KAEE expands green career pathways for Kentucky students
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., – The Kentucky Association for Environmental Education says it is expanding green career pathways for Kentucky students.
According to KAEE, it is helping students explore careers in sustainability, conservation and environmental stewardship through a grant-funded initiative focused on green career pathways and hands-on learning.
To make these pathways real for students, KAEE says it hosted a Green Career Summit this school year at the University of Louisville.
Approximately 175 middle and high school students participated in hands-on activities and connected with professionals working in fields such as environmental education, natural resources, forestry, water, agriculture, energy, conservation, environmental engineering, fire management and epidemiology.
The project also supports schools through the Kentucky Green Schools program, which continues to grow this year with 36 new schools joining the network, bringing total participation to 168 schools statewide.
KAEE awarded seven $2,500 school-based subgrants through Kentucky Green Schools to support projects including outdoor learning spaces, tree planting, hands-on environmental education, and student-led stewardship efforts.
School-based subgrants were given to the following schools:
- Newport Primary School
- Lewisburg Elementary School
- George Washington Carver STEM Academy
- Mason County High School
- Western Middle School for the Arts
- Meadow View Elementary School
- Wedgwood Academy
Looking ahead, KAEE plans to launch a student internship program in summer 2026, offering paid internships–real-world experiences in environmental fields with ongoing mentorship and support. Internship opportunities can be found on their job board at www.kaee.org/eejobs. Together, these efforts reflect KAEE’s commitment to connecting Kentucky students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to build a more sustainable future.
