Summer SNAPP Engagement Intern

AGENCY DESCRIPTION The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation manages 14 percent of the land in New York City with facilities ranging from playgrounds and large parks, to tranquil wooded areas and more than 14 miles of beaches. Parks serve as New Yorkers’ backyards, as vital meeting areas for outdoor play and recreation – but also as an important tool in mitigating the effects of climate change, critical engines for economic growth and development. NYC Parks’ mission is to grow, maintain, and program a world-class park system prioritizing equity, access, safety, and nature. In the past year, Parks completed a number of initiatives citywide that helped New Yorkers access their shared public spaces. These include: • Securing more than $700 million in funds to build or substantially reconstruct six recreation centers, including two opening in 2026: the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and the $92 million Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Tompkinsville, Staten Island. • Expanding our free learn-to-swim programs to reach an additional 4,800 second graders and bring the total to nearly 18,000 youth served by our essential swim programming.  • Keeping more than 8 million people safe at the city’s public beaches last summer along with over 1 million patrons at outdoor pools, thanks to the highest number of Parks lifeguards since 2019, including a 23 percent increase in new recruits. • Completing a $23 million investment in public space at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments, bringing new playgrounds, sports equipment, and seating areas to NYCHA residents. • Launching our latest Tree Census, which involves thousands of volunteers to measure the size, location, and condition of the city’s trees. Conducted once every ten years, the census helps to identify areas where more trees can be planted, supporting a more equitable urban canopy and increasing the many benefits trees provide. • Celebrating the historic expansion of the Second Shift program, dedicating extra maintenance services for 100 additional hot spots at parks across the five boroughs during peak evening and weekend hours. This expanded the total sites citywide serviced by dedicated staff to 200 hot spots.   • Adding 100 new Parks Enforcement Patrol positions to bolster patrol strength throughout the city.  • Promoting equity in athletic spaces by rolling out new athletic permit rules and fee changes to improve access for non-profit and youth organizations. UNIT DESCRIPTION NYC Parks Stewardship is a service-based program of the Natural Resources Group (NRG), which sits within the Environment and Planning Division of NYC Parks. NRG’s mission is to protect, restore, expand and manage New York City’s natural spaces and green infrastructure to maximize their benefits to both ecological function and quality of life. The division is responsible for planning, citywide urban forestry, ecological and horticulture initiatives. Our core values are: Champion Urban Nature, Apply Science and Embrace Innovation, Be Respectful and Inclusive, and Advance an Ecological Legacy.  Engaging, educating, and empowering the public to participate in this work as volunteers is crucial to the division’s success and a more sustainable future and environment for all New Yorkers. Since 2015 the NRG has included a Stewardship Program, which engages over 6,000+ volunteers annually to improve and care for unique natural areas, street trees, and other green spaces. The Stewardship team supports community volunteers in the direct care for the city's urban forest and natural area via service events, trainings, and other networking-resource sharing initiatives.   POSITION TITLE Summer SNAPP (Stewardship Natural Areas Priority Projects) Engagement Intern INTERNSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES The Stewardship intern (1 position) will support community engagement activities within natural areas throughout NYC Parkland, based on restoration and community engagement priorities. Specific responsibilities and experiences will include preparation for field work; proper event coordination, data entry, and volunteer facilitation. Depending on interests, there are several activities to participate in where the intern can refine public speaking, plant identification, monitoring, and additional natural areas field task:  • Support NYC Parks staff in field work and management activities within NYC forests, grasslands and wetlands of Forever Wild properties throughout the city.  • Assist in the preparation, registration and leading volunteers or community partners for service events.   • Help coordinate civic or community science programming related to natural areas celebrations (e.g. City of Water Day).  • Support the development of natural areas education materials. nyc.gov/internships QUALIFICATIONS/SPECIAL SKILLS/AREAS OF INTEREST • Interest in working outdoors, sometimes in adverse conditions (e.g., heat, muddy, or wet conditions)  • Ability to work independently    • Willingness to work with others, including other interns and staff across a wide range of expertise  • Currently enrolled college student ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This opportunity does not include remote workdays Title: City Seasonal Aide Salary: $19.14 per hour APPLICATION PROCESS Please email cover letter and resume to Leslie.Nusblatt@parks.nyc.gov 

START DATE IS BEGINNING OF JUNE; EXACT DATE TBD