A Glimmer of Green: How The Gaia Project is Preparing Teens for Sustainable Careers

Climate change is upon us, and industries are finding innovative ways to adapt to ecological risks, government policy and environmentally conscious consumer values. With this evolution comes the need for new skills and job training across diverse sectors from marketing to health, to energy, and more. In today’s climate, any job can be a green job. 

In New Brunswick, the movement towards sustainability in professional settings is gaining speed, rapidly. And that means new jobs are emerging, and existing jobs are being redefined. Either way, the need for new talent and expertise is increasing, and that’s why The Gaia Project is quickly becoming New Brunswick’s leading green career exploration resource for high school students.  

Green Micro-Internships: Spend a Day in a Sustainability-Focused Workplace 
With immersive learning at the core of our approach to climate education, the value in offering day-long micro-internships to high school students was evident when our team evaluated how best to support teens in green career exploration. Through this opportunity, students from across the province are invited to sign up for a Green Micro-internship, where our team helps to identify student interests, and the skills they’re eager to develop. With a vast network of over 100 Green Expert volunteers working throughout New Brunswick, we link students with workplaces that align with their personal passions. 

“The Green Experts program connects students with real-world sustainability careers through immersive worksite visits. These hands-on experiences spark curiosity, build confidence, and show youth that they have a role to play in shaping a greener future. It’s experiential learning at its most inspiring.” 
-Geoff MacDonald, Executive Director, The Gaia Project

To date, we have facilitated over a dozen Green Micro-Internships in both official languages. Students have engaged in sectors such as education, advocacy, forestry and agriculture, and the number of Green Micro-Internships offered is expected to double this year. And it’s no surprise that the buzz is growing! Since launching in fall 2024, student interest has unsurprisingly gained momentum, with students reporting back to classmates and sharing their learnings.   

“The Green Micro-Internship program is so valuable to high school students because it allows them to get hands-on work experience for their future plans. When my friend and I went to ACAP Saint John for our internship, we got to do so many hands-on projects! An outing like this is especially great for people who are planning on going into biochemistry, marine biology, forestry, environmental engineering, and other science-based careers like that in the future. We got to test the health of a stream, collect water samples, help monitor seals, and so much more! We would never have been able to do these things without this opportunity. Going to ACAP was one of the highlights of my year, because now more than ever, I’m excited for my future in a green career.”  
– Zoe, Student, Kennebecasis Valley High School 

The value that these experiences offer extends not only to students, but employers as well. Having the opportunity to connect directly with their future workforce allows employers to share knowledge and guidance about what environment-related issues their industry might be facing, and what skills they are going to need in order to address them. 

“My experience with the Green Micro-Internship Program was excellent! I would encourage any organization to participate as hosts for this program. Setting up Micro-Internship day was effortless and the reward of spending a day to expose an interested young mind to the world of what we do was significant…Just one of the highlights from my experience hosting was a realization that I likely learned as much from the student as they did from me. I was astonished at the wealth of knowledge they had on topics that at their age!” 
-Jeremy Hebert, Chelsey, District Forester, Southern NB Forest Products Marketing Board 
 

The Green Experts program: Green Career Exploration Resources for Teachers and Students   
In addition to facilitating Green Micro-Internship opportunities for high school students, The Gaia Project offers a slew of green career exploration resources including the My Green Job video series, the Exploring Green Jobs in NB learning package (for grades 6-12), and panel discussions hosted at New Brunswick schools and events throughout the year. One of the most engaging and unique offerings, however, is the interactive, digital Green Experts Map. Available at thegaiaproject.ca, the Green Experts Map showcases diverse Green Expert volunteers located throughout New Brunswick. Categorized by industry, students and teachers can explore Green Expert profiles of professionals working throughout New Brunswick. This provides students with an introduction to what a green job is, what types of professionals exist within their communities, and the stories about what led each professional to their career in sustainability.

Evidence of climate change is all around us. From increased flooding to forest fires, to ecosystem disruption and more, preventing climate change is no longer an option and adaptation is necessary. Governments and organizations are switching gears, and momentum around the integration of sustainable practices and expertise is gaining traction. Driven strongly by values, this generation of teens is eager to make a positive impact in both their personal and professional pathways. And as New Brunswick high school students start choosing the next steps of their academic journey, they need support in making informed decisions about what lies ahead. For that, The Gaia Project is here to help!

New Brunswick high school students can express interest in participating in a Green Micro-Internship through our online form. Once submitted, a member of our team will reach out for more information.

Interested in volunteering as Green Expert, or hosting a Green Micro-Internship at your workplace? Reach out to us here and a member of our team will get in touch! 

Author: Katelyn Plant, former Marketing & Communications Manager, The Gaia Project

 

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