The Gap Year Internship is designed to provide advanced conservation job training and leadership skills for young adults, ages 18-24 with particular emphasis on engaging high school youth Conservation Corps alumni. The program is comprised of two parts to give a variety of experiences for career exploration and advanced skills training such as chainsaw certification, prescribed burn certification and more. Part One: Training followed by five weeks of real-world conservation, leadership and communication skills where participants serve as assistant leaders who mentor and co-manage a group of ten high school youth through the Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps Program (CCLC) with their crew leaders. Part Two: Participants come together to form a new single team to gain advanced ecological restoration skills that ensure healthy land for people, native plants and wildlife. Work activities include invasive plant removal and native seed collection.