AmeriCorps - Urban Forestry - Horticulture

Urban Forestry - Horticulture The ZOO UNTO OTHERS Ameri Corps Program The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (CZBG) and Ameri Corps have partnered to serve three communities in our region (Human, Wildlife and Ecological Communities) to further our mission and create a world where both people and wildlife can thrive and prosper. To this end, we have created service positions that bring a variety of fun, impactful, and conservation-based service opportunities that positively impact youth, zoo visitors, the animals in our care and our local environment.

Examples of the impactful service the program provides are:

• Providing quality STEM education to economically disadvantaged PreK-12th grade students
• Engaging Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in conservation practices and behaviors.
• Creating and maintain Zoo and community garden spaces that create wildlife habitat and green space for residents.
• Maximizing the wellbeing of the animals in our care
• Creating conservation partnerships that amplify our impact.
• Supporting a variety of sustainability initiatives that reduce our carbon footprint.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things - our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our beautiful botanical garden, our friendly staff... but did you know that we have a strong set of core values that make us the best team around, and a Top Workplace in Cincinnati?

We're more than coworkers... we're family. By building Collaborative Relationships
, displaying Positivity & Energy
, having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership
, supporting Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect, and embracing Progressive Thinking
, we have built a team of dedicated staff that focuses on our visitors, our community, & our future. This is what we believe and how we act. If this gets you fired up, we look forward to having you join our team! The Ameri Corps Member in this position would contribute to the establishment and long-term success of urban tree plantings and micro-forests in the greater Cincinnati area through the evaluation of past installations and methods, development of educational resources that can be shared with community partners involved with urban reforestation efforts, and the physical installation of trees and micro-forest within communities in this urban environment.

The member in this role will learn about the process of urban reforestation and build upon the relationships that we are cultivating with the community of Avondale and greater Cincinnati. ABOUT THE POSITION The incumbent is a full-time Ameri Corps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 12-month term of service (October 5, 2026 to September 24, 2027).

They will report directly to and be supervised by the Horticulture department. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days, and assigned as needed. Due to the nature of this role, tasks may favor an indoor or outdoor setting for periods of time during the service year.
Service Goals:
Primary Service Goals Include
:

• Evaluation of tree planting projects in greater Cincinnati, specifically zoo-affiliated projects, to ascertain factors that contribute to the success or failure of these sites.
• Creation of shareable resources to assist other groups in the successful establishment of trees and micro-forests in the urban landscape. This would include information about site preparation, tree selection, methods of planting and establishing new trees, long-term care for these species and spaces, and challenges that these trees and micro-forests may experience in the face of climate change, development, and other issues specific to the urban environment.
• Support for Horticulture Department in the planning & creation of micro-forests within Avondale and the greater Cincinnati area
• Contribute toward the CZBG Legacy Tree program by growing seedlings and cuttings from trees that have been identified as genetically valuable specimens. These trees can be distributed and utilized in underserved communities to enhance the urban tree canopy, maintain diverse urban forests, and spread our legacy tree messaging as it relates to different plants, promoting strong…