Youth for Blue Skies is an environmental and community-based internship program for high school youth, ages 15-18. In partnership with the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality & the Clean Air Program, youth interns will learn about air quality action; Learning lessons from nature about how we can improve our relationships with the environment, improve air quality as a community, and engage with topics such as climate change & environmental justice through experiences in our Sonoran Desert community. Throughout the internship, youth will choose and prepare a topic related to the internship’s key themes and present in groups at the CRiA (Collaborative Research in Action) Symposium organized through the TUSD Culturally Responsive Pedagogy & Instruction (CRPI) department on the final day of the internship.
By applying you can:
- Earn a $400 stipend for completing all internship program requirements
- Participate in:
- 1 Family & Intern Orientation
- 7 Field Days: Exploring nature and participating in community projects
- A 3-Day, 2-Night Campout over Rodeo Break
- Final presentation & celebration day at CriA Symposium
- Connect with the land
- Gain ecological knowledge & environmental monitoring experience
- Learn about climate change from experts in the field
- Make new friends and connections with other youth across Tucson and southern Arizona
- Participate in community projects to improve the environment
- Gain leadership & work experience !
Quotes from Previous YBS Interns
“We’re actively making the world a better place through our actions, no matter how small they are.” -YBS 2024 Intern
“I’m more aware of how my environment is being affected by the things we do and also just more open to doing things in nature like hiking. Whenever I’m stuck in traffic, I always think about how much worse the air quality must be getting from it.” -YBS 2023 Intern
“Throughout this internship program I have become more conscious of me and my households behaviors, or lack of, in individually trying to mitigate climate change. I have also learned more about my work habits and how to better balance responsibilities.” -YBS 2022 Intern
