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Green Seeds Internship program

​In the fall of 2020, CEI launched what is now known as our Green SEEDS (service, experiential education, & design for sustainability) student internship program. The program mission is to provide experiential education and work experience for high-school, college, and graduate students across a range of social and ecological themes. The goals of the internship program are to:
  • Offer students an opportunity to transform academic and career knowledge and interests into solutions to various community challenges.
  • Connect environmental, agricultural, and community building strategies that contribute to the successful operation of Freetown Farm to academic and career development.
  • Strengthen understanding and respect for personal discovery, connection to nature, food security, and land stewardship.
In 2024, 94 students interned with CEI. They helped install nourishing gardens in the community, worked with HCPSS Project SEARCH students, saved milkweed seeds from the pollinator garden, cared for the gardens at Freetown Farm, organized clothing swaps, and designed and implemented their plans in the Peace garden.
"I discovered CEI during the pandemic while looking for opportunities to earn service hours. I quickly learned that CEI provides ample opportunities for youth like me to work on projects that involve organization, planning, problem-solving, financial management, communication, science and math skills. Spending time at CEI surrounded by nature is not only good for our physical and mental health, it also teaches us how to be part of the community and show compassion and empathy through care for all living things."
Green SEEDS Winter Internship Program
Winter Session Dates: Feb 5th, 2025 – March 29th, 2025
Days/Time: Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:30pm and
Saturdays 10am – 12pm
Second Friday Fires and Saturday Socials!
Beginning in summer 2023 with support from the Howard County Youth Engagement grant, we are excited to offer social gatherings on the second Friday or Saturday evening of each month, starting in August! We are looking forward to enjoying fireside sunsets at the farm with our interns, volunteers and team members as well as youth (14-21) in our community that would like to connect with the Community Ecology Institute and learn more about what we do at Freetown Farm. On the second Friday or Saturday of every month, we will gather around a campfire (weather permitting), on the patio, or in the community engagement center at Freetown Farm and will provide some snacks and drinks for people to enjoy as well as a casual activity. This is a free event and requires advanced registration:
This program is funded by a Howard County Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grant. These grants promote youth activities and engagement in Howard County through free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. The goal of these grants is to provide community organizations with the resources to develop programs for young people in Howard County that are offered outside of traditional school hours. Programs will focus on social-emotional learning, mental health and wellness, and activities for young people.