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Youth Forest Council

Are you inspired by young environmental activists? Do you feel called to make a difference in your own community?

The City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council is an immersive, yearlong paid internship connecting young people (ages 16-20) in Austin to careers in natural resources and public service.

Three photos of Youth Forest Council activities, spreading wildflower seeds, taking kayaks out for a clean up on Ladybird Lake, and climbing trees in professional gear.

Youth Forest Council members work with Urban Forest Program professionals to support community activities and develop their own connections to Austin’s natural spaces. Members have the opportunity to:

Gain valuable, firsthand knowledge about trees and green careers
Plan community events and festivals
Design educational materials to be shared with Austinites
Represent the Urban Forest Program in their own neighborhoods

Members of the Youth Forest Council earn $22.05 per hour.

What to expect and how to apply

Are you a good fit for the Youth Forest Council?

The Youth Forest Council provides an opportunity for young people to use their unique skills and talents to support our urban forest. While the main focus of the Youth Forest Council is forestry and environmental stewardship, we encourage young people with interests in arts, community organizing, business, and more to apply.

An ideal Youth Forest Council member will be:

Curious about our environment and interested in exploring careers related to it
Passionate about getting involved in their community
Able to attend one (1) full council meeting each month (meetings will be held at locations throughout Austin; transportation assistance may be available)
Able to work about 10-15 hours per month for a full year (June–May)
Currently living within the City of Austin or the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)
Eligible to legally work in the United States

There are no academic requirements for participation in the Youth Forest Council.

The Urban Forest Program seeks to enhance Austin’s quality of life by fostering a healthy urban forest for all. We encourage young people from communities of color and historically underserved to apply.

Before joining Youth Forest Council I knew I wanted to help the environment in a broad sense. Now I feel excited to explore careers in Urban Forestry and Environmental Education. YFC has introduced me to so many great people and taught me a lot about myself. YFC is the best!
—2021 Youth Forest Council member

Questions? Email us!

Apply to be a Youth Forest Council member

Applications are currently closed for the 2026-27 cohort. Applications will open again in January 2027 for the next cohort.

We’re so happy that you’re interested in becoming a Youth Forest Council Member. Please read this section for more information on applying. If you have questions at any point throughout the application process, email the Youth Forest Council coordinator.

What you will need to apply:

About 1.5 hours to complete the Youth Forest Council Member Application
Answers to these short answer questions (PDF; 3.3MB)
One (1) reference to complete the Youth Forest Council Recommendation Form

Application materials for the 2026-2027 cohort were due no later than March 15, 2026.

If accepted...

If selected to participate, applicants will become employees of the City of Austin and must follow all City rules and policies. Youth Forest Council members must agree to do their best to represent the City's Urban Forest Program in their communities with respect and professionalism. Accepted Youth Forest Council members will be required to complete necessary hiring documents and verify their work eligibility with acceptable documents.

More information regarding these processes will be sent following acceptance decisions.

Need a printable PDF of the application or recommendation? Have questions about the process?

Email the Youth Forest Council coordinator.

Meet previous Youth Forest Council members

2025 Members

A photo of _____, Youth Forest Council member in the 2025-26 cohort.

V'Jae Brown

Pathway: Youth Programming

V’Jae joined the Youth Forest Council, because he believes environmental work should be rooted in equity, community, and long-term care. Growing up in Killeen, Texas, he saw how a lack of green space and tree cover shaped everyday life, especially in communities that already face other forms of inequity. He cares deeply about creating solutions that are sustainable, accessible and community-centered. Through YFC, he had the chance to help expand tree equity, support youth leadership in environmental action, and contribute to work that makes people feel more connected to both their neighborhoods and the natural systems around them.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Govalle Elementary School

V’Jae worked with school administration and Austin Climate Action & Resilience to plant trees on the Govalle Elementary School campus. Using funding from a Bright Green Futures grant, he and fellow YFC member Germán coordinated a volunteer event to plant 15 native Texas trees.

Corinne Castonguay

Pathway: Youth Programming

Corinne joined YFC, because it sounded like a career that aligned with their values and also left space for them to focus on school.

Community Action Project: Girl Scout Badge in a Day Workshop

Corinne coordinated a workshop for Girl Scout troops to earn badges by completing activities that engaged them with the urban forest, which included tree education, art, and mulching.

Amai Flores

Pathway: Youth Programming

Amai joined YFC, because she wanted to get to know her fellow Austin community better, while also helping it in return. This opportunity to do both something useful and fun felt like something she couldn't pass up, and it has definitely turned out to be very rewarding!

Isela Gonzalez-Patino

Pathway: Youth Programming

Isela joined YFC to meet new people that shared the same dreams and passions as her.

Will Harris

Pathway: Community Engagement

Will joined YFC, because he wanted to learn more about the ecology of the city he’s lived in his whole life.

Rockwell Heilbron

Pathway: AISD Tree Inventory

Rockwell joined YFC to reconnect with nature, make a positive impact on his community, and learn his way around trees.

Satori Maeder

Pathway: Youth Programming

Satori joined YFC to connect with people who shared the same interests and values, and to learn more about urban forestry and green careers.

Julianna Phillips

Pathway: Youth Programming

Julianna joined YFC, because she wanted to explore environmental career paths and make a direct impact in her community. She also loves working with kids, so the education pathway was perfect for her!

Briana Romero

Pathway: AISD Tree Inventory

Briana joined YFC because of her desire to work in a green career. She enjoys being outside in nature, and she wanted to learn more about trees. What got her excited was being able to work with others who had similar interests and appreciation for nature like herself. She definitely got to do what she loves doing while being with YFC like working with youth, kayak-clean-up projects, tabling and outreach, and doing nature walks. Being in YFC taught her that everyone deserves to have equal access and benefit from nature or wildlife spaces.

Germán Uzcategui

Pathway: Youth Programming

Germán joined YFC during his first year of college, because he was looking for new experiences, meaningful ways to get involved, and opportunities to meet people who shared similar values. He wanted to grow outside the classroom while making a tangible impact, and YFC gave him the chance to do that through environmental service and community engagement.

