees will also attend 7 days of classes and exhibit tours led by Education Department staff and veteran docents. The goals of the 3 month training program are:

• To acquaint the trainee with the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Friends of the Zoo.
• To orient the trainee to the facilities and policies of the Bronx Zoo.
• To help the trainee learn about the animals and exhibits.
• To allow the trainee to feel comfortable as a member of the volunteer organization.
• To provide the skills necessary for interacting with the visitors to the Zoo.

Training Program Schedule
The Friends of the Zoo will provide the components of the training program, including opportunities for observation, exhibit visits, classes, and mentoring, according to the following schedule:
Class Days
All class days for both weekday and weekend trainees will be on Sundays from 9:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There will be 7 class days between February and April.
Service Days
Immediately following the completion of classes’ trainees will participate in a service day schedule. With input from the trainee, the Coordinator will assign each trainee to a service day. For six weeks the trainee will work on a probationary basis. Full status will be awarded after successful completion of this period.

Volunteer Application Form

For further information contact the docent office at the Bronx Zoo at (718) 220-5141 or foz@wcs.org.

Bronx Zoo Volunteer Ambassadors

The Bronx Zoo is now accepting applications for Volunteer Ambassadors. Ambassadors are members of the Guest Relations Department, which is responsible for providing the best possible guest experience and service to our visitors. Ambassadors perform a variety of jobs, including the following:

• Acting as an information resource for guests by providing directions, answering questions, and aiding in complaint resolution at key positions throughout the Zoo
• Aiding in the efficient entrance of school groups on days of high group attendance
• Offering paid non-educational tours via golf cart for guests requiring mobility assistance
• Assisting with administrative office functions for all areas of the Guest Relations Department

Time Commitment
Volunteers must work one day per week from April–October. Volunteer opportunities will also be available during the winter months for those who wish to commit to additional time.

Requirements
Applicants to our program must be 18 years of age or older. An enthusiastic, friendly attitude and the ability to work well with a diverse audience are also required. All applicants must be cleared by a background check before they begin training.

Additionally, we are looking for applicants with some of the following skills for specific assignments:

• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to work in a busy, fast-paced, outdoor environment in a variety of weather conditions and to stand/walk for long periods of time (2 hrs.+)
• Experience working in an administrative or office environment

Training and Application Process
Volunteer Ambassador applicants must successfully complete a five-day training program. To apply, please email a statement of interest and your resume to SeasonalRecruitment@wcs.org with “Volunteer Ambassador” in the subject line.

For more information, please call (718) 220-5103.


http://www.bronxzoo.com/help-wildlife/volunteer/bronx-zoo-volunteer.aspx

New York Aquarium Volunteer Opportunities

New York Aquarium Volunteer Programs

Julie Larsen Maher ©WCS

The New York Aquarium offers three volunteer programs. Our docent program is designed for those interested in volunteering with our Education Department. Volunteers with our Animal Exhibits Department help behind-the-scenes with animal care. Finally, our Volunteer Dive program is made up of certified SCUBA divers who help maintain our tanks—and don’t mind getting wet!

Docent Opportunities

Become an aquarium docent and help staff exhibits, teach visitors about marine conservation, and assist at events and education programs. You'll meet individuals from around the world and join a family of fellow volunteers, staff, and wildlife experts who share a passion for our natural world.

Animal Exhibits Department Volunteers

Volunteers with the aquarium's Animal Exhibits Department gain hands-on experience working with sea lions and seals alongside the trainers, fish and aquatic invertebrates in Conservation Hall or Explore the Shore, or a wide variety of marine creatures at Sea Cliffs.

Aquatic Animal Health Center Volunteers

The Aquatic Animal Health Center offers a great opportunity for volunteers to gain experience in both the laboratory and veterinary fields. Responsibilities include water quality testing, medical procedures, and maintenance and administrative work in our lab and surgical suite.

Volunteer Dive Program

The experienced scuba divers that make up the aquarium’s 50-person dive team are trained to do a range of tasks, including cleaning and maintaining the underwater exhibits and teaching visitors about our animals and their habitats.

