The Green Team  

The Green Team program is a summer landscaping and environmental program for high school youth.  The program empowers and prepares youth to become productive citizens of their community and the economy as they transition from high school to the workplace.  The Green Teams is a natural outcome of Groundwork Bridgeport’s commitment to help communities eliminate environmental poverty and become vibrant, healthy, and safe places.  

Officially started in 2004, the Green Team evolved from an enhanced partnership with the National Parks Service and as a natural extension of the Butterflies Are Teachers program.  Groundwork Bridgeport had already developed a summer work program for the high school students engaged with the organization, and these students now represent our Green Team.

Each summer 10-12 students from Warren Harding High School have the opportunity for a paid summer landscaping internship with Groundwork Bridgeport.  After the high school students have volunteered in the Butterflies Are Teachers program, they can apply for the Green Team and if chosen, start landscape training prior to the summer work.  Inner-city youth have few opportunities to experience nature and the environment outside of Bridgeport.  Thus, in addition to a paying job, the Green Team program offers unique experiences outside of the city.  Our students have had the opportunity to hike on the Appalachian Trail, build trails at Weir Farm National Historic Site, and visit college campuses such as Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University..

The main objectives of the Green Team program are to:

1. Teach immediately applicable landscape job skills and career building skills such as developing a good work ethic, the importance of taking direction, the need for appropriate dress, and punctuality.

2. Expose students to job opportunities in the landscaping field, the National Park Service, and college campuses.

3. For students who successfully complete the program, assist with entrance to college or finding a full-time job in the greater Bridgeport area.

For Bridgeport youth, the Green Team program can offer an invaluable experience.  The summer internship is the first job most of our students have held.  Having summer work enables the students to earn and save money, to be trained with a marketable skill, to learn appropriate workplace behavior, and to stay involved in safe and healthy activities.  The students often comment that they like the tangible results of their work.  A hard day’s work in a garden has visible results for the team.  The program instills a sense of responsibility in the workers, and older students may be appointed as supervisors for groups of new and younger students in the program.  The supervisors are rewarded with an increase in pay if they show appropriate leadership and responsibility.

Green Team students working in the butterfly garden at Harding High School

While many of the Green Team students are not college bound at the beginning of the program, many of the students have gone on to college or secured a full-time job after high school graduation.  Groundwork Bridgeport has been fortunate in receiving funding over the last several years to provide small scholarships to some of the students moving on to higher education.   Green Team graduates have attended Housatonic Community College, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Dartmouth University, University of Connecticut, Cornell University, and Fairfield University.

The Green Team proudly reaching the summit after a long day of hiking.

Funding for the Green Team is provided by:
The Tow Foundation
George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation
The Inner-City Foundation for Charity & Education
The Tauck Foundation
The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation, Inc.
Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Inc.

Green Teams Across the Country
The Groundwork Bridgeport Green Team is one of a number of Green Teams throughout the Groundwork USA Network. 

The Groundwork USA Green Team program engages youth (ages 12-18) as catalysts for positive transformation in their communities through volunteerism, citizenship, pride, and creating healthy and safer neighborhoods.  The following cities are now served by Groundwork Green Teams; Bridgeport, CT; Concord, NH; Lawrence, MA; Providence, RI; Somerville, MA; Denver, CO; Elizabeth, NJ; and Yonkers, NY.  Visit the websites of the other Groundwork Trusts to see the work of their Green Teams.

Groundwork USA Green Teams will benefit people, places, and community prosperity.  Youth (ages 12-18) will develop marketable skills and citizenship through volunteerism and employment.  Vacant lots are cleaned and maintained.  Street trees are planted and pocket parks built.  Environmental health hazards are eliminated through education and action.  Residents become active citizens spearheading neighborhood projects.  Youth broaden their horizons through after school and summer learning programs.  Youth, adults and seniors work together, reknitting community fabric.