Community Action Project: Govalle Elementary Tree Planting

Germán partnered with fellow YFC member V’Jae to coordinate a volunteer tree planting event at Govalle Elementary School. He recruited volunteers and resources from community partners, and together they were able to plant 15 trees on the campus.

Miah White

Pathway: Community Engagement

Miah joined YFC, because she wanted to make a positive impact on the community.

2024 Members

A photo of _____, Youth Forest Council member in the 2024-25 cohort.

Kate Abel

Kate joined YFC, because she wanted to see how skills she learned in school translate to the real world and because she feels strongly about advocating for sustainability. She also enjoys being outside and wanted to see what it was like to work in local government.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting and Campus Beautification at Vandegrift High School

Kate worked with school administration and the Austin Climate Action & Resilience to plant trees on the Vandegrift High School campus. Using funding from a Bright Green Futures grant, she planted three native Texas trees in the school’s courtyard and added flower barrels to the art yard.

Check out the article about Kate's project here: Sustainability Spotlight: Vandegrift High School

Kate served as an Urban Forest Fellow, finishing her Community Action Project and assisting with community engagement events.

Jalina Adams

Jalina joined YFC to learn more about trees and how to maintain them. While growing up, she loved trees and had different species of trees in her backyard. Working with YFC as an intern inspired her to care more about the trees and surrounding areas in need of trees. With that, she’s willing to go out and help others with planting and share facts about certain trees.

Community Action Project: Apartment Arborist

Jalina conducted an experiment growing small trees from seeds into saplings on her apartment balcony using grow bags/pots. She also had her community come out to learn more about the seeds she’s growing and learn how she's maintaining them. Once the seeds grow, she will then transplant them into the ground in her community.

Check out the article on Jalina’s project here: Apartment Arborist

Crystal Alao

Crystal joined YFC to further explore how environmental science fosters itself outside of academia and to build community in Austin as a new resident!

Community Action Project: Girl Scout Tree Promise Badge Workshop

Crystal led a workshop for the Girl Scouts Tree Promise Badge teaching the girls about the importance of trees, tree equity, and how to be an educational steward for climate justice through honoring and serving trees.

Carlos Aldrete

Carlos joined YFC because he likes doing his part to help out the environment and staying informed on topics and potential careers that deal with environmental challenges.

Community Action Project: Tree Tales – A Canvas of Nature Art Gallery

Carlos collaborated with Brayden Thornton to organize McCallum artists in creating artwork inspired by trees. Each student was assigned a specific tree and given full artistic freedom to create a piece in their own style. All of the works were then brought together for an art gallery event that celebrated nature and promoted environmental awareness through art.

View the Tree Tales – A Canvas of Nature art pieces here! (PDF; 5.1MB)

Brayden Thornton

Brayden joined YFC because he believes that the environment plays a major role in mental and physical well-being. YFC gave him a chance to act on his values by working to protect and improve our environment. His dream is to one day serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he can advocate for the issues that matter most to him and help shape a better future for his generation and the ones that follow.

Community Action Project: Tree Tales – A Canvas of Nature Art Gallery

Brayden collaborated with Carlos Aldrete to organize an art gallery event that showcased student-created artwork inspired by trees. Each piece highlighted the beauty and significance of trees in creative, personal ways. The event brought together artists, friends, and community members to celebrate nature through art.

View the Tree Tales – A Canvas of Nature art pieces here! (PDF; 5.1MB)

Rowan Boyer

Rowan joined YFC because they’ve been interested and involved in nature, conservation/sustainability, and ecology for a long time. They love learning and helping people, and they were looking for ways to be more involved in local communities since starting college. Not to mention the fun summer outings and flexible schedule.

Community Action Project: Tabling and Presentation on Trees and Mental Health

Rowan hosted a table at Austin Community College centering the mental and physical health benefits of trees during the Earth Week Sustainability Fair. It featured resources, handouts, and take-home activities related to both trees/urban forests and mental health.

Elias Frank

Before Elias joined YFC, he lacked direction. When he learned that the city had a program to get young people involved in environmental stewardship, he was very interested.

Community Action Project: AISD Tree Inventory

With the help of AISD Urban Forester Sydnie Levell, Elias cataloged trees planted across several AISD campuses as part of the AISD Urban Forest Grant Inventory Project and checked up on their health. In total, he visited nine campuses and cataloged 545 trees. He also walked other interns through the process and acted as a go-between for each school's administration and Sydnie.

Lexi Fredine

Lexi joined YFC with an overwhelming love of nature. They plan to pursue a career in plant sciences, and this internship helped solidify their interest in urban forestry and plant stewardship.

Community Action Project: Gardening Club & Native Food Forest at McCallum High School

Lexi started McCallum’s gardening club, in which they host fun, interactive, educational activities every Thursday during club time. They also beautified the area around the solar classroom, planting a loquat tree, fig tree, mountain laurels, and a beautyberry bush.

Sophia Gonzalez

Sophia joined YFC to explore possible career opportunities and to develop a greater sense of community. It also seemed like a good first job experience with a close age range and opportunities for mentorship and growth.

Community Action Project: Branching Out at Home

Sophia created an informational flyer informing the average homeowner which trees would be best suited for them that she passed out in her neighborhood.

Genesis Herrera

Genesis joined YFC because it was the perfect opportunity to explore her career options and to get more involved and informed about how she could help the city and the environment.

Community Action Project: Afterschool Centers of Education (ACE) Think Trees

As students who attended low-income schools, Genesis and Anagabriela Segura wanted to foster an environment that would be fun as much as educational for the upcoming generation who will change, care, and inspire others about urban forestry and nature all around. They collaborated to lead after-school classes with the ACE program at Rodriguez Elementary, facilitating urban forestry education and activities.

Anagabriela Segura

Anagabriela joined YFC to be part of a wonderful community that provides great opportunities, support, and knowledge that she would not have otherwise encountered.

