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Sonoma Ecology Center Enviro -Leaders. Supporting Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders. Enviro-Leaders. Over 100 internships since the program was conceived in 2006 Very diverse group of participants Three-fourths of participants report seeking additional education related to the environment
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Sonoma Ecology CenterEnviro-Leaders Supporting Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders
Enviro-Leaders • Over 100 internships since the program was conceived in 2006 • Very diverse group of participants • Three-fourths of participants report seeking additional education related to the environment • Thirty percent report retaining further employment related to the internship
Enviro-Leaders The internship focuses on environmental restoration or sustainable agriculture. The program includes four main components: • Workdays • Educational Enrichment • Workplace Readiness • Career Awareness
Workdays • Youth spend approximately 85 hours per semester • Workdays are generally two-three shifts per week, up to 5 ½ hours per shift • Supervised by youth coordinator and field staff • Occur at Sonoma Garden Park and local creeks
Educational Enhancement Designed to complement learning that happens during field days: • Participants receive five mini lessons in the field on concepts including biodiversity, watershed, environmental restoration, and the importance of native habitats • Participants also take part in field trips to sites including the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the fish hatchery. • Pre and post assessments measure knowledge gains related to content
Career Awareness Interns have several opportunities to learn about environmental careers: • Field trips take the interns out of the Valley to other environmental organizations • Environmental career binder is updated and shared individually with interns once per semester • Interns are assessed on knowledge gains related to environmental careers
Workplace Readiness Interns are taught the basics of appropriate workplace behaviors, attitudes, and appearance. • They are given instruction on behavior expectations and receive a formal written assessment at the end of the internship • Rehires are based on the workplace assessments • Sonoma Ecology Center regularly provides workplace references and college recommendations for interns.
Program Support • North Bay Watershed Association • Foundation grants including Community Foundation Sonoma County and the Kimball Foundation • Seeking longer term funding for the program including donor support