Ready to ignite your potential?
Join our 2024 Intern/Apprentice cohort at Spark-Y,
where BET meets PROFESSIONAL meets EMPOWERMENT.
What’s in it for you?
Get Paid: Earn money while working on game-changing projects.
Get Certified: Boost the resume with certifications in Sustainability, Urban Agriculture, Education, Entrepreneurship, and Automotive. (Backed by local employers!)
Get Experience: The hands-on kind; that actually impacts our community and local environment.
No experience? No problem.
Whether you're just starting out or already on your journey, we've got your back. Our supportive environment has multiple pathways to engage - so you’ve got options.
Already got some experience?
Awesome! We've got opportunities to take your skills to the next level. Learn to lead teams, manage resources, and deliver results like a pro.
Sound like your kind of vibe? Check out our pathways:
I need a career kick start -- A paid, short-term resume-builder:
PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP:
Ages 14-18
Program Dates: June 24 - August 6. (No programming the week of July 4th.)
Time: Tuesday-Thursday, 6 hrs / day.
Join our sustainability summer bootcamp and dive into gardening, water stewardship, aquaponics, and more. Work in project teams in hand-on sustainable projects throughout the Twin Cities. Earn an Urban Farming and Entrepreneurship Certification. Plus, get $500 for training and $15/hr after!
Fill out our form to apply
I’m building on my professional experience and ready to specialize:
PATHWAYS APPRENTICESHIPS:
Ages 18-30.
Program Dates: May 15 - August 31 (flexible start and stop dates)
Time: 15-25 hrs / week
Choose from specialized apprenticeships in Education, Horticulture, or Sustainable Projects. Earn $15/hr while gaining expertise in your chosen field.
Education:
Interested in the field of hands-on education to inspire and empower others? Design and facilitate hands-on learning experiences in sustainability, agriculture, and STEAM.
Horticulture:
Do you have a passion for plants, sustainability, and hands-on learning? Support our urban ag systems and projects while gaining expertise in horticulture, urban farming, and hands-on learning projects.
Sustainable Projects:
Interested in gaining project management expertise - the ability to deliver results on time and on budget while guiding interns along the ride? Join us as a Sustainable Projects Apprentice and add project experience to your professional toolkit.
I have some professional experience and now I’m eager to guide and inspire!
LEAD A SUMMER INTERNSHIP TEAM:
Ages 18-30
Program Dates: June 24 - August 6. (No programming the week of July 4th.)
Lead a team of interns, ages 14-18, in our summer sustainability bootcamp. Gain resume-boosting leadership and mentorship experience while delivering tangible outcomes for the environment. Plus, get a $500 stipend upon training completion, and $15/hr after!
BECOME A SENIOR APPRENTICE
Ages 18-30.
Program Dates: Flexible
Bring your expertise in education, horticulture, or sustainable project execution/management to Spark-Y, where you can gain leadership experience and professional growth while making a difference. This position provides a larger engagement opportunity at 20-30 hours/week. Get a $500 stipend upon training completion, $15/hr thereafter, and unlock potential $1,000 program completion award!
Seize the opportunity to spark change this summer! Spaces are limited, so apply now and we’ll see you soon!
Spark-Y Certification
Spark-Y interns are held to a high degree of excellence.
Certificates are awarded to interns who have proven the following:
As an individual, each intern:
Demonstrated understanding of the 5 E’s of Sustainability™
Assisted a major Spark-Y fundraising event
Received project management, entrepreneurial, and sustainable systems training
Developed the 5 keys of professional empowerment
Had 90% or greater attendance during the course of the internship program
Worked with a team to deliver professional-quality results, meaning, he/she/they:
Worked directly with a client as a sustainability contractor
Delivered project goals to client expectations
Managed a project timeline and budget
Completed a written final project report
Delivered an oral final project presentation
2021 INTERNSHIP GRADUATES
Jadon Jackson, Malik Jackson, Isaac Miller, Makya Butler, Ebrima Manneh, Elaine (Jude) Van Zee, Tova Eian, and Ayla Carr.
2020 internship graduates:
Eleanor Traxler-Menz, Ella Selmecki, Paige Mueffelman, Joann Wu, Khoi Le, Bryce Mason, Eliza Pessereau, Nora Nederloe, and Julia Gehvenbeck-Miller.