Community Action Project: Afterschool Centers of Education (ACE) Think Trees

Anagabriela collaborated with Genesis Herrera to lead after-school classes with the ACE program at Rodriguez Elementary, facilitating urban forestry education and activities.

Marina Kinzy

Marina joined YFC to explore how she could promote sustainable cities by harnessing the resources of Austin. She hopes to pursue a career in realizing the potential of symbiotic human and natural relationships.

Community Action Project: Perez Elementary School Tree Mural

Working with a UT student group that organizes student volunteers, Marina collaborated with Krithika Rajesh to plan the painting of a mural designed by a professional artist using funds from the Bright Green Futures grant.

Krithika Rajesh

Krithika joined YFC to connect more with the City of Austin and broaden her impact and knowledge base.

Community Action Project: Perez Elementary School Tree Mural

Krithika collaborated with Marina Kinzy and partnered with a volunteer org at UT called the Community Engagement Collective. They applied for and received a Bright Green Futures grant to fund a tree mural in one of their big volunteer day’s elementary school sites.

Dillen Pressly

Dillen joined YFC to become a more active steward to the environment, increase her knowledge of trees in Austin, get involved in her community, and to explore future green careers.

Community Action Project: Tree Inventory at AISD Campuses

With guidance from Sydnie Levell, Dillen worked to inventory trees planted under the AISD Urban Forest Grant Inventory Project. She used TreePlotter to log relevant information about trees at Graham Elementary, Overton Elementary, and Barbara Jordan Elementary. She logged over 150 trees across these campuses!

Andres Rodriguez

Andres joined YFC to build his leadership skills, meet people who share his interests, and educate others to care about nature and their local environment. He wanted to be part of a group that makes a real impact.

Community Action Project: Branching Out: The Story of Trees at UT Austin

Andres created an interactive ArcGIS Story Map focused on the trees of UT Austin. His goal was to blend environmental education with campus history, helping people see the trees not just as background but as living landmarks. This project helped him develop my skills in GIS, storytelling, and public outreach.

See Andres’ ArcGIS StoryMap on UT Austin trees here!

Zane Williams

Zane joined YFC to gain hands-on experience and knowledge regarding our city’s urban forestry environment and to explore green career opportunities. Zane plans to stay on with YFC for another year helping to lead and teach the next cohort of YFC interns, as well as continuing to further build his professional and volunteering relationship with TreeFolks. He also plans to complete his studies as an accounting major, in hopes of breaking into the realm of green business consulting.

Zane served as an Urban Forest Fellow, mentoring YFC members and supporting their Community Action Projects.

Previous cohorts

2023 Members
Lydian DiDonato Lydian joined YFC to learn more about the relationship between people and the environment while advocating for youth involvement in climate equity. Lydian completed over 153 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Lydian served as an Urban Forest Fellow, mentoring YFC members and supporting their Community Action Projects.	Raymundo Ulrich Raymundo joined YFC hoping to do and learn things about how to care for the natural spaces we have in our community, as well as to meet likeminded people who wanted to learn and do things related to what he cares about. Raymundo completed over 153 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Roy G. Guerrero Park Raymundo partnered with fellow YFC member Ryder to lead an invasive species removal/ brush burn pile project at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve.
Anish Palley Anish joined YFC because of his passion for being involved in a program devoted to eco-sustainability. YFC is the perfect blend of enjoyment, sustainability, and nature. Anish completed over 165 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Oak Wilt StoryMap Anish created a StoryMap on Oak Wilt utilizing ArcGIS to inform and compare Oak Wilt at the Local and State level. He also continued his previous year’s CAP with his remaining Bright Green Future School Grant money.	Gabby Crooks Gabby joined YFC to get the opportunity to experience new places and a new understanding of the outdoors as well as to find new find a community of friends outside of her school. Gabby completed over 106 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Tree Distribution at McCallum High School Gabby partnered with TreeFolks to give away 30 trees at McCallum to her neighbors and community.
Zane Williams Zane joined YFC to gain hands on experiences and knowledge regarding our city’s urban forestry environment and to explore green career opportunities. Zane has gained invaluable life experience, friendships, and knowledge throughout his internship that he is extremely grateful for. Zane completed over 161 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Zane also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members. Community Action Project: Propagation Video/Article Series and Make and Take Tabling Event Zane's CAP is split into two parts—each designed at educating the public about how to propagate Texas Native species. He hosted a tabling event where participants can get hands on experience with cutting and seed propagation, as well as learn about some cool native species. Check out his article and video series about seed propagation: Species Spotlight: Seed Propagation of the Texas Ebony Tree Discover the Marvels of the Mexican Buckeye Tree	Kate Abel Kate joined YFC because she wanted the chance to see how the skills she learned in school translate to the real world, and because she loves all things sustainability. Being a part of YFC looked like a great way to be outside, solve real-world problems, learn more about plants, and gain professional experience. This past year has been all of that and more! Kate completed over 114 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Kate also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members. Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Vandegrift High School Kate created a plan for a tree planting and planter box restoration at Vandegrift using funding from a Bright Green Futures grant. The event is set to take place in the fall of 2024!
Galileo Ambrosetti Galileo joined YFC because he really liked the message of Urban Forestry that was put out as well as the program having a highly flexible schedule that could be easily integrated into his life. Galileo completed over 114 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Texas Trees Mural Galileo painted an educational mural inside his school library depicting trees, grasses, and flowers native to Texas. It includes a QR code link to information about the specific species highlighted in the artwork.	Yasmine Puente Yasmine joined YFC to deepen her connection with the environment and nature, and to learn how to help her community better engage with the natural spaces that surround them. Yasmine completed over 123 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Navarro High School Yasmine’s CAP started out as a tree planting and then evolved into something larger. She revitalized the unkept community garden at her school that the Agriculture department is in charge of. As part of her project, she coordinated and led volunteers and students in cleaning up the garden and transformed it into a “Micro Food Forest.”
Abhishek Shrestha Abhishek joined YFC to try something new. "I never thought about urban-forestry, heck even forestry in general, in Austin. When I heard about the YFC internship, I was super interested. I wanted to be a part of this group and engage with my community.” Abhishek completed over 124 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Seed Ball Activity at Wells Branch Community Library Abhishek hosted his very own seed bomb activity at his local community library. He was able to talk to lots of kids and adults about the importance of native plants and urban forestry.	Ryder Thornton Ryder joined YFC to promote the urban environment in Austin. He completed over 142 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Blunn Creek Preserve Invasive Species Removal Ryder partnered with fellow YFC member Raymundo to lead an invasive species removal/brush burn pile project at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve.

