High Line Fellows: Emerging Leaders

Who We Are

The High Line is both a nonprofit organization and a public park on Manhattan’s West Side, built on a historic elevated rail line. It’s more than just a park— it is a world-famous dynamic public space. Visitors can walk through gardens, see art, catch performances, grab food, or simply hang out with friends while taking in the amazing views of the city. Friends of the High Line (FHL), the nonprofit that cares for the park, also runs youth programs designed to support future leaders in Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Horticulture, and Park & Visitor Experience.

If you are interested in any of these topics, this program is for you! Our goal is to better prepare you for life after high school, whether that is college and/or the workforce! 

About the High Line Fellows Program

The High Line Fellows: Emerging Leaders Program is a three-year, paid youth development program (sophomore through senior year of high school). You’ll earn $18/hour while also building leadership and life skills, learning about careers, and preparing for college and beyond. We aim to make the High Line Fellows Program the best first job that a teen can have! The program has four tracks that you can explore; we call them pathways : Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Horticulture, and Park & Visitor Experience. As a new Fellow to the program, you will select two pathways to explore and discover your interests and new topics. Successful graduates from the program walk away with a range of skills that better support future academic and work goals. Fellows also receive mentorship, networking support, and hands-on learning opportunities on the High Line and in the community. 

Eligibility
We are inviting high school sophomores who live in or attend school in Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, or Hell’s Kitchen to apply. Students at established partner schools such as the Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School are also eligible. We value diversity, and especially encourage students who would benefit most from this opportunity to apply. 

We are investing in you and your future through a multi-layered program that combines:

• Leadership development
• Social and emotional learning (SEL)
• Hands-on work experience
• Mentorship and networking
• Career awareness and exploration
• A foundation for post-secondary education

As a High Line Fellow, you can explore a variety of career opportunities and identify which career paths will be the best fit for you, all while building your resume and network.

Application Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026 

Commitment
Fellows are expected to remain in the program for three years, through high school graduation. Applicants should apply with the intention of committing to the full three-year program.

Structure & Schedule
The program is broken into Afterschool Workshops and Summer Residencies:

• Afterschool Pathway Workshops (January – June):

• Two afternoons per week (Mon–Thu, 4–6 PM)

• Mondays - Civic Engagement 

• Tuesdays - Park & Visitor Experience 

• Wednesdays - Horticulture 

• Thursdays - Arts & Culture 

• There will be occasional team-building, leadership activities, and skill-building sessions like resume building, personal finances, career conversations, while making new friends, going on trips across the city, and being outdoors! 

• Mid-Winter Recess Intensive: Feb 16–19 (extended hours, typically from 10-4 PM on select days)

• Spring Recess Intensive: Apr 27–29 (extended hours, typically from 10-4 PM)

• Summer Residencies (June – August):

• First Year Fellows (This is YOU!) will be leading tours of the High Line and supporting public workshops and events on the park. 

• Second and Third Year Fellows are placed in specialized training and/or summer residencies, which are summer internships) within the organization. 

Fellows are offered 200 paid hours each year through workshops, residencies, and intensives.

Learning Pathways
Fellows participate in up to two pathways per year during their time in the program. Each pathway offers hands-on experience and opportunities to collaborate with peers and professionals:

1. Arts & Culture – Explore art on the High Line and in NYC, gain creative skills, and host a culminating art experience.
2. Civic Engagement – Learn how city government works, explore urban planning and community engagement, participate in local youth advocacy, and connect with other youth leaders across NYC.
3. Horticulture – Engage with our world-class gardens, learn about climate change and environmental justice, explore landscape architecture, and develop knowledge of biodiversity across the five boroughs.
4. Park & Visitor Experience – Learn about park operations, visitor engagement, and event planning, including developing and hosting the annual Teen Night event.

Expectations
Fellows are expected to:

• Research and develop skills in pathways
• Attend all scheduled sessions consistently and on time
• Respectfully engage with professionals in many different careers
• Meet and build positive connections with other teens, and collaborate and share ideas
• Represent the High Line positively at events, projects, and community activities
• Stay open-minded, enthusiastic, and flexible when learning and trying new things

Requirements

• Live in or attend school in Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, or Hell’s Kitchen (or attend an eligible partner school such as the Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School)
• Be able to commit to the 2027 schedule (see above), and a similar schedule for the following 2 years
• Be able to work outdoors in all weather, walk the 1.5-mile park, and participate in physical tasks as needed

Benefits

Participants in this program are paid $18/hour for the first year, with a sliding pay increase for the following two years. It is a non-exempt position.

• Paid sick time off
• Discount Citi Bike Membership
• Discounts with Vendor at the High Line & around the Meatpacking neighborhood
• Free entrance to Whitney Museum
• Employee Assistance Program

EEO Statement
The High Line is guided by a series of values through which we make decisions, including hiring. These values include proactively creating access points for all people, regardless of age, sex, color, creed, race, income, country of origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

As part of our commitment to living up to these values and advancing equity within our organization and through our work, we are committed to an equitable hiring process. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with a broad range of lived experiences. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

**If you are an individual with a disability and need accommodation during the application process, please send an email request to peopleandculture@thehighline.org. Resumes sent to this email address will not be given any special consideration.