Project Advantage: Green Industry Exploration

Cultivation of the individual
and the community
Project Advantage (PA) is YouthBuild Boston’s alternative education and workforce development program for young people, ages 16-18, offering academic and vocational training through hands-on exploration of the Green Industry.

Pathways towards success
A traditional, four-year highschool education is not for everyone. PA fills a void for students who don’t thrive in a mainstream classroom, and who may be interested in a career in the Green Industry. Students work to earn their GED while learningvaluable job skills. Our curriculum integrates high school level academics with hands-oninstruction in landscaping, carpentry, entrepreneurship, life skills and professional development. Students study ecological diversity, aesthetic values,
functionality and the benefit these principles bring to each site and the community. Upon graduation from the program, students work with our staff to secure employment.

What is the Green Industry?
The Green Industry is a trade sector comprised of people, products and businesses that focus on the natural environment, and of the functions which connect natural and built environments. Among other things, careers in the green industry focus on preserving natural environments and maintaining a healthy presence of trees and other plant matter within human environments. Fundamental Green Industry training can be a great asset, as it has a multitude of useful applications.

A sample of careers we explore:

landscape architecture - urban forestry - landscape design
arboriculture - parks and recreation - nursery production
horticulture - fruit and vegetable production - engineering
land preservation - carpentry - floral design - construction
architecture - interior landscaping - landscape maintenance

GET INVOLVED
To join, support, or hire Project Advantage, or to find out about mentoring and volunteer opportunities, please contact Peter Hinrichs, Program Manager at phinrichs@ybboston.org or 617.445.8887 x27.

Click here for more information and an application packet.