High School Students Explore Environmental Careers in Southern California Mountains

Through the SAMO Youth Mentoring Program, students learn about the National Park Service's mission, values, and operations. The program's mission is to recruit and introduce young people to environmental work with the National Park Service while providing a direct connection to future internships and jobs. Participants are paid a salary to work in the summer with NPS rangers, assisting with trail clearing, habitat restoration, and other relevant park operations. This rigorous, two-summer program is geared to students from the greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The experience provides students from diverse and often underserved communities the unique opportunity to foster an understanding, appreciation, and passion for the sublime beauty of nature. Graduates of the program have gone on to work at 10 national parks across the country.