2023 Members

Lydian DiDonato

Lydian joined YFC to learn more about the relationship between people and the environment while advocating for youth involvement in climate equity. Lydian completed over 153 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Lydian served as an Urban Forest Fellow, mentoring YFC members and supporting their Community Action Projects.

Raymundo Ulrich

Raymundo joined YFC hoping to do and learn things about how to care for the natural spaces we have in our community, as well as to meet likeminded people who wanted to learn and do things related to what he cares about. Raymundo completed over 153 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Roy G. Guerrero Park

Raymundo partnered with fellow YFC member Ryder to lead an invasive species removal/ brush burn pile project at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve.

Anish Palley

Anish joined YFC because of his passion for being involved in a program devoted to eco-sustainability. YFC is the perfect blend of enjoyment, sustainability, and nature. Anish completed over 165 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Oak Wilt StoryMap

Anish created a StoryMap on Oak Wilt utilizing ArcGIS to inform and compare Oak Wilt at the Local and State level. He also continued his previous year’s CAP with his remaining Bright Green Future School Grant money.

Gabby Crooks

Gabby joined YFC to get the opportunity to experience new places and a new understanding of the outdoors as well as to find new find a community of friends outside of her school. Gabby completed over 106 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Tree Distribution at McCallum High School

Gabby partnered with TreeFolks to give away 30 trees at McCallum to her neighbors and community.

Zane Williams

Zane joined YFC to gain hands on experiences and knowledge regarding our city’s urban forestry environment and to explore green career opportunities. Zane has gained invaluable life experience, friendships, and knowledge throughout his internship that he is extremely grateful for. Zane completed over 161 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Zane also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members.

Community Action Project: Propagation Video/Article Series and Make and Take Tabling Event

Zane's CAP is split into two parts—each designed at educating the public about how to propagate Texas Native species.

He hosted a tabling event where participants can get hands on experience with cutting and seed propagation, as well as learn about some cool native species.
Check out his article and video series about seed propagation:
- Species Spotlight: Seed Propagation of the Texas Ebony Tree
- Discover the Marvels of the Mexican Buckeye Tree

Kate Abel

Kate joined YFC because she wanted the chance to see how the skills she learned in school translate to the real world, and because she loves all things sustainability. Being a part of YFC looked like a great way to be outside, solve real-world problems, learn more about plants, and gain professional experience. This past year has been all of that and more! Kate completed over 114 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Kate also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Vandegrift High School

Kate created a plan for a tree planting and planter box restoration at Vandegrift using funding from a Bright Green Futures grant. The event is set to take place in the fall of 2024!

Galileo Ambrosetti

Galileo joined YFC because he really liked the message of Urban Forestry that was put out as well as the program having a highly flexible schedule that could be easily integrated into his life. Galileo completed over 114 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Texas Trees Mural

Galileo painted an educational mural inside his school library depicting trees, grasses, and flowers native to Texas. It includes a QR code link to information about the specific species highlighted in the artwork.

Yasmine Puente

Yasmine joined YFC to deepen her connection with the environment and nature, and to learn how to help her community better engage with the natural spaces that surround them. Yasmine completed over 123 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Navarro High School

Yasmine’s CAP started out as a tree planting and then evolved into something larger. She revitalized the unkept community garden at her school that the Agriculture department is in charge of. As part of her project, she coordinated and led volunteers and students in cleaning up the garden and transformed it into a “Micro Food Forest.”

Abhishek Shrestha

Abhishek joined YFC to try something new. "I never thought about urban-forestry, heck even forestry in general, in Austin. When I heard about the YFC internship, I was super interested. I wanted to be a part of this group and engage with my community.” Abhishek completed over 124 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Seed Ball Activity at Wells Branch Community Library

Abhishek hosted his very own seed bomb activity at his local community library. He was able to talk to lots of kids and adults about the importance of native plants and urban forestry.

Ryder Thornton

Ryder joined YFC to promote the urban environment in Austin. He completed over 142 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Blunn Creek Preserve Invasive Species Removal

Ryder partnered with fellow YFC member Raymundo to lead an invasive species removal/brush burn pile project at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve.

2022 Members
William William began interning for YFC because he was enthusiastic about outdoor recreation and aspires to be professional outdoor educator one day. William completed over 92 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.	Briseidy Alfaro Briseidy joined YFC because she loves to meet new people and explore opportunities outside. Her favorite YFC memory involved snorkeling over an ossified forest in Spring Lake at the Meadows Center in San Marcos. Briseidy completed over 75 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Bilingual eco-literacy at Widen Elementary Briseidy's project is based in the Dove Springs neighborhood at Widen Elementary where she designed a series of bilingual lessons that educated students about tree species ID, urban agriculture, and eco-literacy.
Esme Moreno-Bernacki Esme joined YFC because she wanted to make an impact in her community! She completed over 80 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Her favorite YFC memory was the tree climbing event that taught her how to ascend a rope into a tree. Community Action Project: Bilingual education for Ridgetop Elementary Esme created a bilingual program for students in her community at Ridgetop Elementary centered on sustainability, community agriculture, and urban forest education.	Anish Palley Anish joined YFC because he felt passionate about being involved in a program devoted to eco-sustainability. Anish completed over 132 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Additionally, Anish has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members. Community Action Project: McNeil High School tree planting and environmental education Anish is a winner of a Bright Green Futures Grant ($3,000) with the CoA's Office of Sustainability. His project involves the revitalization of courtyard gardens, tree planting, and engaging special education students in environmental education at McNeil High School.
Lydian DiDonato Lydian joined YFC because she wanted to feel like she was making a difference and fighting climate change in the local sphere. She has completed over 150 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Lydian also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members. Community Action Project: Environmental education at Oak Springs Elementary Lydian's project is based out of Oak Springs Elementary, where she'll be providing Project Learning Tree based programming aimed at teaching students the social, economic, and environmental benefits of trees via hands on learning.	Sujana Ganganamani Sujana joined YFC because she thought it would be a great chance to meet new people with similar interests. Sujana completed over 62 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: McNeil High School Courtyard Garden Sujana's CAP was held at McNeil high school, where she partnered with fellow YFC member Anish to organize creation of a courtyard garden.
Emma Chu Emma joined YFC when she realized she could use her creativity as a vehicle to enact greater change in the environmental world. Emma completed over 94 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.	Jamie Young Jamie joined YFC because he wanted to learn how to care for plants and trees both at home and in his favorite green spaces. Jamie completed over 170 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Roy G. Guerrero Park Jamie facilitated a tree planting event at Roy G. Guerrero Park, where students and members of the community actively engaged in a day of service through planting over 20 native tree species.
Cain Ly Cain joined YFC thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to gain valuable internship experience with the City of Austin. Cain completed over 230 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Tree Planting and Stewardship at Garza High School Cain is a winner of a Bright Green Futures Grant ($3,000) with the CoA's Office of Sustainability. Her project is centered on the creation of an Adopt-A-Tree program with students at Garza High School, where staff and students were responsible for planting and maintaining a food forest and various other trees and plants throughout the school's campus.	Kylie Nolan Kylie joined YFC because she wanted to learn more about environmental careers and network with Austin’s top eco professionals. She completed over 80 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Community Action Project: Nature is Always With Us Kylie create a StoryMap that documented her travels abroad and her interactions with nature. View Kylie’s StoryMap here: Nature is Always with Us

2022 Members

William

William began interning for YFC because he was enthusiastic about outdoor recreation and aspires to be professional outdoor educator one day. William completed over 92 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Briseidy Alfaro

Briseidy joined YFC because she loves to meet new people and explore opportunities outside. Her favorite YFC memory involved snorkeling over an ossified forest in Spring Lake at the Meadows Center in San Marcos. Briseidy completed over 75 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Bilingual eco-literacy at Widen Elementary

Briseidy's project is based in the Dove Springs neighborhood at Widen Elementary where she designed a series of bilingual lessons that educated students about tree species ID, urban agriculture, and eco-literacy.

Esme Moreno-Bernacki

Esme joined YFC because she wanted to make an impact in her community! She completed over 80 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Her favorite YFC memory was the tree climbing event that taught her how to ascend a rope into a tree.

Community Action Project: Bilingual education for Ridgetop Elementary

Esme created a bilingual program for students in her community at Ridgetop Elementary centered on sustainability, community agriculture, and urban forest education.

Anish Palley

Anish joined YFC because he felt passionate about being involved in a program devoted to eco-sustainability. Anish completed over 132 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Additionally, Anish has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members.

Community Action Project: McNeil High School tree planting and environmental education

Anish is a winner of a Bright Green Futures Grant ($3,000) with the CoA's Office of Sustainability. His project involves the revitalization of courtyard gardens, tree planting, and engaging special education students in environmental education at McNeil High School.

Lydian DiDonato

Lydian joined YFC because she wanted to feel like she was making a difference and fighting climate change in the local sphere. She has completed over 150 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education. Lydian also has the distinction of being selected as an Urban Forest Fellow to help mentor the next cohort of YFC members.

Community Action Project: Environmental education at Oak Springs Elementary

Lydian's project is based out of Oak Springs Elementary, where she'll be providing Project Learning Tree based programming aimed at teaching students the social, economic, and environmental benefits of trees via hands on learning.

Sujana Ganganamani

Sujana joined YFC because she thought it would be a great chance to meet new people with similar interests. Sujana completed over 62 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: McNeil High School Courtyard Garden

Sujana's CAP was held at McNeil high school, where she partnered with fellow YFC member Anish to organize creation of a courtyard garden.

Emma Chu

Emma joined YFC when she realized she could use her creativity as a vehicle to enact greater change in the environmental world. Emma completed over 94 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Jamie Young

Jamie joined YFC because he wanted to learn how to care for plants and trees both at home and in his favorite green spaces. Jamie completed over 170 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education

Community Action Project: Tree Planting at Roy G. Guerrero Park

Jamie facilitated a tree planting event at Roy G. Guerrero Park, where students and members of the community actively engaged in a day of service through planting over 20 native tree species.

Cain Ly

Cain joined YFC thinking it would be the perfect opportunity to gain valuable internship experience with the City of Austin. Cain completed over 230 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Tree Planting and Stewardship at Garza High School

Cain is a winner of a Bright Green Futures Grant ($3,000) with the CoA's Office of Sustainability. Her project is centered on the creation of an Adopt-A-Tree program with students at Garza High School, where staff and students were responsible for planting and maintaining a food forest and various other trees and plants throughout the school's campus.

Kylie Nolan

Kylie joined YFC because she wanted to learn more about environmental careers and network with Austin’s top eco professionals. She completed over 80 hours of Urban Forestry service dedicated to restoration work and environmental education.

