Gowanus Canal Program Gives HS Students Chance To Make Green

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — Life finds a way, even around the polluted Gowanus Canal. Its banks still support abundant natural areas in need of help from green-minded high school students.

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy is accepting applications from high school sophomores for its $15-an-hour Green Team apprenticeship program.

Many students in previous years didn't have much, if any, exposure to nature, said Green Team supervisor Joanne Zhao. She said it offered not only their first job, but also their first chance to appreciate nature in its at-times slimy glory.

"Their reactions are really fun and funny," she said. "They'd say, 'Hey, Joanne, do I have to touch that worm?' I'd say, 'You can dig around it.'"

Zhao said she'll look through applications to fill up to seven positions, with preference to Gowanus and NYCHA residents. Low-income students of color are strongly encouraged to apply, she said.

A similar high school program in Brooklyn inspired Zhao to pursue environmental work when she was young.

"I could see the value of showing how environmental stewardship affects someone’s well being," she said.

The program will be about half in a classroom where the young apprentices will learn about Gowanus Canal history, environmental justice and the projects around the canal.

The other half will be outdoors. Zhao said the Green Team apprentices are the primary caretakers of the conservancy's native plant nursery.

"We get into the weeds, literally, into how to take care of a nursery," she said.

The neighborhoods around the Gowanus Canal used to be a salt marsh filled with grasses, wildflowers and small woody plants. Zhao said the apprentices will grow and maintain those plants, and also do other hands-on work pruning city trees, weeding and cleaning up natural areas.

They'll work right next to the canal, but won't be exposed to the high levels of contamination within it, Zhao said. She said their exposure will be no different than any other urban area.

"Nothing poses a direct risk to their health," she said.

The program lasts 13 weeks. Zhao said the spring portion will be 5.5 hours a week and the summer will be 12 hours a week.

The deadline for applications is March 20.