Youth Empowerment in Brooklyn’s Backyard

This year, a familiar sight graced some of the park’s most beloved community destinations: Brooklyn teens in our Woodlands Youth Crew and Park Youth Representatives have been hard at work caring for our natural areas and engaging our community at Lefferts Historic House and the Prospect Park Audubon Center.

Applying to high school? Learn more about our partner BASE High School and how it supports the next generation of green leaders. Register for an Open House today! 

The Woodlands Youth Crew (WYC) is an essential part of the Alliance’s work to restore and sustain Brooklyn’s last remaining upland forest. The program provides teens with training, mentorship and professional experience in environmental conservation and park stewardship. This year’s crew of 20 youth from 15 different local high schools have spent their summer and fall delving into urban gardening and horticulture, including invasive species removal, planting, erosion control, trail work and more to help sustain our park while gaining valuable paid professional experience, networking skills, mentorship and more. 

“I’ve seen this group grow in countless ways throughout the seasons,” shares Alliance Woodlands Youth Crew Program Manager Kendra Srebro. “One of my favorite things to do is to encourage the youth to teach each other. I teach one youth crew member a skill, and then supervise them teaching one of their fellow peers. When they are empowered to teach a skill they not only learn it more thoroughly but also gain confidence. This team has impressed me so much with the attention to detail and the care they’ve put into their work; from caring for our tools to communicating with one another, learning a new restoration technique, and taking on new challenges.”

The team also embarked on field trips, applying their knowledge and skills to a range of real world settings and in a variety of natural landscapes, including the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. “A skill I’ve learned on the Youth Crew is how to remove mugwort and many other invasive plants. It is very rewarding since we can clearly see the difference before and after,” shares Woodlands Youth Crew Member Tian Han. “I learned to identify both invasive and native species, learned to use different types of tools and also teamwork.”

At Lefferts Historic House, a team of three Park Youth Representatives (PYRs) welcomed and guided visitors through the museum, assisted with daily programs, and ensured the smooth day-to-day operation of the site. Beyond their work at the museum, the PYRs were instrumental in helping us deliver community partner programming, including this year’s Pinkster celebration and our recent Pow Wow. 

“Watching the PYRs grow in confidence has been rewarding and inspiring,” shared Public Programs Manager, Riah Kinsey. “This year, our PYRs came from a variety of backgrounds within the African diaspora, with many being recent immigrants from West Africa and the Caribbean. Through our programming, they’ve not only had the opportunity to learn about other cultures within their community, but also about the ways in which their own cultures have contributed to the history of Flatbush and New York at large. It’s great to see the progress they’ve made in speaking confidently about those topics and to observe the thoughtful conversations they have with each other.”

At the Prospect Park Audubon Center, a team of 16 PYRs made a meaningful impact through encouraging visitors to “Be a Park Champion,” guiding parkgoers on how to care for their park with citizen science activities, nature observation, hands-on crafts and stewardship projects. PYRs engaged the community in important environmental topics, including pollinator diversity, pond water health, wildlife adaptation and woodland protection, while fostering a deeper connection to the park’s natural habitats. 

“It has been inspiring to watch the PYRs grow—becoming more confident in asking questions and resourceful in finding answers,” shared Alliance Public Programs Manager Camilla Wilson. “As they discovered this confidence, they became more open and welcoming to visitors. We are proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the energy, curiosity and dedication they bring.”

In August, the WYC and PYRs came together for a career scavenger hunt to explore the breadth and diversity of careers in green spaces. Youth embarked on a search to find and meet with Alliance team members across departments to discuss careers. 

“The Park Youth Representatives and Woodlands Youth Crew are growing into something much bigger than part-time employment,” says Alliance Vice President of Public Programs Maria Carrasco. “These young leaders are gaining skills, confidence and mentorship that connect them to nature, to their community, and to future opportunities in school and careers.”

As part of the Alliance’s Youth Development Initiative, the programs are expanding to offer deeper training, year-round support, and clear pathways into higher education, green careers and civic leadership. The future of PYR and WYC is centered on growth, equity and impact, transforming work opportunities into long-term experiences that prepare Brooklyn teens to thrive as stewards of the park and as leaders. 

Learn more about Youth Employment Programs in Prospect Park.

Youth Employment Programs receive generous support from the Carol and Edmund Blake Foundation, the Gray Foundation, Macy’s and New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.