VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM
Internship Program in Landscaping and General Maintenance
The vocational training program for young people facing housing instability that went on hiatus at the conclusion of the March 2025 Boot Camp found a new home at Historic Congressional Cemetery in 2026.
The Historic Congressional Cemetery provides a unique experience for the interns participating in the vocational program. The 35-acre National Historic Landmark, established in 1807, is the final resting place of some of the individuals who were instrumental in the founding of the United States of America and shaped its destiny for over two centuries.
The six-month program focuses primarily on groundskeeping, but also includes historic preservation, garden design, and environmental stewardship as well as general maintenance such as painting, power washing and paver installation.
Program pillars
Vocational Training
Environmental Stewardship
Historic Preservation
Interns learn basic landscaping and general maintenance principles, tool selection and usage, safety practices, and job skills.
Historic Preservation
Environmental Stewardship
Historic Preservation
Interns assist in the care and maintenance of historic gravesites and learn about the significant contributions of those who are interred at Congressional Cemetery.
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Interns cultivate pollinator plants that support the birds, bees and butterflies that thrive on the grounds.
program partnerS
HCC Leadership
Executive Director Mark Hudson green lit the program at Congressional Cemetery and funded the internship stipends.
Capitol Hill Community Foundation
The Capitol Hill Community Foundation provided a grant for expenses such as work clothes and boots, lockers and nutritional support.
White Dawes
White Dawes
GGDC Program Manager White Dawes leads the "Green Team" in collaboration with the HCC Facilities and Grounds Department.