How a Year of Stewardship Changed Local Youth and Lands

Our Youth Stewards program gives local students the opportunity to safely connect with one another, learn about nature, and make a positive impact in their community. Over the last 14 months, our Youth Stewards had the opportunity to experience and learn about nature in person at a time when most school and summer programs were virtual.

These committed high school and middle school students accomplished impressive feats including planting thousands of native plants, removing invasive plants, and maintaining vital ecosystems at seven different volunteer sites, including both open and urban spaces. We are so grateful for each of the Stewards’ dedication in achieving these goals!

Two of our most dedicated Stewards have been Olivia and Rohan, who have been a part of all five Youth Stewards sessions over the past year. They have both risen through the ranks, beginning as novice Youth Stewards to becoming assistants to our cohorts of younger middle school Stewards. While they may have come to volunteer to simply fulfill required school volunteer hours, they stayed with the program because they loved being outside and connecting to nature, as well as connecting with the middle school Stewards. 

Olivia and Rohan pulling yellow starthistle at Foothills Nature Preserve

“The program has influenced how I think I can help the world using my leadership skills and love of the environment,” Olivia says. "I have really enjoyed working with younger students, and inspiring people to be outside instead of on their phones all of the time. Before I joined this program I didn't know what I wanted to study in college and just applied for fun. After a year of being at Foothills Nature Preserve I know I want to make a difference in the world by helping the environment.” 

After a year of volunteering as Youth Stewards, Rohan and Olivia have been able to reflect on the annual changes of our local landscapes. Olivia has been volunteering entirely at Foothills Nature Preserve, and has enjoyed watching the changing colors of each season and helping with projects like converting the park lawn into a native meadow. Rohan, on the other hand, has been volunteering at multiple Grassroots Ecology sites. He has been able to learn seasonal habitat restoration techniques in different places like mulching new planting areas at Byrne Preserve in Los Altos Hills in the fall, and planting willow stakes to stabilize creek banks at Redwood Grove Nature Preserve in Los Altos in the winter. 

“I have been introduced to new conservation techniques and learned more about topics that I want to continue studying in high school” says Rohan about this experience. “I also met some cool people and did good work for preserves I really enjoy.”

Olivia and Rohan are two of over 300 students who participated in our Youth Stewards program this last year. We truly enjoyed getting to know everyone, working side by side, and building a community of engaged and caring individuals. Though our Youth Stewards program is taking a break this fall semester, we will be back later in the school year! We look forward to connecting with new students and reconnecting with old ones as we continue to make a difference for our community, wildlife, and planet.

By Emily Repech, Communications and Development Coordinator