Every year of his high school career, senior Roots and Shoots member Owen Geier said he has participated in internships working in gardens.

“(Working in the garden was) actually really nice. I think gardening is very essential to a person’s health and it makes them happy,” Geier said.

The new executive director of nonprofit charity St. Louis Park SEEDS, Curtis Wilson, said he has experience in working with youth and other internship projects prior to working with SEEDS.

“I worked with a group called Spark-Y Youth Action Labs for five years developing their educational curriculum in schools of a hands on experience, so entrepreneurial food programs,” Wilson said. “Essentially (I have) been working with youth, not just in schools, but with youth for the last decade or so to empower them with the skills, the real life skills that they need to make change happen.”

Roots and Shoots member senior Nathan Kempf said the SEEDS internship includes other responsibilities other than just gardening.

“(The program is) going to be taking care of the community gardens, and also looking after the kids during the day and helping educate (the elementary school children involved in the program),” Kempf said.

According to Wilson, the time commitment is smaller than it is for a part-time job and should be convenient for those participating.

“It’s going to be 10-15 hours a week, and essentially, we’ll have a night where we get together. It’s going to be working around other people’s work schedules, but it’ll give us one night a week to get together and improve, and receive professional training and get together with like-minded people,” Wilson said.

Wilson said this is an opportunity that is also available for people who don’t want to get their hands dirty.

“They could work in the gardens at kids place, they could also be in the community garden here at the Jewish community center, could also be developing aquaponics, or mushroom, what we call mycro abbreviation in the cities,” Wilson said. “If they’re not into that thing, another area would be marketing or social media, perhaps making a video, or making flyers, or a social media campaign or Instagram.”

According to Wilson, there are multiple benefits to participating in the internship, including the opportunity to earn money.

“One benefit is having fun while you make a change and knowing that you’re part of making a difference in the community,” Wilson said. “There will be a competitive stipend available, which is probably important for some students, to talk about the opportunity to get paid this summer, it’s not guaranteed, but it’s a competitive stipend.”

Geier said SEEDS has given him more than just experience; he credits SEEDS to helping get into college.

“Personally I don’t have the kind of grades to being going to the U of M but because of all my garden stuff and extracurricular activities, all of the amazing opportunities I had to do with (SEEDS), I got in,” Geier said.

Wilson said to contact him at  curtis [email protected] or (952)288-7193 if interested in applying for the internship.