Each summer, EYA hires a group of four Youth Crew Members (ages 15-20) to help to maintain our wildlife habitat sites, plant medicine gardens, and other outdoor programming areas in East Vancouver. We also hire two Crew Leaders (ages 19-25) to lead the group.

Crew Members work Monday - Friday from 10am - 4pm (30 hours per week). Crew Leaders work an additional 5 hours to plan and communicate work tasks.

As a Youth Habitat Crew member, you’ll gain skills in the following areas:

• Native plant identification
• Invasive plant removal techniques
• Seed harvesting and processing methods
• Medicinal plant harvesting and processing
• Tool maintenance and use
• Teamwork, communication and self-management

Crew Leaders will also develop skills in supervision, leadership, facilitation, and work planning. See full job descriptions above.

The application process starts with an online application form (linked above). Crew Leaders are also asked to submit a resume and cover letter. Following this, shortlisted youth will receive an invitation to a 45-minute interview over Zoom or at Strathcona Community Garden with an EYA member which is followed by a reference check. We know it takes time to apply for a program like this and will respond to all applicants, whether you are selected for an interview or not.

There are four Crew Members and two Crew Leaders.

The day starts at 10am when you’ll meet other Crew members at one of EYA’s programming sites. The daily schedule includes an opening circle, a 2 hour morning work block, a 45 minute lunch break, two 1.25 hour afternoon work blocks with a 15 minute break in between, and a closing circle. The work includes completing site projects assigned by EYA’s Sites & Stewardship Manager and the Crew Leaders, including invasive species removal, harvesting plant medicines, watering, digging, cleaning and organizing. Crew Leaders will email Crew Members a weekly work plan to confirm meeting locations and projects.

We use the following communicable disease protocols to keep our staff and participants safe:

• Face masks are optional. EYA provides disposable masks for staff or participants who choose to wear them.
• If a participant is sick, they should notify an EYA program staff right away.  EYA staff may direct the participant to wear a mask / maintain distance from other participants, or ask them to go home.
• Hands must be washed or sanitized:
  • When entering and leaving the garden
  • After coughing or sneezing
  • Before and after eating