Weeds to Woods Naturally Urban Workforce Development Program

2023 Chesapeake Gateways Funding

$150,000.00

Baltimore Youth Find Their Path in Nature and Green Careers

In Baltimore City, urban farmland is becoming fertile ground for the next generation of environmental leaders. With the support of a $150,000 Chesapeake Gateways grant, Backyard Basecamp’s Weeds to Woods (W2W) program is transforming how local youth see their role in nature, and the role of nature in their futures.

W2W is nurturing a new generation of outdoor stewards, community changemakers, and green career professionals by meeting youth where they are, centering their lived experiences, and giving them tools to lead.

NPS/Eddie Gonzalez

Launched as a workforce development program for youth ages 16-21, W2W provides paid, hands-on training in outdoor leadership, environmental science, and green career exploration. In 2024, the program welcomed 14 young people, primarily from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, for an eight-month experience that blended outdoor skills, professional development, and deep exposure to Maryland’s ecological history.

Over the course of the program, the participants earned certifications in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, in addition to a $3,000 stipend and access to transportation support and outdoor gear, strengthening their outdoor readiness. The program structure allowed participants to stay involved throughout the school year, with expanded sessions in the summer months.

The program participants received hands-on education and training on Maryland’s natural history through field trips connecting them with green spaces across their city.

NPS/Eddie Gonzalez

What Did They Do?

• Engaged in camping, trail work, water quality assessments, mammal surveying, orchard care and urban farming, along with other environmental monitoring and stewardship activities at Leakin Park, Masonville Cove, Herring Run Park, Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, and BLISS Meadows
  
• Participated in workshops to empower them with professional insight financial literacy, job searching, and more as they launch and grow their careers
  
• Held “Fireside Chats” with professionals from the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baltimore Tree Trust, and others to build their professional networks and learn about the range of green career pathways
  
• Learned outdoor skills, like pitching tents and building a fire, and engaged in mindfulness and group reflection during an overnight camping trip (which became a program highlight)

W2W intentionally built a network of support and visibility around its youth, connecting them to more than 20 professionals in the outdoor sector and 10 Black-owned businesses. These collaborations offered mentorship, networking, and real-life insight into the breadth of careers in conservation, urban agriculture, and environmental education.

Beyond building technical skills and knowledge, W2W turned the participants into a tight-knit cohort of emerging environmental leaders. 

Backyard Basecamp

By the Numbers

• 34 applicants | 14 participants | 11 graduates
• 9 secured summer jobs
• 6 direct hires into Backyard Basecamp’s summer camp
• 20+ professionals and 10 Black-owned businesses partnered
• 15 unique learning experiences opportunities
• 1 powerful camping trip in service of their mission: empower youth through nature

Moving Forward

Through this Chesapeake Gateways-funded W2W season, Backyard Basecamp learned much about how to carry the program onward. The dynamic scheduling of activities helped participants balance their school and work schedules, the range of leaders and mentors connected participants with the many ways to engage with nature and pursue green careers, and the camping trip cemented a bond that was carried through the program. Looking ahead, W2W will strengthen coordination and communication for the transition out of W2W, adjust the stipend schedule to better reinforce the program’s workforce development goals, and respond to community needs through a new curriculum focus on urban farming.As the Weeds to Woods program evolves, so does its potential to shape Baltimore’s future workforce, as well as the face of conservation leadership in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Learn more about Backyard Basecamp