2019 Internship graduates:
Anteneh Zelalem, Cole Frazier, Dhairya Gupta, Emily Haus, Emma Shedd, Franci Haeg, George Bonete Quintero, Habon Samatar, Hani Abukar, Jahir Aquino, Jared Miller, Joyce Wong - Above and Beyond Award, Kawther Hassan, Keriann Cooper, Maria Montero - Above and Beyond Award, Mary Clare O'Shea, Nicholas Berg, Nicholas Campion - Above and Beyond Award, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Olya Noyes- Spark-Y Spirit Award, Piper Lepine, Quinlan Genrich - Above and Beyond Award, Raiyyan Ahmed, Robbie Creadick, Sarah Anderson- Above and Beyond, Simon Graves - Spark-Y Spirit Award, Sydney Burrell, Tunger Hong -Above and Beyond Award, and Umulkheir Abdinoor.
2018 INternship graduates:
Tarryn Michelson - Collaborative Leader Award, Isabelle Paulsen - Collaborative Leader Award, Hamza Yusif, Isaac Groven, Hannah Wallace - Community Outreach Distinction, Sheila Sullivan, Aidan Cuoco, Amir Sheikhali, Miguel Garcia Rosales, Davon Washington, Michael Salzl, Natalie Dusek, Jahir Aquino Moran - Young Leader Award, Gabriel Cayetano, Andy Uvences Bonilla, Erin Boehme - Community Outreach Distinction, Shannon Van Dusartz - Collaborative Leader Award, Modou Dibba, Alejandra Diaz Torres, Salma Khalif, Peyton Thao, Nicholas Lockert - Above and Beyond Award, Megan Anderson, Abby Aasen, and Connor Solvang - Above and Beyond Award.
2017 Internship Graduates:
Daniella Torres-Skendi, Ella Spurbeck, Evan Schumacher, Freya Hatch-Surisook, Maverick Oblikson, Max Doty - Community Outreach Distinction, Kelly Kidwell, Sarah Ziskin - Community Outreach Distinction & Young Leader Award, Simon Kluzak, Zaki Abdi, Anna Jentz - Community Outreach Distinction, Charles Kinnegerg - Community Outreach Distinction, Christian Herrera, Claire Hueg, Daijiro Yokota, Elise Hanson - Community Outreach Distinction, Erin Purvis, Holly Check - Community Outreach Distinction, Judy Anne De Veyra - Above and Beyond Award, Kristen Chalmers - Collaborative Leader Award, Luke Carlson, Madeline Reed, Minette Saulog - Community Outreach Distinction, Nicholas Jacob, Ojiugo Ojebe, Sarah Westcott, Taylor Schroeder - Community Outreach Distinction, and Wil Larson.
2016 Internship graduates:
Rachel Mazac - Community Leader & Dedication Distinction, Zackery Allison - Community Leader & Dedication Distinction, Makenna Short - Community Leader & Dedication Distinction, Justine Oesterle, Melisa Rodriguez - Resilience & Commitment Distinction, Conor Arneson, Dylan Martin - Community Leader & Dedication Distinction, Jenny Fischer, Bekah Kropp -Dedication & Commitment Distinction, Brandon Arneson, Krista Martinka, Megan Gillen, Erin Gustafson - Above & Beyond Distinction, Kristen Chalmers - Above & Beyond Distinction, Mána McBurnie, Georgia Powell, Theresa Hunt - Dedication & Leadership Distinction, Ryland Sorensen, Luke Carlson, Maya Toney, Tucker Nyhlen, Naveed Nezhad, Kelly Kidwell - Dedication & Leadership Distinction, Phong Mia, Julia Revier - Community Leader & Dedication Distinction, Stacie Graves, Morgan Lillie, Jacksin Rusnacko, Peter Biros, Jakari Walker - Dedication & Achievement Distinction, Adelaide Ravensborg - Above & Beyond Distinction, Kharli Johnson, and Zaki Abdi.
2015 internship graduates:
Jack Wahlquist, Rachel M. Mazac, Caitlin Barnhart, Laura Hayes, Joe Lerro, Mose McLain, Will Scully, Minah Swason, Khoa Le, Andrew Bocher, Kajsa Beatty, Katie Lynn Goodin, Luke Fernandez, Maddie Bartholomew, Courtney Lehman, Kathleen Hobert, Arianna Benson, Drew Anderson, Rhiannon Dalrymple, Connor Williams, Phong Mai, Bryan Jones, Olivia Wilson, Elena Rosko, Jack Kellner, Kristin Skoog, Owen Geier, Sarah Jabar, Elizabeth Zalanga, Thomas Steinkamp, Mack Trotter, Rachel Lang, Abdifitah Farah, Maria Chiang, Sol Kaasan,Stacie Graves, Morgan Lillie, Nick Steckman, Jessica Sanders, Jess Bass, Sam Menzies, Alyssa Cocoran, Srah Kroening, Kasie Schultz, Megan Van Loh, Kirsten Roepke-Larsen, and Alia Oldenburg.