Community Action Project: Nature is Always With Us

Kylie create a StoryMap that documented her travels abroad and her interactions with nature. View Kylie’s StoryMap here: Nature is Always with Us

2021 Members
Ava Ava applied to be a part of the Youth Forest Council because a family friend of hers offered to write a letter of recommendation for her before she even knew about the program. Her family friend said she felt this was a great opportunity to learn about sustainability – something she is extremely passionate about. After interning for the Youth Forest Council, Ava has solidified her passion for contributing to a more sustainable world. Thanks to this internship, she has officially applied to be a sustainability major in college. Community Action Project: Preservation Over Innovation Ava created a StoryMap that focused on the misconceptions about mass tree plantings being the solution to climate change. She worked to inform members of her community that we must preserve our urban forest before we can expand it through helpful maintenance tips. Check out her Community Action Project here: Preservation Over Innovation (arcgis.com)	Eliana Eliana applied to the Youth Forest Council because she saw it as a good opportunity. She was able to learn more about green careers and how it relates to environmental justice. The internship influenced Eliana to continue her education and pursue a career related to conservation. Community Action Project: Little Green Library Eliana’s community action project was the Little Green Library. It is the same concept as a Little Free Library but has an emphasis on complex environmental issues: the climate crisis, pollution, greenhouse gases, etc. She hopes this will educate children and adults in her neighborhood about ways we are harming our planet and ways we can better it, so that we may leave a world for future generations.
Fiona Fiona applied because she was interested in learning more about Austin’s urban forest, green careers, and environmental inequity. She feels that experiences in nature are extremely valuable to all people, and she greatly values her own experiences hiking, exploring, and being outside in green spaces in Austin. She will take away an even greater appreciation of nature and the systems, people, and communities that work to preserve it and make it a more equitable place for all. Because of the Youth Forest Council, she was inspired to pursue a career in environmentalism. Community Action Project: DisabiliTree: A Film on Disability and Trees Fiona created a digital StoryMap of her film DisabiliTree: A Film on Disability and Trees. The film explores the experiences of individuals and how they navigate disability and accessibility while maintaining a relationship with trees. She hopes that the film encourages viewers to evaluate accessibility in the natural spaces they enjoy and creates a representation of an underrepresented experience.	Juliette Juliette applied to be a member of the Youth Forest Council because she wanted an opportunity to make a difference in the Austin environmental community. She has always wanted to advocate for the environment from a young age and hoped that the Youth Forest Council would be able to provide her with the tools and information she needed to begin doing so. During the internship, Juliette was able to not only learn a lot about advocating for the environment but also pick up many other skills and experiences that could translate to any path of life she chooses to pursue. Youth Forest Council has also made her realize just how important it is that we preserve our wild spaces and bring nature into our city. Community Action Project: Austin Homegrown Parks Juliette created an instructional guide on gardening with native plants in the Austin area, to spread the concept of creating Wildscapes to help Austinites build their own.
Kiera Keira applied to YFC because it was just what she needed as a stepping stone to find out the possibilities in green careers and imagining what she could do with her life. Community Action Project: McCallum Tree Guide and Toolkit for Creating a Tree Appreciation Program on your AISD campus Keira's CAP grows an appreciation for the heritage trees (trees 24 inches or more in diameter and certain Texas species) on her school campus through personalized tree plaques made by students. On the plaques, there is a nickname, common, and scientific name on the plaque, along with a brochure guide with fun facts about trees and urban forests.	Sheridan Sheridan applied to YFC because she wanted to enhance her knowledge about Austin's urban forest, connect to her community, and continue to practice and put equity at the forefront of her work. After Sheridan’s experience, she has built her network and created a wonderful little free library that she is so proud of. Community Action Project: Little Free Library Sheridan built and painted Little Free Library with nature and tree-related resources. These resources include wildflower seeds, nature and tree-related books for all ages, tree coloring books, and tree guides. After going to check on the LFL one day, Sheridan actually found that someone had also added food to it, making it a food pantry as well!
Veronica Veronica applied to YFC because she wanted to learn more about green careers and forestry. She has learned so much about leadership and professionalism. Veronica is walking away with a better understanding of Austin’s urban forest and the impact it has on the community. Community Action Project: Project Learning Tree: Brykerwoods Elementary Veronica received her Project Learning Tree teacher certification during her YFC internship. She returned to her elementary school, Brykerwoods, to teach forestry lessons. She taught a small group of 1st-grade students and a class of 4th-graders. Veronica taught each grade level one Project Learning Tree lesson and lead one tree ID tour, adding up to a total of 4 lessons/visits. It was a great experience, and she will be going back next semester!

2021 Members

Ava

Ava applied to be a part of the Youth Forest Council because a family friend of hers offered to write a letter of recommendation for her before she even knew about the program. Her family friend said she felt this was a great opportunity to learn about sustainability – something she is extremely passionate about. After interning for the Youth Forest Council, Ava has solidified her passion for contributing to a more sustainable world. Thanks to this internship, she has officially applied to be a sustainability major in college.

Community Action Project: Preservation Over Innovation

Ava created a StoryMap that focused on the misconceptions about mass tree plantings being the solution to climate change. She worked to inform members of her community that we must preserve our urban forest before we can expand it through helpful maintenance tips.

Check out her Community Action Project here: Preservation Over Innovation (arcgis.com)

Eliana

Eliana applied to the Youth Forest Council because she saw it as a good opportunity. She was able to learn more about green careers and how it relates to environmental justice. The internship influenced Eliana to continue her education and pursue a career related to conservation.

Community Action Project: Little Green Library

Eliana’s community action project was the Little Green Library. It is the same concept as a Little Free Library but has an emphasis on complex environmental issues: the climate crisis, pollution, greenhouse gases, etc. She hopes this will educate children and adults in her neighborhood about ways we are harming our planet and ways we can better it, so that we may leave a world for future generations.

Fiona

Fiona applied because she was interested in learning more about Austin’s urban forest, green careers, and environmental inequity. She feels that experiences in nature are extremely valuable to all people, and she greatly values her own experiences hiking, exploring, and being outside in green spaces in Austin. She will take away an even greater appreciation of nature and the systems, people, and communities that work to preserve it and make it a more equitable place for all. Because of the Youth Forest Council, she was inspired to pursue a career in environmentalism.

