EnviroLeaders Christian and Yomi consult with Sonoma Garden Park Assistant Manager Rebecca Kelly (left) on a weeding project.
Since its inception in 2008, Sonoma Ecology Center’s EnviroLeaders program has been instrumental in connecting driven, environmentally curious youth to relevant, purposeful work experience in Sonoma Valley. Designed for teens aged 14 to 18, this paid work experience program offers hands-on opportunities to develop skills in sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, and community engagement. Participants gain valuable job and life skills that prepare them to tackle real-world ecological challenges and grow as future leaders.
Over nearly two decades, EnviroLeaders have contributed to a diverse range of community and conservation projects. From planting trees along Highway 12 to enhance local biodiversity and aesthetics, to tackling a tomato surplus at Sonoma Garden Park with an inventive salsa-making and marketing initiative, each cohort has consistently delivered on creativity and commitment. In 2019, participants completed a backpacking training camp modeled after the Epic Headwaters to Headwaters hike, building resilience and outdoor leadership skills. Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program adapted—facilitating safe, socially distanced cohorts who built compost infrastructure from salvaged materials and stewarded sensitive habitats at Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve.
As part of a special Earth Day collaboration with community partners Art of Leisure and Sonoma Syrup Company, the EnviroLeaders packaged 400 packets of wildflower seeds to be distributed in over 35 local Sonoma Valley businesses.
To date, EnviroLeaders has empowered over 320 Sonoma Valley teens—many of whom have gone on to pursue studies and careers in environmental science, agriculture, and sustainability. As the program continues to evolve, it remains a dynamic entry point for young people eager to make a positive impact on their community and environment, and the spring 2025 cohort is no exception.
This year marks an exciting chapter for the EnviroLeaders program, as Rebecca Kelly stepped into the role of Program Coordinator for the first time. Kelly, who serves as Assistant Manager of Sonoma Garden Park, brings her experience as a farmer and educator to the role, making her uniquely positioned to guide young people through hands-on ecological work while nurturing their growth as future professionals. Learn more about Rebecca Kelly and her path to Sonoma Garden Park here.
The spring 2025 session saw seven newly appointed EnviroLeaders making contact with every corner of Sonoma Garden Park, working alongside Sonoma Ecology Center staff members and volunteers who provided specialized training in different areas. “A big part of how I took on this semester was I wanted them to spend at least a day or two with the experts in each section of the park,” Kelly said. This included working with Hannah Aclufi in the Sonoma Native Plant Nursery, Rebecca Checkouras in the pollinator garden, Bobby Nicholson of Compost Depot on all things compost and soil health, and Sonoma Garden Park Manager Steve Carara on various infrastructure projects.
EnviroLeaders participate in a hands-on lesson in soil health with Bobby Nicholson from Compost Depot. Photo by Rebecca Kelly.
Participants are compensated for their time and expected to treat the position with the same level of responsibility as any job. “It’s very much like a workforce training that you’re providing to them,” Kelly explained, noting that teens utilize time-tracking software, are held to a high standard of punctuality, and are expected to manage tasks with a degree of autonomy. The program prioritizes both structure and flexibility—“we wanted kids that could really float with both of those components,” she added. “We show up on time, follow an attendance policy, act professionally—but we’re also outside, sweating, and doing physical labor.”
The cohort also took on a unique project this spring: reviving and maintaining a garden plot for a long-time volunteer with limited mobility. “[One of our volunteers] had to give up her plot due to injury, and it was heartbreaking for her,” Kelly shared. “So we came up with the idea that the EnviroLeaders would take it on, with her as their consultant. It encompassed everything we’d been learning—planning, spacing, irrigation, seeding—and the teens really took ownership.” The project became a culminating experience that wove together technical skills, garden planning, and thoughtful collaboration. “They care so much about their plots—it’s really sweet,” Kelly added.
Each cohort of EnviroLeaders works closely with Sonoma Garden Park staff members and volunteers. Left to right: Christian works at the weekly Harvest Market alongside volunteers; Jose and volunteer Kathleen suit up for a deep cleaning of the barn. Photos by Austin Noble and Rebecca Kelly.
The spring 2025 cohort of EnviroLeaders was selected through an intentional interview process conducted by Kelly and Sonoma Ecology Center Education Program Manager Tony Passantino. Rather than focusing on experience alone, they looked for young people who showed curiosity, willingness to learn, and a level of independence. “A lot of it came down to maturity—being able to do tasks without someone right next to them the whole time,” Kelly said. “We were upfront: this job involves manual labor. And we wanted teens who were excited to show up and contribute.”
The more they learned with each passing week, program participants began to hone in on their strengths. “We’re trying to find their interests and passions and the things that they excel with to facilitate that in the park,” Kelly explained. Christian, a natural communicator, quickly took up a public-facing role and began working the weekly Harvest Markets. Christian noted how EnviroLeaders provided him with a deep understanding of how a rich ecological space like Sonoma Garden Park operates. “Learning about how things function and why is the root of my curiosity,” he said. “This program [gives] me the ability to be actively engaged and learn about the thinking processes behind the decisions made in the park.” Ava, a member of Future Farmers of America with livestock experience, gravitated toward the compost program—and brought manure from her steer to contribute. And John, a returning EnviroLeader, emerged as a leader with keen observational skills—so much so that a Sonoma Garden Park volunteer recently hired him for special gardening projects.
Program participants were encouraged to let their own interests inform their role at Sonoma Garden Park. EnviroLeader John (above) recently secured a job as a gardener for a garden park community member. Photo by Austin Noble.
Ultimately, Kelly hopes the teens leave the program not only with practical job experience but with a sense of purpose and possibility. “I want them to see that being a farmer, or working in a nursery, or stewarding land can be deeply fulfilling,” she said. “If you love what you do, it’s easy to show up. And I think they’re starting to feel that.”
As the spring semester wraps up, Sonoma Ecology Center is now accepting applications for the summer 2025 cohort of EnviroLeaders. If you know a young person who loves the outdoors, thrives on purpose-driven work, or is simply looking to explore what stewardship means in their own community, now is the perfect time to share this opportunity with them. Participants will gain valuable experience, build confidence, and discover how their efforts can make a tangible impact.
The summer session runs from June 6 through August 9, and applications are due by May 18. Encourage the teens in your life to apply today at sonomaecologycenter.org/enviroleaders.
Let’s support the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders Sonoma Valley needs.