Engaged Citizens
Urban Naturalists
Program Overview
The Urban Naturalist Program is a professional development program for college students and recent graduates. Urban Naturalists work almost exclusively outdoors and focus on the maintenance of multiple horticultural projects across the city, including native landscapes and green stormwater infrastructure, which capture and filter rainwater. The team works on a variety of green projects to manage the city’s stormwater, with contracts from Citizens Energy Group (CEG) and the City of Indianapolis.
In addition to our contracted work with CEG and the City’s Department of Public Works, team members restore habitat along Indianapolis waterways and do various in-house projects with KIB, like maintaining some of our GreenSpaces and KIB trees.
Urban Naturalists do meaningful, environmental work for our city while developing their professional skills through job training and weekly enrichment opportunities with other environmental field professionals.
Here are some of the team’s regular duties:
- Water, weed, and pick up trash in stormwater planters and rain gardens to maintain functional green infrastructure.
- Stewardship of KIB trees and perennial plants, including watering, mulching, mapping, and pruning.
- Litter clean-up and community engagement.
- Restoring and maintaining habitats along Indianapolis waterways
Program Details
Are you a college student or recent graduate who is interested in a career related to the environmental field? Spend the summer gaining experience in caring for native habitats and participating in professional development opportunities.
- $17/hour
- Program runs from May to August, with possible Fall extension opportunities
- Spend your summer outside
- Make a difference in Indianapolis
- Make professional connections in green-collar careers
- Gain hands-on experience using powered hand tools and driving fleet vehicles
- Fulfills internship requirements
Testimonials
“The experiences and skills I gained from the Urban Naturalist program are irreplaceable, as they have given me the ability to pursue a career in this field with confidence. I believe this internship provided me with necessary expertise regarding urban forestry and horticulture practices, as well as invaluable enrichment events. I am not only physically more well-rounded in this field (utilizing hand pruners, pole pruners and saws, machetes, woodchipper, chainsaw, operating trucks and trailers), but I have also advanced in my personal knowledge and management skills. Because of the 14 weeks at KIB, I feel confident in carrying these skills and experiences into my next position, along with my day-to-day life in general.
The Urban Naturalist internship served as the perfect steppingstone into the environmental field, giving me the necessary tools, knowledge, skills, and experiences to excel.” —2024 Urban Naturalist
“The actions I take regarding the environment now have much more meaning to me than before the internship. I have gained extensive knowledge regarding specifically urban forestry, and it has changed the outlook I have on managing urban trees. There are several aspects to consider within maintaining urban trees, and when I look at urban trees today, I am reminded of the efforts, consideration, and knowledge it takes to keep them healthy and thriving.” —2024 Urban Naturalist
“My experience as an Urban Naturalist intern was the best professional experience I could ask for coming into my senior year. I obtained incomparable experiences, knowledge, and opportunities, as well as forming amazing relationships with my coworkers and supervisors. The internship met all my expectations and more. Our supervisors allowed us to make our own decisions and never micromanaged us, which I know all of the interns greatly appreciated. We were exposed to countless facets of this field—habitat restoration, survivability, tree closeouts, community engagement, time management, natural resources, invasive species, operating tools and fleet, native planting maintenance, and more.” —2024 Urban Naturalist
“I think I will have better understanding of what is required for conducting habitat management and restoration, which is a career aspect I would like to continue doing in the future. Also learning from the urban forestry team all the planning that goes into implementing city tree plantings. I also believe I gained insight in how to work best on a team, be positive, and to pull your weight as a group member, which will continue to have an impact in my career.” —2024 Urban Naturalist