Building Career Pathways in Our Communities

Garden-based and outdoor experiential education represents a growing sector in our economy, yet faces unique workforce development challenges. With few established training and mentorship programs in this emerging field, organizations often struggle to find and retain qualified educators who understand local communities and can authentically connect with students. This creates a pressing need to develop alternative pathways that can cultivate educators who are already rooted in and committed to serving their communities.

Growing Together is building a robust pipeline of environmental educators through intentional recruitment and one-on-one mentoring of young people interested in this growing field. This strategy has proven remarkably successful: of our 31 instructors and staff leading school-based education programs, ten began their journey as middle or high school interns in our programs.

From intern to colleague

Our approach combines hands-on experience with structured training opportunities. At San Lorenzo High School, our Druids Internship program provides intensive training in land stewardship, native plant restoration, and environmental education. In 2024, seven graduates from this program secured paid positions with the Student Conservation Association and East Bay Regional Parks District, while another alumnus joined our team to support native forest stewardship at their former school.

Across our school farms, dozens of students receive paid training in sustainable agriculture, from planting and harvesting to managing sales at produce stands and farm events. Building on these successes, we're expanding our apprenticeship and internship programs from two schools to six in the coming year, adding opportunities at four elementary schools where high school and college students will learn to lead garden lessons and outdoor activities for K-5 students.