Youth Stewards for Nature

The Youth Stewards for Nature (YSN) is a 6-month-long programme suitable for youths aged 18 to 25 years old with an interest and have some experience in fields such as horticulture, landscape architecture, environmental studies, biological or life sciences. This programme is also applicable for the following:

Volunteers with NParks and other relevant community groups
Biodiversity Friends Forum (BFF) Biodiversity Challenge graduates
Green Friends Forum (GFF) alumni

Youths can look forward to gain industry-relevant experience in the fields of landscape design, horticulture, nature management or biodiversity conservation through the programme, and hone soft skills while implementing their project.

To complete the programme, youths will join a small group and assist in the ideation and/or implementation of a real-world project. Each team will be mentored by NParks staff and gain access to a panel of resource persons.

Participants who complete the programme will be recognised as a Youth Steward for Nature at the closing of this year’s programme and awarded a certificate and YSN t-shirt as a memento of their efforts and experience. Participants of the YSN programme can also qualify for accreditation under the National Youth Achievement Awards (NYAA) programme.

YSN alumni are encouraged to carry on the ‘green’ conversation with us through participation and engagement on greenery and biodiversity topics to continue to play a part in the future of nature in Singapore.

Project Timeline

Participants must be able to commit to the full 6-month programme, with an estimated 6 to 8 hours required per week (based on site visits, meetings, surveys etc).

YSN project timeline

2024 YSN Project Application

Online registration for 2024 is now closed.

For more information, click here to download the FAQ or email us at YSN@nparks.gov.sg for further enquiries.

Past YSN Projects

To find out more about the projects undertaken by youths since 2021, click on the links below to download the highlights!

Past projects include:

Designing, biodiversity monitoring and engaging communities in Nature Way planting projects
Engaging the wider community in the OneMillionTrees Movement
Designing a pollinator-friendly edible garden in HortPark
Designing and implementing nature play in our parks using Nature Playgarden principles
Designing and implementing an insect-themed garden and designing public walks
Responsible interactions with wildlife
Assessing the urban Macaque troops of Singapore: a population census
How to stop animal feeding in Singapore Botanic Gardens
Co-developing therapeutic garden designs and co-facilitation therapeutic programmes in community organisation
Increasing engagement for park connectors through interactive programming
Promoting safe nature-based recreation in Pulau Ubin
Interpreting the living collections at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Is a bin-free Singapore Botanic Gardens possible?
Public outreach and setting up faunal monitoring programme involving citizen scientists for the new Pekan Quarry floating wetlands at Pulau Ubin
Be a part of the Asian Small-clawed Otter at Pulau Ubin Recovery Programme and raise awareness for the species
Understanding the population ecology and habitat preferences of Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots