By Christina Hernandez
2026 Summer Conservation Apprentice

The smallest decisions can create the greatest change. For me, it began with stopping to read a poster advertising a youth conservation program. During my sophomore year of high school, Groundwork Hudson Valley’s Green Team was hiring teenagers from across Yonkers to take part in hands-on conservation work. Although I knew little about conservation, I decided to apply.

For three years, I worked with Groundwork, building relationships across Yonkers, constructing green infrastructure, and restoring neglected green spaces. Each project showed me that meaningful change often begins with small actions. As my skills grew, so did my desire to contribute on a broader scale.

One Green Team project in particular stands out for me: building bog bridges at Westchester Land Trust’s Otter Creek Preserve. As the only adult among my coworkers, I could use power tools to help assemble the bridges. Working alongside WLT Preserve Manager Ben Kleist, I drilled one wooden plank at a time and saw how each small task helped protect the preserve while making it easier for people to experience the land. That project sparked my passion for hands-on stewardship.

When I was accepted into WLT’s apprenticeship program this summer, I was thrilled to expand my work beyond Yonkers. I learned to operate new tools and blaze trails while developing independence and confidence as a caretaker of the land. Each WLT staff member showed me a different side of conservation, and with every project and volunteer event, I became more confident in my ability to lead, solve problems, and share what I had learned.

This summer, I returned to Otter Creek and saw dozens of people using the bridge I helped build. Seeing them walk across those boards made me think about the choices that led me there: pausing to read one poster, applying to the Green Team, learning new skills, and eventually helping others experience the land. That seemingly ordinary choice changed the direction of my life.

Now, I plan to pursue a career in urban forestry and bring what I have learned home to Yonkers. I want to help the city’s green spaces flourish, one small decision, one project, and one neighborhood at a time.

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