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Animal news and videos, special events & more

Wed Nov 28

10:30 AM	Penguin Feeding & Presentation
11:30 AM	Sea Lion Feeding & Presentation

More >>

http://www.centralparkzoo.com/help-wildlife/volunteer/new-york-aquarium-volunteers.aspx

American Folk Art Museum Teen Docent Program

American Folk Art Museum Teen Docent Program

http://www.folkartmuseum.org/internships

Volunteer to tutor math and science with Mr. Johnson's middle school students!

Volunteer to tutor math and science 

with Mr. Johnson's middle school students!

Who: High school students who are looking to volunteer to tutor middle schoolers

What: Math and science

Where: On-site at WHEELS

When: 3:15PM-4:15 PM on yet to be determined days

Why: To serve the WHEELS School community!

Interested?

Email Mr. Johnson g.johnson@wheelsnyc.org or Ms. MacNeil k.macneil@wheelsnyc.org or sherley.jimenez.14@wheelsnyc.org

PAID internships Emma Bowen Foundation DUE: No later than 1/31/2013. VERY COMPETITIVE

The Emma L. Bowen Foundation was created in 1989 to prepare minority youth for careers in the media industry. The Foundation’s program is unlike traditional intern programs in that students work for partner companies during summers and school breaks from the summer following their senior year in high school until they graduate from college. During the four-year program, students have an opportunity to learn many aspects of corporate operations and develop company-specific skills. Corporations have an opportunity to train and mentor students with the option of full-time employment upon completion of their college degrees.

Students earn an hourly salary and matching funds for college expenses. Academic excellence is also a key component of the program—students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average to remain in good standing. The Foundation staff works closely with corporate partners to monitor each student’s academic and work progress. An annual summer conference, a community service program and a mentoring program are also provided to further enhance the student’s knowledge and experience. Resource guides for both students and corporate supervisors are provided to maximize the student’s experience while in the program.

This unique, multi-year program prepares a diverse group of talented young professionals to enter the workforce with specific job-related skills, knowledge of the corporate environment and a strong foundation for future advancement. Students work in a variety of functional areas (e.g., marketing, sales, finance, public relations, human resources, technology, news, web design, promotion, etc.) and rotate each summer. Currently, we have 260 active students nationwide and more than 500 graduates. Approximately 70-80 new students join the program each year.

Latest Updates

The 2013 recruiting season is officially open.  2013 applications are now available on-line. Completed applications must be received no later than January 31, 2013.  (Note:  Selection for the program is highly competitive; we suggest you submit your application as early as possible.)  Cities where internship opportunities are currently available are listed on the Application page.  We will be updating the cities’ list as additional opportunities become available.  Please check back periodically. 

Click Download Application for more information about the application process.



http://www.emmabowenfoundation.com/

Summer 2013 for Juniors! Princeton University!

An all-expenses-paid program for high school student journalists from low-income backgrounds that will take place for 10 days this summer on the campus of Princeton University. The program is entering its 12th year; since 2002, approximately 250 students from high schools across the country have participated. The program’s goal is to diversify college and professional newsrooms by encouraging outstanding students from low-income backgrounds to pursue careers in journalism.

Classes at the program are taught by professional journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, CNN, NPR, The New Republic, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, and other outlets. Students meet with numerous Princeton professors, as well as Princeton’s president and dean of admissions. They report an investigative story, cover a professional sports event, produce a TV segment, and publish their own newspaper. And they receive guidance on the college admissions process not only during the 10 days of the program, but also during the fall of their senior year of high school.

Students selected for the program will have all their costs, including the cost of travel to and from Princeton, paid for by the program.

If you are a teacher, we ask that you encourage your students to apply. 

If you are an administrator, we ask that you help us spread the word by publishing an announcement to teachers or other administrators who might know students who would be interested in applying. 

We will happily accept several students from the same school, so there is no need to worry about your own students competing for slots in the program. We have not determined the exact dates for 2013, but the program will run for 10 days from a Friday to a Monday. It normally runs during the last week of July or the first two weeks of August.

The application process will take place in two rounds. The first round of the application should be filled out online here:

https://fs4.formsite.com/pusjp/form1/secure_index.html

We must receive this part of the application by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, February 22, 2013.

