Earth Seeds Ecology Internship
Summer 2025–Spring 2026
Led by Garden Ecology Youth Educator Daja Douglas, Earth Seeds is a 9.5-month paid youth internship that aims to help young people explore an intentional career in nature and become scientists and gardeners who use their skills to improve their lives, communities, and the environment.
Applications for this competitive program are currently open for high school students from Southwest Philadelphia. Click here to learn more and to apply.
Earth Seeds: Gardening for Good
“All that you touch you change. All that you change changes you.” – Octavia Bulter
The history of nature-based careers is marked by a legacy of injustice. From the displacement of Indigenous peoples through the establishment of national parks, to the appropriation of botanical knowledge from enslaved people to the destruction of plant and animal populations in the name of science, the field has a complex and painful past.
Acknowledging this history is essential as we look toward the future of our community in Southwest Philadelphia, where vulnerable neighborhoods are most at risk from environmental changes. This internship is an investment in the youth of our community, equipping them with knowledge, critical thinking skills, and practical expertise that will empower them both personally and as active agents of change within their communities.
Topics Covered & Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities for participants include:
- Carry an open mind and open heart
- Explore personal, cultural, family, and communal history
- Be an active listener and participant in discussions
- Commit to working on a team and accepting feedback
- Be able to lift over 40 lbs and work in all weather conditions
Topics covered include:
- Plant care
- Horticultural business management
- Seed collecting & seed banks
- Landscape design & installation
- Land management
- Tree care
- Resume building
- Conflict resolution & restorative justice
- Understanding topics such as:
- Birds (Ornithology)
- Plants (Botany)
- Mushrooms (Mycology)
- Rocks (Geology)
- Insects (Entomology)
- Climate change
- Ecology
- Local environmental policy
- Marginalized historical figures in nature-based fields
Important Dates for the 2025–2026 Course
Semester 1 | Summer: Connection (6 weeks: June 30–August 8)
This summer, we’ll focus on building connections—connecting to nature, your peers, and your community. We’ll spend time getting to know the land and learning about the plants, trees, and animals around us. Some activities include trips to local parks like Wissahickon Park and the Pine Barrens.
Hours: 20 hours/week, Tuesday – Friday, 8:30am – 2:00pm
Semester 2 | Fall: Experience (12 weeks)
In the fall, we’ll dive into hands-on gardening and nature work. You’ll learn skills like pruning, seed collecting, landscape design, and how to manage a garden. You’ll also attend workshops led by experts in the field and work on your own garden design.
Hours: 6 hours/week; Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 4 – 6 pm
Semester 3 | Spring: Capstone (20 weeks)
In the spring, you’ll choose a project that combines everything you’ve learned. You’ll finish with a portfolio of your work and share your project with the community in a final presentation.
Hours: 6 hours/week; Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 4 – 6 pm
Time Commitment & Attendance Expectation
The time commitment and hours for this internship vary per trimester:
- Summer 2025 (June 30–August 8, 2025): 20 hours/week, Tuesday – Friday, 8:30am – 2:00pm
- Fall 2025 (dates TBA): 6 hours/week; Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 4 – 6 pm
- Spring 2026 (dates TBA): 6 hours/week; Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 4 – 6 pm
We ask you to take a moment now and consider your capacity to dedicate time to Earth Seeds, as this internship is a 9.5-month-long commitment and each trimester’s coursework relies on knowledge and skills obtained in the previous one.
To that end, we have high expectations for class attendance. We understand people have circumstances beyond their control in their busy lives, but as this is a competitive program with limited spots available, your attendance should be prioritized.
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