Youth Employment Programs

Greenager Program
The Greenager Program is a San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and Port of San Francisco youth stewardship and leadership program that runs from June through January each year. The program was created and designed to offer teens a chance to play an important role in the community by improving the city’s green spaces, raising awareness, creating place-based projects and/or projects based on issues or themes participants value and are interested in.

The Greenager Program is for teenagers that live in or attend a school in the southeast or northeast neighborhoods of San Francisco. Greenagers are trained and provided with multiple leadership opportunities. They facilitate workshops, lead public volunteer service projects, participate in community events, go on fun team excursions and more.

Our goal is to create a safe atmosphere in which youth can learn about the importance of the preservation of our parks and open spaces, voice their concerns about their environment and community, and take action while gaining fundamental job and life skills, push and challenge their perceived limitations, bond with like-minded peers and have fun all in their own backyard!

Quick Facts

• Program established in 2012 with a crew based in southeast SF
• In 2017, added a second crew based in northeast of SF
• 70 teens have successfully completed the 8-month program, 12 have returned as leaders for a second year
• Coastal Clean Up site captains since 2013
• Engaged with over 500 community members and key stakeholders
• Service provided in over 20 different parks and opens spaces in San Francisco
• 8,300 hours of service to our city’s parks and open spaces, community events and rec centers
• Received Board of supervisor’s program commendation on July 29, 2014
• Annual sailing excursion with Blue Water Foundation and other fun adventures including camping to get youth outdoors

Program Incentives

• 1^st year Greenagers can earn up to $100/month
• 2^nd year Greenager leaders can earn up $150/month
• Earn community service credit (varies by school)
• Forge new long-lasting friendships
• Gain valuable and transferable job skills
• Advance your leadership & public speaking skills
• Gain professional work experience
• Explore new parks, rec centers & open spaces
• Learn about SF’s native flora and fauna
• Network with various organizations and like-minded youth
• Meet physical education requirements if applicable (varies by school)
• Go on fun camping trips and excursions
• Looks great on your resume

Who can be a Greenager? 
To be a Greenager you must meet the criteria below:

• You must live in or attend a school in the Southeast Sector of San Francisco (Excelsior, Portola, Bayview, Hunter’s Point, Visitation Valley, Crocker Amazon, or Potrero Hill) or Northeast Sector of San Francisco (Western Addition, Tenderloin and Chinatown); or you must be referred to us by one of our direct partners
• Must be a 9^th to 12^th grade student
• Must be able to commit to the full program

How do I apply?
To apply, complete our online application.

If you have questions about the program, please e-mail sfrpdgreenagers@sfgov.org or call 415-831-6319.