High School Explainer Program

The High School Explainer Program at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is a tiered internship for high school students who want to teach children and families about nature and plant science. New participants start as Intern Explainers, who are unpaid volunteers based in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden in the Bronx. Interns commit to at least 125 volunteer hours, which cover orientation, training, and weekend shifts. They lead hands-on activity stations for young visitors, attend seminars on topics such as botany, climate literacy, horticulture, and career development, and work in small groups on a citizen science phenology project in the Thain Family Forest. NYBG accepts interns twice a year, for a spring or fall session. The Spring 2027 session runs with one 4.5-hour shift every Saturday or Sunday from March 20 to June 19, 2027, after four required training days in March. Interns may receive OMNY cards to help with transit costs, plus free Garden admission for their families. After finishing the internship, Explainers can apply for paid Advanced, Mentor, and Senior Explainer roles.

Open to high school students. No special skills or prior experience are needed; the program looks for enthusiastic learners interested in nature and education. Submit an online application by the Spring 2027 application deadline of November 14, 2026. Applicants with complete applications are invited to an in-person group interview in November or December 2026. Accepted interns must attend orientation with a parent or guardian and complete all four training days.