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Sara Mills is an eco-warrior on the streets of Baltimore. Whether she's bringing a local Maryland owl into the classroom of an inner-city school, taking a group of kids to a trail walk or meeting with school system leaders to reinvent their environmental curriculum, Sara's unlikely teaching job -- as the manager of School and Urban Education Programs at Irvine Nature Center -- brings the environment into the classroom.

"One of the best parts of my position is that every day is different," Sara says. "When we bring nature into a student's classroom, or take them outside to experience nature in their own neighborhood, even the most apprehensive student shows interest in the natural world."

Seeking out green careers in unlikely places

If Baltimore City might not be the first place you consider for an eco-friendly job, the students of the local school district might tend to agree. Fortunately, Sara and the other workers at the Irvine Nature Center are trying to change that. "The biggest change I see in the students is that they realize that I don't have to bring animals from Irvine in order for them to see a wild animal," she says. "There's plenty of wildlife right in Baltimore City."

Sara credits the center's programs with making students more aware of the world around them and the effects they can have on the environment. There's good news for aspiring green workers: Sara's job is just one of many options for fascinating, unlikely eco-friendly careers. Take a look at how you can train for these unique fields.

Green job #1: Earth-conscious educational manager

Building schoolyards, creating recycling programs and providing teacher professional development are all in a day's work for environmentally minded educational managers like Sara. Train for this job with a master's degree in education administration or leadership. Typical degree programs include coursework in school law, curriculum planning and educational technology. Educational managers may also have years of experience as teachers, giving them the knowledge they need to work with students and peers alike.

Green job #2: Green public relations representative

Public relations experts use their knowledge to sell ideas -- why not throw your weight behind a good cause? Work PR for an environmental nonprofit or even a corporation devoted to creating an environmental product or service. Public relations or general communications and media bachelor's degrees offer a strong foundation, with specialized coursework available in writing for public relations and communication for business.

Green job #3: Environmental lawyer

Nonprofits and environmental groups need legal representation against corporations, government entities and other groups that might put their financial interests before the environment. Typical legal training -- a bachelor's degree and three years of law school -- is required, and you'll benefit from specializing in environmental topics like climate change and environmental advocacy. Some law schools even feature environmental law programs, which can give you the focused training you need.

Green job #4: Green construction manager

Buildings are responsible for a huge amount of carbon emissions, and smart buildings make for cleaner air and healthier water. Green building techniques like solar energy and non-toxic paint are smart fixes. A bachelor's degree in construction or engineering can give you the skills you need to go into the industry. Look for green building degree programs featuring coursework involving sustainable design and performance-based structural design.

Green job #5: Eco-friendly event planner

Whether you're working with a bride planning her wedding day or a corporation planning a corporate retreat, the environment can be a real concern to event planners and their clients. If you've stayed in a hotel in the past 10 years, you've likely noticed eco-friendly initiatives, like optional linens and towel service, in your housekeeping options. Associate and bachelor's hospitality management degree programs with an eco-friendly spin should include business management training and courses in eco-tourism and green marketing.

Work with Mother Nature in a green job

Thinking about the future is a big part of any green job, and Sara's environmental goals continue to develop in her daily work as a program manager. "If all Baltimore City schools could become green schools, that would have an enormous impact," she says. With an eco-friendly job, you're not just working for a paycheck -- you're working towards a better planet.