What kinds of jobs exist related to protecting the environment?

First of all, kudos to you for being involved and caring so much about our environment. It seems like you have learned quite a bit about various aspects of environmental conservation.

Environmental careers are so broad in scope that it really depends on what you want to focus on. Maybe you can pinpoint what you have been most excited to learn about and do during your time at Keep Austin Beautiful, which will help guide your path and narrow down where you would like to focus your studies and eventual career on. Environmental jobs can range from keeping a manufacturing facility or company in compliance with environmental regulations to maintaining and conserving open space in your community by working with your municipal or state governments.

So many private sector companies, government agencies and non-profits hire environmental professionals, that the opportunities are endless. I would recommend you do some research into some of these careers and talk to the people that have those jobs. Also, focusing on environmental subjects at school, is a good start.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Hello! Nice work on all you are already doing to improve your community.

I mostly echo what Marina said. It depends on what type of work you want to do -- green jobs are quite prevalent now, which is exciting.

If you're more of the technical person, perhaps green architecture, landscape architecture, forest steward, forestry, water quality technician, GIS, etc.
If you're more interested in the people/cultural side of environmentalism, perhaps the interpretive park ranger, environmental educator, teacher, environmental nonprofit leadership would be more up your alley.

It really depends on your passion (i.e. farming, water, local eating, oceans, trees, etc.) and the type of work you like to do (i.e. science/data, hike, work with people, water testing, etc.). If you have more questions or want to narrow it down through discussion, I'm happy to answer questions. I personally started with Environmental Education, my husband is in environmental nonprofit leadership, and my sister does GIS! Hopefully this is encouraging and helps! Good luck!

Dell has an extensive corporate social responsibility team. That team works on Dell's environmentalism efforts.

farming!

We need as many young people as possible to get into this career. It's really exciting to be a farmer right now-lots of new ideas and progressive people working on sustainable agriculture. Lots of farms also have educational/community components so you're able to interact with the public and connecting them with their food.

Check out Amber Waves Farm in amagansett, NY. a good example.

Keep austin weird!.. and beautiful