YOUTH STEWARDS
Explore nature near you and improve local ecosystems as a Youth Steward! Our free Youth Stewards program gives students the opportunity to connect with one another, learn about nature, and make a positive impact in their community. Stewards gain experience in caring for local wildlife habitat, removing invasive plants, practicing observation skills, and more!
The Youth Stewards program is made possible entirely by grants and donations from individuals. You can support this program by becoming a Youth Steward Sponsor. Learn more about sponsorship here.
WINTER 2025 SESSION
Join Grassroots Ecology expert naturalists outside once per week to care for your favorite new open space! Winter 2025 Youth Stewards is an afterschool program at local parks and preserves for middle school and high school aged volunteers.
Registration process, meeting times, start and end dates, and age groups vary between Youth Stewards locations. To participate, please carefully review the details for the location you are interested in.
If you’d like to be prioritized for a site that requires an interest form, submit yours by Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM.
Requirements
Middle school or high school student
Reliable transportation to arrive on time each week
Motivated, curious, and positive attitude about working outdoors
Excited to work in a group setting, follow safety expectations, and show respect toward wildlife and other participants
Enjoy spending time outdoors, including in hot and exposed conditions, with energy to engage in manual labor tasks for 1-2 hours at a time
Please contact Valerie Lee at valerie@grassrootsecology.org for any questions regarding the Youth Stewards program.
Youth Stewards at McClellan Ranch Preserve is supported by the Brooke Schryver Memorial Fund.
San Francisquito Creek and Bol Park
Palo Alto and Menlo Park
9th-12th grade
Fridays at 4pm
February 7–May 9, 2025
"I love the [Youth S]tewards program because I was able to make so many friends while also learning about our environment. There are so many activities where I could get to know other people, and creating an impact was super empowering!"
– Winter 2024 Youth Steward at San Francisquito Creek
"I have participated in Youth Stewards and… community [volunteer] events all four years of high school. It has always been an informative and fun experience. I got to meet new people from all around the Bay with an interest in environmental work. Plus, it provided [a] safe space for me to emotionally de-stress. Spending time in nature always made my days better."
– Winter 2024 Youth Steward at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve
SUMMER 2024 SESSION
Applications for the summer 2024 Youth Stewards program are now closed.
Please subscribe to our newsletter or check back in spring 2025
for information about the summer 2025 session.
Summer 2024 Youth Stewards is a 3 hour per week commitment from June to July 2024. Youth Stewards will meet on Tuesday mornings, from 9 AM – 12 PM (3 hours) from June 11 to July 30, 2024. High school aged volunteers will be assigned to work in cohorts alongside Grassroots Ecology staff to steward various open space preserves. Space is limited. Students will be notified of their assigned placement site via email.
Requirements:
Rising, current, or recently graduated high school student
Reliable transportation to arrive on time each week
Motivated, curious, and positive attitude about working outdoors
Excited to work in a group setting, follow safety expectations, and show respect toward wildlife and other participants
Enjoy spending time outdoors, including in hot and exposed conditions, with energy to engage in manual labor tasks for 1-2 hours at a time
Must complete a volunteer interest form, a program intake form, and an online liability waiver via Eventbrite before volunteering
Please contact Valerie Lee at valerie@grassrootsecology.org for any questions regarding the Youth Stewards program.
"The Grassroots Ecology Youth Stewards program has connected me with other students near me and taught me more about my impact on the environment.
My takeaway is that when trying to approach an issue as grand as an environmental problem, instead of feeling overwhelmed, look for small contributions that you can make to help preserve the environment."
– Summer 2023 Youth Steward at Stulsaft Park