Community Action Project: DisabiliTree: A Film on Disability and Trees

Fiona created a digital StoryMap of her film DisabiliTree: A Film on Disability and Trees. The film explores the experiences of individuals and how they navigate disability and accessibility while maintaining a relationship with trees. She hopes that the film encourages viewers to evaluate accessibility in the natural spaces they enjoy and creates a representation of an underrepresented experience.

Juliette

Juliette applied to be a member of the Youth Forest Council because she wanted an opportunity to make a difference in the Austin environmental community. She has always wanted to advocate for the environment from a young age and hoped that the Youth Forest Council would be able to provide her with the tools and information she needed to begin doing so. During the internship, Juliette was able to not only learn a lot about advocating for the environment but also pick up many other skills and experiences that could translate to any path of life she chooses to pursue. Youth Forest Council has also made her realize just how important it is that we preserve our wild spaces and bring nature into our city.

Community Action Project: Austin Homegrown Parks

Juliette created an instructional guide on gardening with native plants in the Austin area, to spread the concept of creating Wildscapes to help Austinites build their own.

Kiera

Keira applied to YFC because it was just what she needed as a stepping stone to find out the possibilities in green careers and imagining what she could do with her life.

Community Action Project: McCallum Tree Guide and Toolkit for Creating a Tree Appreciation Program on your AISD campus

Keira's CAP grows an appreciation for the heritage trees (trees 24 inches or more in diameter and certain Texas species) on her school campus through personalized tree plaques made by students. On the plaques, there is a nickname, common, and scientific name on the plaque, along with a brochure guide with fun facts about trees and urban forests.

Sheridan

Sheridan applied to YFC because she wanted to enhance her knowledge about Austin's urban forest, connect to her community, and continue to practice and put equity at the forefront of her work. After Sheridan’s experience, she has built her network and created a wonderful little free library that she is so proud of.

Community Action Project: Little Free Library

Sheridan built and painted Little Free Library with nature and tree-related resources. These resources include wildflower seeds, nature and tree-related books for all ages, tree coloring books, and tree guides. After going to check on the LFL one day, Sheridan actually found that someone had also added food to it, making it a food pantry as well!

Veronica

Veronica applied to YFC because she wanted to learn more about green careers and forestry. She has learned so much about leadership and professionalism. Veronica is walking away with a better understanding of Austin’s urban forest and the impact it has on the community.

Community Action Project: Project Learning Tree: Brykerwoods Elementary

Veronica received her Project Learning Tree teacher certification during her YFC internship. She returned to her elementary school, Brykerwoods, to teach forestry lessons. She taught a small group of 1st-grade students and a class of 4th-graders. Veronica taught each grade level one Project Learning Tree lesson and lead one tree ID tour, adding up to a total of 4 lessons/visits. It was a great experience, and she will be going back next semester!

2020 Members
Antonia Antonia had grown interested in environmental science and issues concerning climate change but also wanted to learn more about how these issues directly impact communities. Youth Forest Council seemed like a good way for her to learn more about how important trees and nature are in urban areas, as well as allow her to gain work experience and expose her to professions that she may want to pursue in the future. Nature has always been in her life, providing comfort, places to think, and inspiration. Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Forest Bathing Antonia partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Edgar and Evelyn to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through forest bathing and talk about her experience transitioning from high school in Austin to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.	Britney Britney applied to be a member of the Youth Forest Council to learn more about how she can support Austin's urban forest for the well-being of the community. Being in nature helps her ground herself in the present. It helps calm her mind. Community Action Project: Youth Forest Gallery Britney created the Youth Forest Gallery featuring art from young people across Austin that was inspired by trees and what they meant to each young person.
Edgar Edgar applied to the Youth Forest Council to learn about the green spaces in Austin and how important it is to respect that space. Nature was his go-to whenever stressed or just looking for fun. Nature is always there and embracing its beauty makes it more inviting to go out. Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Tree ID Edgar partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Antonia and Evelyn to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through tree identification and talk about his experience transitioning from high school in Austin to Boston University.	Eliane Eliane wanted to become better connected with the urban forest in her city while helping her community through projects aimed to create urban forestry appreciation among Austin residents. She believes that nature is something that everyone depends on if they realize it or not, and that apart from being a physical necessity for her life, it has become an amazing mental space for her to relax in. She is grateful to have so many nature resources in her community because it is so important to her well-being. Community Action Project: A Virtual Tour of Swede Hill Pocket Park Eliane created a virtual tour of Swede Hill Pocket Park in her neighborhood to encourage her neighbors to engage with their nearby nature. She also hoped for people to explore a part of town they may have never seen from their own homes!
Evelyn Evelyn applied because she wanted to give back to nature. After being in a nature-immersive mentorship program during middle school, she felt like it was her responsibility to further educate herself and her community about the environment in hopes of properly maintaining and sharing it. This program helped her grow out of her shell into becoming a better leader and communicator. Nature helped her push her limits (physically and mentally) and it has been a peaceful safe haven at times. Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Tree ID Evelyn partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Antonia and Edgar to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through tree identification and talk about her experience transitioning from high school in Austin to the University of Pennsylvania.	Isabel Isabel applied because she wanted a better understanding of the environmental issues Austin is facing. She believes that a better understanding leads to solutions to create change and she wants to make a change in her community. Isabel believes that she needs the environment around her to be healthy if she wants to be healthy. Nature matters to her because it is what she needs to thrive and live a healthy, happy life.
Kisara Kisara applied because she wanted to understand how the city works to care for and protect the urban forest. Secondly, she wanted to experience local government. Community Action Project: Youth Forest Stewardship Curriculum Kisara created a Youth Forest Stewardship Curriculum aligned with TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) as a resource for middle school teachers to teach their students about Austin's Urban Forest, sustainability, and more. To learn more about Kisara's curriculum or use it in your own classroom, please email youthforestcouncil@austintexas.gov.	Matthew Matthew applied to the Youth Forest Council because he was interested in learning more about trees and nature. This internship also was extremely flexible, so he could participate in addition to being busy at school. Nature has helped him to become more aware of the injustices in the world in terms of pollution and environmental destruction, so he became involved in environmental activism to ensure a sustainable future. He is also a hobbyist gardener, so he really enjoys observing different plants and bugs. Community Action Project: Barton Creek Greenbelt — An Interactive Map Matthew created a digital StoryMap of the Barton Creek Greenbelt so that people with more limited access to nature - during the pandemic or otherwise - could enjoy the greenbelt from their homes.
Maximos Maximos applied to the Youth Forest Council because he wanted to meet people outside of his usual circles while also learning to become a better citizen of Austin. He feels that nature, in its full glory, is an invigorating place to be. Whether it be open and grassy fields or silent and wooded areas, nature has always been where he could find himself and effectively introspect. Community Action Project: Trees of Central Texas Word Search Maximos created the Trees of Central Texas Word Search!, which includes tree images and fun facts. He hopes to educate people about our urban forest in a fun and engaging way. Download the Trees of Central Texas Word Search! (PDF; 1.7 MB)

