Applications for Fall 2024 will open in late July or early August – check this page again in a few weeks!
Are you between the ages of 16 and 20? Do you love spending time outside? Or maybe you just want to become the type of person who loves being outside? Do you want to impress your friends by knowing how to identify all of those cool plants and animals you see on hikes and walks? Are you interested in learning how to care for the land and local community gardens? Do you dream of having a positive impact on your community?
“It was so fun! I hope the program continues for a long time and lots of kids get to learn about stewardship and land conservation.”
-Young Steward, 2024
Program Details
Who: Sonoma County teens and young adults between the ages of 16 – 20 can apply!
Dates: June 21 – August 3, 2024 (total of 14 sessions)
- June 21, 22, 28, 29
- July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
- August 2,3
Day/Time: Fridays and Saturdays, 8am – 2pm
*please note that to be accepted to the program you must have no more than FOUR planned absences for the summer.
What: Young Stewards have the opportunity to learn about land conservation, community gardens, environmental education, caring for the land, as well as the plants and animals that call Sonoma County home!
Meeting Location: Bayer Farm, 1550 West Ave., Santa Rosa
Time: Each day will begin promptly at 8am at Bayer Farm (1550 West Ave, Santa Rosa), coming a few minutes early is recommended. The day will end at 2pm at Bayer Farm.
Paid Positions: LandPaths is excited to be able to offer 2 – 3 paid positions to youth that face financial barriers and come from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. These paid positions are generously funded by local and state organizations dedicated to increasing equitable access to work in the outdoor science and land stewardship fields.
Pay rate is $20 an hour.
Volunteer Positions: We also have six unpaid, volunteer positions open, which are eligible for community service hours and look great on college applications and resumes!
Program Highlights
- Get to know the plants and animals of Sonoma County.
- Spend time in beautiful places that are usually closed to the public.
- Learn how to take care of the forest and how to remove invasive plants like French broom that can make wildfires stronger.
- Get to know like-minded people and make new connections with peers and mentors.
- Spend time in our native grasslands and learn why it’s so important to the earth that they are healthy..
- Build and maintain trails to help people get around the land easily and safely.
- Learn about the fascinating world of mapping using GPS.
- Get the inside scoop on how to lead volunteer crews to help take care of the land, which builds leadership skills.
- Get school credits (depending on your school)
- Become eligible to apply for paid positions with LandPaths’ nature camps.
- Earn community service hours (applies only to volunteer positions – not paid positions.)
- Build up your resume for college or job applications.
Need More Information?
Contact Jessica Holloway at [email protected] or (707) 544-7284, ext. 104