Those students selected to advance to the second round of the application process will be notified in March. They will be asked to provide printed copies of the following items via U.S. mail: an official transcript; the first page of the 2011 (or 2012, if available) income-tax return form (the 1040 or 1040EZ form) of their custodial parent(s)/guardian(s), or a signed statement by their parent(s)/guardian(s) saying that their income is below the level at which they would be required to file income tax returns; a recommendation letter from a teacher; and clips from their high school newspaper or other publication (optional).

To be eligible for the program, students must meet the following qualifications:
- They must currently be juniors in high school.
- They must live in the continental United States.
- They must have at least an unweighted 3.5 grade point average (out of 4.0).
- They must have an interest in journalism.
- The combined income of their custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus
child support payments, if any, must not exceed $45,000.

Note: This program is for students from low-income backgrounds. If the combined income of the custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, exceeds $45,000 and a student still wishes to apply, he or she may attach a letter explaining why his or her family qualifies as financially under-resourced.

Additional information about the program is available at www.princeton.edu/sjp.

SEO Scholars NINTH GRADERS APPLICATIONS DUE December 14, 2012

SEO Scholars

SEO Scholars is a rigorous year-round, out-of-school academic program that prepares motivated low-income public high school students to get to and through America’s competitive colleges and universities. The program serves 400 high school students in New York and San Francisco in addition to 212 college students across the country. The program is free for students and has tripled in size since 2006.

The eight-year SEO Scholars program has two parts:

In high school, the program centers on intensive year-round academic preparation, providing students a carefully-calibrated, rigorously-assessed course of supplemental education which adds the equivalent of over 2.5 years of instruction in English and 1.5 years of instruction in Math. No other organization provides this level of academic support to public high school students.

In college, the program continues to support students through each of their four years, ensuring that they graduate. Direct ongoing counseling from advisors provides one-on-one guidance on adjusting to college life, building academic success skills, exploring career options and securing internships.

Who are SEO Scholars?

The SEO Scholars program, which is free for students, currently serves 400 high school students in New York City and San Francisco in addition to 212 college students at 97 different schools throughout the country.

HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARS

• Attend urban public high schools.
• Hold at least a 77% GPA in New York City and at least a 2.0 GPA in San Francisco.
• Come from families whose income is well below the poverty line (median income is $21,844 a year). The average family size is four, though nearly half of our Scholars are from single-parent households.

COLLEGE SCHOLARS

• They are the first generation in their families to attend a four-year college or university.

See a list of colleges and universities our Scholars are currently attending.

http://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/seo-scholars/

Thanks to Mariela Cipriano for sharing this!!!

College Now! Attention serious sophomores and juniors who want to get college credit now!

Attention serious sophomores and juniors who want to get college credit now!

Are you brainy and motivated but a little light in terms of your extracurricular activities?

Consider applying for College Now!

collegenow.ccny.cuny.edu.  

Log on.

Apply. 

Ms. Ossario will be able to see your application status and send along your transcripts. 

The non-negotiable deadline s December 1, 2012.  Spring semester starts on Jan 28.  

"Applications of Psychology in the Modern World" 
"Freshman Composition". 

Volunteer in uptown parks!

New Park Volunteer Opportunities Many of New York City’s parks, playgrounds and beaches were severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy. If you would like to volunteer with NYC Parks to aid in clean-up and recovery, please review the list of parks, playgrounds and beaches below that are in need of assistance this Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Click the links below to sign up in your borough and be sure to check back for updates on other parks in need of volunteers! Bronx Crotona Park (Sunday or Wednesday) Orchard Beach (Saturday only) Click here to volunteer in the Bronx  Brooklyn (Saturday only) Coney Island Click here to volunteer in Brooklyn Manhattan Fort Tryon Park (Saturday only) Inwood Hill Park (Sunday only) Click here to volunteer in Manhattan Queens (Saturday only) Joe Michael’s Mile Crocheron Park Queensbridge Park Astoria Park Click here to volunteer in Queens Staten Island (Sunday only) Skyline Playground White Playground McDonald Playground Kaltenmeier Playground Click here to volunteer in Staten Island

Connect with NYC Parks www.nyc.gov/parks       Please do not reply to this message. To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Parks Newsgroup System, visit this link. To subscribe to this newsletter, go to this link To UPDATE your preferences, visit this link.