2020 Members

Antonia

Antonia had grown interested in environmental science and issues concerning climate change but also wanted to learn more about how these issues directly impact communities. Youth Forest Council seemed like a good way for her to learn more about how important trees and nature are in urban areas, as well as allow her to gain work experience and expose her to professions that she may want to pursue in the future. Nature has always been in her life, providing comfort, places to think, and inspiration.

Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Forest Bathing

Antonia partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Edgar and Evelyn to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through forest bathing and talk about her experience transitioning from high school in Austin to Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

Britney

Britney applied to be a member of the Youth Forest Council to learn more about how she can support Austin's urban forest for the well-being of the community. Being in nature helps her ground herself in the present. It helps calm her mind.

Community Action Project: Youth Forest Gallery

Britney created the Youth Forest Gallery featuring art from young people across Austin that was inspired by trees and what they meant to each young person.

Edgar

Edgar applied to the Youth Forest Council to learn about the green spaces in Austin and how important it is to respect that space. Nature was his go-to whenever stressed or just looking for fun. Nature is always there and embracing its beauty makes it more inviting to go out.

Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Tree ID

Edgar partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Antonia and Evelyn to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through tree identification and talk about his experience transitioning from high school in Austin to Boston University.

Eliane

Eliane wanted to become better connected with the urban forest in her city while helping her community through projects aimed to create urban forestry appreciation among Austin residents. She believes that nature is something that everyone depends on if they realize it or not, and that apart from being a physical necessity for her life, it has become an amazing mental space for her to relax in. She is grateful to have so many nature resources in her community because it is so important to her well-being.

Community Action Project: A Virtual Tour of Swede Hill Pocket Park

Eliane created a virtual tour of Swede Hill Pocket Park in her neighborhood to encourage her neighbors to engage with their nearby nature. She also hoped for people to explore a part of town they may have never seen from their own homes!

Evelyn

Evelyn applied because she wanted to give back to nature. After being in a nature-immersive mentorship program during middle school, she felt like it was her responsibility to further educate herself and her community about the environment in hopes of properly maintaining and sharing it. This program helped her grow out of her shell into becoming a better leader and communicator. Nature helped her push her limits (physically and mentally) and it has been a peaceful safe haven at times.

Community Action Project: Stories Through Nature — Tree ID

Evelyn partnered with fellow Youth Forest Council members Antonia and Edgar to create a series of blog posts called Stories Through Nature. The posts highlight the social and emotional benefits of nature through tree identification and talk about her experience transitioning from high school in Austin to the University of Pennsylvania.

Isabel

Isabel applied because she wanted a better understanding of the environmental issues Austin is facing. She believes that a better understanding leads to solutions to create change and she wants to make a change in her community. Isabel believes that she needs the environment around her to be healthy if she wants to be healthy. Nature matters to her because it is what she needs to thrive and live a healthy, happy life.

Kisara

Kisara applied because she wanted to understand how the city works to care for and protect the urban forest. Secondly, she wanted to experience local government.

Community Action Project: Youth Forest Stewardship Curriculum

Kisara created a Youth Forest Stewardship Curriculum aligned with TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) as a resource for middle school teachers to teach their students about Austin's Urban Forest, sustainability, and more. To learn more about Kisara's curriculum or use it in your own classroom, please email youthforestcouncil@austintexas.gov.

Matthew

Matthew applied to the Youth Forest Council because he was interested in learning more about trees and nature. This internship also was extremely flexible, so he could participate in addition to being busy at school. Nature has helped him to become more aware of the injustices in the world in terms of pollution and environmental destruction, so he became involved in environmental activism to ensure a sustainable future. He is also a hobbyist gardener, so he really enjoys observing different plants and bugs.

Community Action Project: Barton Creek Greenbelt — An Interactive Map

Matthew created a digital StoryMap of the Barton Creek Greenbelt so that people with more limited access to nature - during the pandemic or otherwise - could enjoy the greenbelt from their homes.

Maximos

Maximos applied to the Youth Forest Council because he wanted to meet people outside of his usual circles while also learning to become a better citizen of Austin. He feels that nature, in its full glory, is an invigorating place to be. Whether it be open and grassy fields or silent and wooded areas, nature has always been where he could find himself and effectively introspect.

Community Action Project: Trees of Central Texas Word Search

Maximos created the Trees of Central Texas Word Search!, which includes tree images and fun facts. He hopes to educate people about our urban forest in a fun and engaging way. Download the Trees of Central Texas Word Search! (PDF; 1.7 MB)

I am very appreciative and fortunate to have been selected for this internship. I learned a lot about Austin, its urban forest, green careers, and learned a lot about myself and my interests in the process. This was a great experience.
—2020 Youth Forest Council member

Learn more about Austin's urban forest

Get the full story on community forest planning.

Visit the Tree Information Center to explore actions you can take to support Austin's trees.

Discover other youth-based resources from the Urban Forest Program.

Get the full story on community forest planning.

Visit the Tree Information Center to explore actions you can take to support Austin's trees.

Discover other youth-based resources from the Urban Forest Program.