We can inspire the next generation of park stewards

A particularly exciting new development is Regional Parks' Youth Career Pathways Program. A year-round Youth Crew is hired to work on park natural resources projects in the community. The Youth Crew gives young people the opportunity to explore outdoor careers and learn about an array of environmental education and natural resources topics. Specifically, the Regional Parks Youth Crew will:

• Give youth age 17-24 who have had to overcome challenges in their lives an opportunity for paid employment
• Help these youth develop critical workplace readiness skills that will enable them to maintain successful employment in the future.
• Provide a launching pad for youth where they can learn about careers in environmental fields, strengthen their environmental ethics and ultimately transition into permanent positions at Regional Parks or other environmental organizations.
• As a measure of success, the Youth Crew has been in place for only two years and already three young people have been hired for full-time Regional parks' employment.

The Parks Foundation is currently raising funds to support this program, which costs $27,700 per month for an 8-member Youth Crew. Youth earn $16.44 per hour.  Please contact Executive Director Melissa Kelley if you would like to support this effort.

WATCH OUR YOUTH
​PROGRAMS VIDEO

Regional Parks’ Youth Crew would not be the robust program it is today without continued funding from the Parks Foundation. Foundation Funds purchased the crew van that transports our crew members, many of whom are not licensed to drive when they enter the program, to the worksite each day. Foundation funding pays for many of the specialized tools that the crew uses, such as chainsaws and line trimmers, and helps cover the cost of crew wages on professional development days, when crew members are trained on high-value skills such as welding. In the absence of these funds, the program would be significantly less impactful."

– Mark Morley, Park Programs Manager,
   Sonoma County Regional Parks