Youth Stewardship

Volunteering as a school group provides a wonderful outdoor experience for students – they learn about the history and necessity of Wissahickon Valley Park, get their hands dirty while helping maintain it, and walk away with the pride of knowing that they made a positive difference.

In addition to taking part in our public Volunteer Service Days, we are happy to plan a private event for you and your students. Start/end times and projects can be flexible, based on the group. For schools interested in scheduling a service day, we ask a donation of $15 per student in order to put a project together for you. Private service days are free of charge for School District of Philadelphia schools. Contact Amelia Marren, Volunteer Program Coordinator at marren@fow.org for more information.

Please fill out the Corporate and School Inquiry Form here and a staff member will get back to you shortly.

Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) is seeking five School District of Philadelphia students to join us this spring to work on various land stewardship projects within Wissahickon Valley Park! This opportunity is perfect for students interested in pursuing a degree or a career related to environmental science, ecology, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), or sustainability. This opportunity will teach students sustainable trail design, proper tool use, basic trail maintenance, and other land stewardship concepts. No experience or equipment needed. Everything from tools to instruction will be provided by FOW Staff.

This position’s time frame schedule is Tuesday, March 23 through Thursday, March 25 from 8:30am-3pm. This position is primarily field-based, and applicants should be comfortable with spending long periods of time outdoors in all-weather situations. Ideal candidates will have work & labor experience, are friendly and personable, can clearly communicate with the public, be highly motivated, and be able to successfully work as part of a team.

Schedule and Pay Rate: The schedule Tuesday, March 23 through Thursday, March 25 from 8:30am-3pm. Student can earn up to 18 volunteer hours. Volunteer hours will be prorated for any missed time.

Reports to: FOW’s Programs Manager

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assisting FOW staff members on land stewardship projects including wayfinding construction, stormwater infrastructure clean-ups, and other projects as needed.
• Learn tool safety, sustainable trail design, basic plant identification, and proper plant pruning techniques
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior in the School District of Philadelphia.
• Must be available for the entire term: Tuesday, March 23 through Thursday, March 25 from 8:30am-3pm
• Excellent verbal communication and active listening skills
• Must be comfortable using general hand tools including loppers, hand pruners, shovels, rakes and hand saws (Training is provided)
• Flexibility when dealing with work plans.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to work in a team environment.
• Must have reliable transportation. (The daily start/end location is near public transportation at 7301 Henry Ave, Phila., PA 19128.)

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions: Participants will be required to physically perform, as needed, any and all tasks assigned to them. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and carry this weight over long distances working in all kinds of weather and walking over uneven terrain. Participants will be required to wear appropriate attire for an outdoor setting with exposure to heavy machinery. Sturdy, closed shoes and appropriate pants are required. Hazards in the park may include ticks, ground-nesting bees and hornets, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and plants with thorns. Safety is our first priority, and we will not work outside in hazardous conditions.

Application will open in early 2027.

Friends of the Wissahickon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

No longer accepting applications. Applications will open in early 2027.

Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) is seeking five School District of Philadelphia students to join us this Summer to learn park stewardship within Wissahickon Valley Park! This opportunity is funded through Career-Connected Learning (C2L). C2L-PHL is the City of Philadelphia’s youth career development partnership. It helps youth and young adults develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to enter the workforce, careers, and community life.

This position is perfect for students interested in pursuing a degree or a career related to environmental science, ecology, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), or sustainability. This opportunity will teach students sustainable trail design, proper tool use, basic trail maintenance, and other land stewardship concepts. No experience or equipment needed. All tools and instruction will be provided by FOW.

This program will run in the summer (July-August). This position is primarily field-based and applicants should be comfortable with spending long periods of time outdoors in all-weather situations. Ideal candidates will have work & labor experience, are friendly and personable, can clearly communicate with the public, be highly motivated, and be able to successfully work as part of a team.

Reports to: FOW’s Programs Manager

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assisting FOW staff members on various park stewardship activities that include but are not limited to habitat restoration, trail improvements, cleaning out stormwater infrastructure, litter clean-ups, carpentry, or planting site maintenance.
• Learn tool safety, sustainable trail design, basic plant identification, proper plant pruning techniques, and trail maintenance.
• Practice leadership by using effective communication and leading groups of volunteers
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Must reside in the City of Philadelphia
• Current freshman, sophomore, or junior in the School District of Philadelphia (2025-2026 school year)
• Must be available for the entire term: 2027 term is TBD, 20 hours a week
• Excellent verbal communication and active listening skills
• Must be comfortable using general hand tools including loppers, hand pruners, shovels, rakes and hand saws (Training is provided)
• Flexibility when dealing with work plans.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to work in a team environment.
• Must have reliable transportation. (The daily start/end location is near public transportation at 7301 Henry Ave, Phila., PA 19128.)
• Must be able to produce documents to show proof of US citizenship and proof of employment eligibility

Compensation:

• $1,320 stipend for six-weeks, 20 hours a week
  • Approximately $11/hr

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions: C2L participants will be required to physically perform, as needed, any and all tasks assigned to them. Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds and carry this weight over long distances working in all kinds of weather and walking over uneven terrain. Participants will be required to wear appropriate attire for an outdoor setting with exposure to heavy machinery. Sturdy, closed shoes and appropriate long pants are required. Hazards in the park may include ticks, ground-nesting bees and hornets, poison ivy, stinging nettle, and plants with thorns. Safety is our first priority, and we will not work outside in hazardous conditions.

Application deadline has passed. Application will open again in early 2027.

Friends of the Wissahickon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Our Volunteer Service Days are fun, educational and provide a much needed service to the park. If you need volunteer/community service hours for graduation or clubs, this is an easy way to take care of those requirements. Our service days are easy to sign up for and no prior experience is needed. Some important information can be found below:

• Check out our upcoming service days here.
• Teenagers between the ages of 14-18 may volunteer on our service days with the signature of their parent or guardian on our online release form. Kids under the age of 14 may volunteer, but must be accompanied by an adult.
• If you have paperwork for us to sign to confirm attendance at any service day, be sure to bring it with you.
• What to wear:
  • Work gloves – these are provided at workdays if you don’t have them
  • Sturdy boots/sneakers – no open toed shoes
  • Long pants
  • Clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty
  • Sun protection – a hat & sunscreen
• What to bring:
  • Your own reusable water bottle to help reduce waste

For more information contact Marisa Miller at miller@fow.org.

When possible, Friends of the Wissahickon welcomes scouts and students to complete individual projects within the Wissahickon. Our ability to collaborate depends on our availability and the nature of the proposed project.

If you’re interested in completing a project, submit your proposal here.