New Opportunities to Volunteer in NYC Parks

New Opportunities to Volunteer in NYC Parks

Over the past two days, more than 2,500 volunteers have turned out at parks and playgrounds across the City to support the clean-up effort. And volunteers have come ready to work! Over the course of six hours, volunteers collected almost 10,000 bags of debris, filled dozens of truck beds and dump trucks, cut up broken tree limbs and raked up leaves and compost.

In Prospect Park alone, volunteers raked an estimated 750,000 sq. ft. of parkland, and at Riverside Park, volunteers even showed up with boxes of garbage bags to donate to the clean-up effort. By all reports, the spirit and dedication of volunteers has been amazing, and has done so much to boast the morale of NYC Parks staff who have been working around the clock for days.

Please check out these new opportunities to volunteer tomorrow, and sign up at www.nycservice.org.

Bronx:

Crotona Park
Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Meet-up: Crotona Tennis House, 1700 Crotona Ave bet Claremont Parkway and Crotona Park North.

Manhattan:

Fort Washington Park
Sunday
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

meet-up location: Broadway & 158th St.

Important note: You will need to walk approximately a half mile from the meet-up location to the clean-up site inside the park. Staff will be onsite to guide you.

Staten Island:

Tappen Park
Sunday
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

meet-up location: 111 Canal Street at the Village Hall

Safety and Recovery in Fort Tryon Park

	Fort Tryon Park Celebrating over 75 Years 1935-2012
For more information visit FortTryonParkTrust.org.                   Follow us on Facebook
Learn about storm damage and safety in Fort Tryon Park as well as how you can help get the park back to normal as soon as possible. Safety and Recovery in Fort Tryon Park Storm Damage  Fort Tryon Park suffered significant damage from Hurricane Sandy. Well over 100 trees have been damaged or destroyed. The historic art deco flagpole on the David Rockefeller Linden Terrace was toppled and thrown down onto the retaining wall and pathway below. The Broadway Promenade was significantly hard hit with many large trees  downed.  Numerous trees around The Cloisters Museum and Sir William’s Dog Run were destroyed.  The majestic elms that John D. Rockefeller, Jr. had installed in the park as mature specimens over 77 years ago, suffered major damage.  Thankfully, the hard work of NYC Parks, The Fort Tryon Park Trust and volunteers over the past few years in the  Alpine Garden and Heather Garden has been preserved.  The gardens are largely intact.  Unfortunately access to these areas of beauty has been obstructed by massive fallen trees or hanging limbs over pathways. A storm damage photo album has been posted on the Fort Tryon Park Trust’sFacebook Page to highlight some of the damage to our beloved park. Park Closure As the park recovers from Hurricane Sandy, remember that your safety comes first. NYC Parks is hard at work addressing emergency conditions and assessing damage. These extraordinary circumstances require everyone to be extra cautious. Hanging limbs and leaning trees may still come down well after the storm. Please do not go into any parks until NYC Parks announces that the park in question is open. When parks do open be extra vigilant and stay away from damaged trees. For updates on park openings, visit the Parks Hurricane Sandy Update Page. Events Fort Tryon Park will be closed into next week. Please be advised that Fort Tryon Park Trust events will be cancelled through Sunday, November 4th. Sid Horenstein’s Geology Walk in Inwood Hill Park is postponed to Saturday, December 1st. The Sunday, November 4th Garden Walking Tour in Fort Tryon Park is cancelled. Morning Fitness Walks with Nancy Bruning are cancelled until further notice. Check our Events Page and Facebook Page for information on event cancellation and rescheduling. How You Can Help Donate  The Fort Tryon Park Trust’s resources are essential to help NYC Parks stabilize and restore the park’s plantings, pathways, and historic architecture  so the park can be safe and beautiful again.  Your support is needed to help us in the rebuilding process so that all areas of Fort Tryon Park can be enjoyed again by New Yorkers and visitors. To donate to the restoration of Fort Tryon Park, please visit our Donations Page. Volunteer Once tree hazards and dangerous conditions are addressed, we will be notifying you of ways that you can volunteer with the Fort Tryon Park Trust in the park’s repair. Above all, the Fort Tryon Park Trust hopes that you and your family are safe, healthy and are recovering quickly from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.