Youth Tree Team

Youth + Summer Jobs + Trees = Awesome for Indianapolis

When the Youth Tree Team (YTT) started, it was all about taking care of the trees. But taking care of the people who take care of the trees is just as important. Our seven-week summer job program for teens and young adults is one part improving the community through tree care, one part work readiness training, and all parts the best way to spend a summer.

KIB could not plant the number of trees we do each year (over 3,500!) without the Youth Tree Team. Newly planted trees need 15 gallons of water a week to survive. With hot Indiana summers, we rely on YTT to maintain a tree survival rate of 97%.

Work outside? Check.
Earn money? Check.
Learn job skills? Check.
Free lunch? Check.
Regular hours? Check.
Team Building? Check.
New friends and fun? Double check.

If this looks like your summer job must-have list, especially the working outside one, you want to apply for our Youth Tree Team.

As part of YTT, you'll be out watering, staking, and mulching trees all over Marion County from the beginning of June through the end of July.

Youth Tree Team Volunteer

Along with daily work, our YTT employees have weekly enrichment activities, including hiking, tree ID, learning financial management skills, and learning from community partners around Indianapolis.  

Members work 20 hours per week (5 hours per day, 4 days per week), and lunch is provided each day at no cost. The pay rate for high school youth is $12/hour and $15/hour for leaders. Young adults and college students looking for summer employment with our Youth Tree Team can serve as leaders helping to guide and oversee the work YTT accomplishes throughout the summer. 

JOB READINESS TRAINING
Getting our high school employees ready for future jobs is important to us. As part of summer employment, we provide job readiness training to all our youth.
 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Fill out and submit your application (applications due April 1st)

Step 2: Participate in our Applicant Event in May where you will water and mulch trees with other applicants. 

YOUTH TREE TEAM COMMITMENT

  • YTT Member applicants must currently be enrolled in high school.   
  • Candidates must possess the following characteristics: initiative, professionalism, respect, interest in the environment, pride in your work, responsibility, and the ability to work with a team.
  • YTT members work 20 hours per week (5 hours per day, 4 days per week).
  • Must not miss more than 8 days of the program.

  • You will water, mulch, and stake trees. Duties also include weeding, picking up litter, heavy lifting, filling out work logs, and completing other duties as assigned. 

  • You must be able to carry two, 40-pound buckets of water while walking several hundred feet

View a full job description for the Youth Tree Team.

WHAT KIB PROVIDES

  • A meaningful way to spend a summer that will support our city's urban forest
  • Teamwork experience and great friends
  • Leadership skills
  • Personal finance skills
  • Fun enrichment activities with local Indianapolis leaders
  • Practical tree-care training
  • $12 per hour starting wage
  • FREE lunch on each work day

APPLICATION PROCESS

Step 1: Fill out and submit your application (applications due March 17th) 

Step 2: Job Interview

YOUTH TREE TEAM LEADER COMMITMENT

  • YTT Member applicants must have a valid U.S. Driver's License and be at least 19 years old.   
  • Applicants must also have a high school diploma or equivalent 
  • Candidates must possess the following characteristics: be hard-workers, consistent in attendance and punctuality, unbiased towards gender, creed, or ethnicity.

  • Leaders must participate in Leader Training and the Youth Applicant Workday Event in May 

  • YTT members work 20-30 hours per week (5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week).

  • You will water, mulch, and stake trees. Duties also include weeding, picking up litter, heavy lifting, filling out work logs, and completing other duties as assigned. 

  • You must be able to carry two, 40-pound buckets of water while walking several hundred feet

View a full job description for a Youth Tree Team Leader.

WHAT KIB PROVIDES

  • A meaningful way to spend a summer that will support our city's urban forest
  • Teamwork experience and great friends
  • Leadership skills
  • Personal finance skills
  • Fun enrichment activities with local Indianapolis leaders
  • Practical tree-care training
  • $15 per hour starting wage
  • FREE lunch on each work day