Engaged Community
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, monitor, and maintain habitat along Indianapolis waterways and roadsides. Urban Naturalists also maintain KIB trees through pruning, collecting data, and conducting regular survivability checks.
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 and roadsides.
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
“After this summer, I feel greater comfort being part of a team, doing things out of my comfort zone, and engaging in physical labor. Not only has KIB helped shape me to be confident in the workforce, but it has also aided in giving me the tools to be a more productive member of society. KIB has instilled in me such a great passion for Environmental sustainability and community growth, and I know that I’ll take this fervor with me wherever I go.”
“My summer as an Urban Naturalist with KIB will always be one of the most rewarding few months of my life. Not only can I walk away from it knowing that I have contributed to real change within my community, but I can walk away from it knowing that I’ve unlocked a new passion and purpose that I hope to pursue in whatever future endeavors are presented to me.”
“The UN program really gave me an appreciation of all level of ecology restoration with a nonprofit. From the fields work to office work I really got a good peek into the field and grew a great passion for what I was apart of.”
“I have learned that I really really enjoy field work like what I did as a UN, and am definitely pursuing work like this after I graduate.”
“There was not a single time that I didn’t feel supported by my leaders. Birdie and Keisha are two of the most grounded, intelligent, and coolest people I have ever met.”