Youth Outdoors Fellowship Progam | Cleveland Metroparks

Cleveland Metroparks Youth Outdoors Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity to combine the great outdoors with professional development and meaningful work. This program is designed for individuals who are eager to explore and learn about career opportunities within the field of parks and recreation, environmental education, nature-based education, natural resource management, and other related fields. Applicants must be ready to embark on an extraordinary journey and unlock the door to the world of Cleveland Metroparks opportunities!

Program Details

• Cohorts are 6 weeks in length.
• Regular meetings occur on Wednesday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m. with some Saturdays scheduled as needed for more in-depth activities. Saturdays are typically 4 to 5 hours in length.
• Fall 2023 Cohort I – September through November.  
• Spring 2024 Cohort I – February through April.  

Career Development

Participating youth will explore their career interests and skills, learn about employment opportunities, and gain valuable experience as it relates to the career fields mentioned in the program overview. Additionally, they will receive coaching and development in job related skills including but not limited to the following:  

• Resume writing
• Interviewing skills
• Personal branding

Outdoor Exploration 

Participants will experience the wonder of nature by pairing what they have learned during the career development sessions and applying it to hands-on outdoor and service-learning experiences. Core activities may include hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, team building activities, nature exploration, job shadowing, site tours, service projects and more. All activities build a connection to the outdoors and appreciation for the natural world as well as exposure to the many career opportunities within Cleveland Metroparks. 

“Nature is our greatest teacher.” – Edna Walling
 

Eligibility Requirements

Youth Outdoors Fellowship applicants must: 

• Be at least 14 – 18 years of age.  
• Be a resident of the City of Cleveland.  
• Return all required documents.
• Have an eagerness to embrace new experiences.  

How to Apply

All fully completed applications and two (2) reference forms must be received by the deadline of 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023. 

Application
Reference Form

Important Dates

Application deadline: August 5, 2023                  
Interviews for admission finalists: August 12, 2023
Admission decisions: August 21, 2023            
(*Youth will be notified by mail and/or email of admission decisions)
Program start date: September 13, 2023

For more information contact:
Youth Outdoors Fellowship Program
Cleveland Metroparks
11350 Broadway Ave
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Phone: 216.206.1010
Email: yo@clevelandmetroparks.com