Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) is an environmental and community nonprofit with a mission to help people and nature thrive. We partner with neighborhoods, local government, universities, community groups, and businesses to achieve our vision of an Indianapolis that is loved, cared for, and ecologically rich. We work with thousands of volunteers each year to plant trees and native landscapes, organize litter cleanups, develop, and support community placemaking, restore habitat, and employ youth.

KIB’s Youth Tree Team (YTT) Program is a summer job skills development program for high school students and adult leaders. YTT functions as one of KIB’s primary boots-on-the-ground maintenance teams and is responsible for the maintenance of trees planted within the city of Indianapolis through our Community Forestry program. The program also includes weekly enrichment activities that expose YTT members to a variety of personal and professional development opportunities. YTT Leaders are responsible for managing and transporting crews of 11 high school students to and from worksites to perform tree maintenance work throughout the city. 

Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities:

Crew Management and Supervision

• In tandem with another YTT co-Leader, oversee and work with a 11-person team of high school students in caring for trees planted through KIB’s Community Forestry program, with the goal of ensuring tree survivability.
• Motivate and initiate crew members to work efficiently and effectively as a team.
• Ensure all youth follow work safety practices and use appropriate/required PPE.
• Effectively manage and mitigate any conflict that may arise amongst team members, as well as report any incidents or issues to the YTTM

Field Work

• Lead and work as a member of an 11-person team of high school students in maintaining tree plantings in parks, neighborhoods, and medians across the city, with the goal of growing and maintaining a healthy urban forest.
• Safely transport crew to and from worksites in a 15-passenger van with a watering or flatbed trailer.
• Assist youth in the proper watering and mulching of all trees at each assigned project. Watering occurs on a weekly basis per site, whereas each tree is mulch once annually. Crews will occasionally stake trees on an asneeded basis.
• Accurately track and report the work as completed each day, including any issues noted in the field, such as dead, missing, or leaning trees that will require future action. 

Professional Development

• Attend and actively participate in education, training, and enrichment opportunities for the YTT Members.
• Encourage active participation and engagement from crew members in all enrichment activities.
• Participate in collaborative professional development opportunities between the Urban Naturalist team and YTT high school employees to facilitate mutual learning and provide valuable college and career insight to KIB’s high school employees.
• Provide both positive and constructive feedback to crew members informally throughout the season as well as during formal mid- and end-of-season feedback sessions.

Job Requirements:
Applicants must be at least 19 years of age and possess an interest in youth development, environmental topics, and a willingness to engage with high school teammates and the community. In addition, applicant must be:

• Willing to learn and perform all basic tree maintenance practices.
• Able to receive and give both positive and critical feedback.
• In possession of a valid Driver’s License.
• Experienced in driving a truck or van with a trailer, or willing to learn.
• Able to work outside during all weather conditions.
• In accordance with work safety practices and appropriate/required PPE use.
• Able to regularly lift over 40 pounds.
• Able to commit to working the summer with minimal absences (<4 days absent).
• Able to walk long distances and withstand physical demands of the job.

Additional characteristics of a strong candidate include:

• Energetic and eager to motivate peers and team members.
• Interested in gaining knowledge of urban forestry and motivated in working outdoors.
• Passionate about learning and helping others to do the same.
• Able to use good judgment in decisions that help the health and safety of the team.
• Representative of KIB’s Cultural Values of Teamwork, Responsibility, Excellence, Openness, Balance, and Joy.