Sonoma Ecology Center Seeks Teen Applicants for Fall 2025 EnviroLeaders Program
Paid Environmental Training for Local Teens
The Sonoma Ecology Center is now accepting applications for its Fall 2025 EnviroLeaders program, a paid job training initiative designed for teens passionate about sustainability, conservation, and community action.Running from September 3 to November 8, the program is open to youth aged 14 to 18 and takes place at Sonoma Garden Park. Participants work Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., earning $15 per hour. Applications must be submitted by Friday, August 23.
Hands-On Experience in Sustainability
Since launching in 2008, EnviroLeaders has enrolled more than 320 Sonoma Valley teens, giving them hands-on experience in areas like native plant cultivation, composting, habitat restoration, and public outreach. Program Coordinator Rebecca Kelly says the work blends professional skills with outdoor activity.“This program is very much like workforce training,” Kelly explains. “We show up on time, follow an attendance policy, act professionally – but we’re also outside, sweating, and doing physical labor.”
Learning Across Multiple Disciplines
Each participant rotates through different areas of the garden, working alongside specialists in pollination, compost, infrastructure, and native plant propagation. Kelly encourages teens to explore multiple disciplines to find their niche in the garden community.Past participants highlight both the skills gained and the friendships made. Kendall Clemmons, a spring 2025 graduate of the program, said: “Every day I’ve been here, I’ve learned something new, and I’ve had a great time doing it.”
Fellow alum José Pérez described his experience as “nothing short of amazing.”
