Garden Apprentice Program

# Garden Apprentice Program The Garden Apprentice Program (GAP) is Brooklyn Botanic Garden's four-tier teen apprenticeship in urban agriculture and environmental education. Apprentices make a nine-month commitment from March through November, meeting once or twice a week during the spring and fall sessions and four days a week in the summer at one of the best-known public gardens in the country. ## What You'll Do - Grow and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs in BBG's Children's Garden - Learn botany and environmentalism through hands-on activities across the Garden's collections - Teach visitors about plants in the Discovery Garden and conduct science experiments (Tier 2) - Research, design, and build GAP carts - mobile educational exhibits wheeled out into the Garden (Tier 3) - Mentor newer apprentices and co-facilitate Children's Garden programming (Tier 4) ## Who Should Apply Students in grades 9-11: Tier 1 is open to 9th graders, Tier 2 to 10th graders, Tier 3 to 11th graders, and Tier 4 only to apprentices who have completed Tier 3. New applicants may enter at any tier except Tier 4. No gardening experience is required and there is no fee to participate. BBG accepts 12 to 14 apprentices per tier and typically receives about three times that many applications. ## Outcomes Apprentices spend roughly 190-220 hours at the Garden, all of which count toward school community-service requirements. Tiers 1-3 receive a one-time reimbursement of $600, $700, or $800 on completion; Tier 4 apprentices are onboarded as part-time BBG staff at $17 per hour.