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.
SUMMER 2025 SESSION
Interest forms for the Summer 2025 Youth Stewards program are now closed.
Please subscribe to our newsletter or check back in spring 2026
for information about Summer 2026.
Summer 2025 Youth Stewards will meet on Tuesday mornings, from 9 AM – 12 PM (3 hours) from June 10 to July 29, 2025. High school aged volunteers will work in cohorts alongside Grassroots Ecology staff to steward the following open space preserves:
Stulsaft Park (Redwood City)
Foothills Nature Preserve (Palo Alto — foothills)
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (Palo Alto)
McClellan Ranch Preserve (Cupertino)
Byrne Preserve (Los Altos Hills) and Redwood Grove Nature Preserve (Los Altos) — alternating locations
How to Participate:
Review the program announcement for session dates and participation requirements.
This opportunity is available for rising, current, or recently graduated high school students.
Students are not required to attend all sessions. Please communicate absences in advance.
Fill out the interest form. Space is limited.
Students will be notified of their placement site via email.
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
WINTER/SPRING 2026 SESSION
Interest forms for the Winter/Spring 2026 Youth Stewards program will be open soon.
Please subscribe to our newsletter or check back in January 2026
for information about the next session.
Join Grassroots Ecology expert naturalists outside once per week to care for your favorite new open space! Winter/Spring 2026 Youth Stewards is a free-of-cost, afterschool program for middle school and high school volunteers to explore and improve local ecosystems. Volunteers will meet on weekday afternoons from late February to mid April 2026 to steward the following open space preserves:
Stulsaft Park (Redwood City) — Wednesdays — grades 9-12
San Francisquito Creek and Bol Park (Palo Alto) — Fridays — grades 6-12
Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (Palo Alto) — Wednesdays — grades 6-12
McClellan Ranch Preserve (Cupertino) — Wednesdays — grades 9-12
Redwood Grove Nature Preserve (Los Altos) — Wednesdays — grades 9-12
How to Participate:
Fill out the interest form. Space is limited. Students will be notified of their placement site via email.
Must complete online liability waiver before volunteering.
Students are not required to attend all sessions. Please communicate absences in advance.
Please contact Valerie Lee at valerie@grassrootsecology.org for any questions regarding the Youth Stewards program.
San Francisquito Creek and Bol Park
Palo Alto and Menlo Park
9th-12th grade
Fridays at 4pm
February 7–May 9, 2025
Youth Stewards at McClellan Ranch Preserve is supported by the Brooke Schryver Memorial Fund.
"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