Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is committed to supporting the next generation of conservation leaders to take action, make a change, and do good!
TRCA offers several programs to support youth and young adults who are interested in getting involved in the conservation sector. Whether you are a high school student looking for volunteer opportunities, or an environmental professional looking to take the next step in your career, we’ve got an opportunity for you!
TRCA Youth Council
Ages: 16-30
Requirements: Reside or go to school within TRCA’s jurisdiction
Looking to make a positive impact in your community? TRCA’s Youth Council is for young people with a passion for building healthy communities through improved connections to greenspace and nature.
Led by a 10-member Executive, the Youth Council is designed to give young people in the Toronto region a way to come together to identify issues that matter to them and provide them with the tools to take real action.
The Youth Council is a part of TRCA’s Regional Watershed Alliance.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YOUTH COUNCIL
Young Conservation Professionals (YCP) Leadership Program
Ages: 18+
Requirements: Minimum two years of professional experience in the environmental sector
This year-long personal and professional development program is designed for conservation and environmental professionals looking to take the next step in their careers.
Participants attend three residential retreats throughout the year focused on personal and professional leadership development and a minimum of four workshops focused on key leadership and management skills.
Launched in 2005, the YCP Leadership Program now has a network of more than 220 alumni across Ontario and beyond.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YCP LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Conservation Youth Corps
Ages: 14+
Requirements: Participants must be enrolled in high school
Have fun and make a difference while earning high school volunteer hours in your community.
TRCA’s Conservation Youth Corps (CYC) program is busiest during the summer months, offering both virtual modules as well as hands-on opportunities for students to help out with conservation projects in their community.
CYC also hosts a wide variety of events throughout the spring and fall, ranging from plantings, litter cleanups, and invasive species removal to the recent Climate Action Leadership Retreat, a gathering devoted to learning about climate change and developing leadership skills with like-minded local youth.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CYC OPPORTUNITIES
Girls Can Too
Ages: Females in grades 7–12
Earn experience, gain confidence, and build your resume with Girls Can Too (GCT)!
This summer program is designed to introduce and prepare young women for trades-based careers in the environmental sector. GCT program participants can earn up to 35 volunteer hours while completing projects that contribute to the ecological well-being and sustainability of the community.
Participants learn a range of hands-on skills from successful female environmental professionals.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GIRLS CAN TOO
Ravine Youth Team
Requirements: Candidates must be a resident of Toronto and a recent graduate or currently enrolled in post-secondary education related to the environmental sector.
Developed in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Ravine Youth Team is a student internship program that engages youth in restoring Toronto’s ravines while providing them with enhanced employment opportunities within the environmental sector.
The program is designed to expose students to various roles and career paths within the sector, as well as to networking, support, and direction in pursuing future career opportunities.
Ravine Youth Team members work four days a week during their contract and engage in professional development one day per week. Work tasks vary but may include planting, litter clean-ups, erosion risk management, and terrestrial and aquatic monitoring.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RAVINE YOUTH TEAM
Newcomer Youth Green Economy Project
Ages: 18-29
Requirements: Must be a newcomer to Canada
The Newcomer Youth Green Economy Project (NYGEP) is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to help produce new leaders in conservation.
Throughout this five-month part-time program, participants are placed with a host employer in one of four environmental career pathways to gain Canadian environmental sector work experience. The host employer provides a mentor to guide the working group through completing a real-world project.
The NYGEP program runs from October to March.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NYGEP PROGRAM
