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Green jobs form a new category of occupations that benefit and improve the environment, pay living wages, and offer opportunities for career advancement. The green jobs movement has gained a lot of traction due to the political support
it has received and the tremendous growth in alternative energy and green industry sectors. Most green jobs require technical training rather than a college degree, making it an excellent path toward economic self-sufficiency for low income people. Green jobs range from solar panel installation to wind turbine maintenance, hybrid car manufacturing and repair, and parks administration and maintenance.
YouthBuild USA's Green Initiative has facilitated the involvement of New England programs in environmental education, training and awareness building since 1998 through a partnership with Eagle Eye Institute. Eagle Eye is dedicated to developing and disseminating innovative environmental education programs that transform the lives of urban youth. Eagle Eye provides hands-on exploratory learning on the envirnomental and career bridging to natural resource fields to underserved youth. 
Six YouthBuild Programs were selected in 2005 to participate in a three-year Green Industry Career Pathways demonstration project in partnership with Eagle Eye and The Trustees of Reservations. This partnership provides hands-on outdoor learning and introductions to careers in natural resource fields led by local industry professionals. Some of the industry skills the professional volunteers teach the YouthBuild students include tree climbing, pruning, wild-land fire fighting, horticulture, aerial lift equipment, chainsaw certification, and other tools of green space trades such as arboriculture, landscaping, and forest management.
This project resulted in the introduction of over 500 YouthBuild students to careers in the green industries, 25 of which secured internships and jobs following graduation.
YouthBuild programs have provided experience and training for many jobs in the green industry including:
Green building design and construction
Home retrofitting for increased energy efficiency
Hauling and reusing construction materials and debris
Hazardous materials clean-up
Landscape design and installation
Parks and open space restoration and maintenance
Recycling and reuse
Solar installation
Cool roof installation
Whole-home performance, including attic insulation and weatherization
Environmental site assessment and sampling
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