The Natural Resource and Wildlife Internship Program (REDA) will provide internship opportunities to 5 youths who are interested in environmental justice careers. During their 9-months internships (54 hours), interns will be supervised by the REDA STEM team and will participate in its regular research activities. The latter will include researching scientific information about natural resources and wildlife existing in the areas where activities in the community will be offered or in the natural areas that the REDA team will accompany residents to. In addition to participating in research activities, interns will also participate in presenting their research findings to other community members before or during activities and trips. At the end of their internships, interns will be given a certificate of internship completion which they can use for future employment resumes or for college admission.

The STEM Assistant Internships (REDA) program will provide internship opportunities to three youths who attended the 1st and 2nd year of the STEM Education lab (three from each year) to support activities of the lab’s 2nd and 3rd year. Interns will work under the supervision of the STEM team (54h each) and will participate in the design and delivery of STEM activities and curriculum to other students in the lab. At the end of their internships, interns will be given a certificate of internship completion which they can use for future employment resumes or for college admission.

The Recreation Internships (REDA) program will provide internship opportunities to 5 youths who will work under the supervision of the Outdoor Program Director. During their 9-months internships (54 hours), interns will be trained to participate in planning for outdoor activities, to prepare their logistics, to deliver outdoor safety instructions, to educate participants about healthy lifestyles and outdoor survival skills. At the end of their internships, interns will be given a certificate of internship completion which they can use for future employment resumes or for college admission.

Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science – will provide an opportunity for promising students in REDA’s STEM Education lab to join the Center’s intensive 6-weeks (MOSTEC) program. In the latter, youths will receive mentoring, college admission help and interact with a network of highly talented high school seniors from across the country as well as MOSTEC staff.

San Juan Unified School District – will support REDA in the following: (1) share information about REDA’s activities and trips with its parents’ network and students’ database, (2) ensure the safety and cleanliness of the Community Home Base (Library of Encina Preparatory High School) and its premises so that REDA can safely use the location.

Heartslanding Ranch - will fulfill the following roles: (1) provide service-learning and volunteering opportunities related to nature and animals’ preservation to youth residents. (2) use Equine therapy to offer a youth mentoring program and a leadership development program to adults.

While working with youth during community activities or natural area trips, REDA will plan to both recruit and empower at least 20 youths that REDA team will select as having potential to become future environmental leaders. The recruitment and empowerment plan consists of the following:

1. MIT Online Science, Technology and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) Mentoring Program: during the High schoolers’ STEM Education lab, students will be asked to use their newly acquired knowledge to create a series of STEM projects which will be evaluated by REDA STEM team. The latter will choose the most distinguished 5 STEM projects and will include their inventors in a focus group. The aim of this group will be to help the 5 high schoolers apply for the MOSTEC program offered by the Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Science (E3S) – Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). If accepted, students will be able to join a 6-weeks MIT Online Science, Technology and Engineering Community (MOSTEC) where they will receive mentoring, college admission help and interact with a network of highly talented high school seniors from across the country as well as MOSTEC staff.

The MOSTEC Mentoring Program will last for 6 weeks following the end of the grant’s performance period.

2. Heartslanding Ranch (HLR) Mentoring Program (HLR): 15 youths will be selected to participate in the HLR mentoring program which will provide a 12-hours mentorship to youth with interest in the area of nature conservation and environmental justice. The program is aimed at developing leadership skills in youth and building their advocacy capacity. REDA’s plan to recruit these 15 youths is as follows:

Up to 10 interns can join the HLR Program. To qualify, interns will be required to fulfill two conditions:

complete their internship hours

receive a high score in the satisfaction survey that REDA team will share with other adult participants of the Outdoor Program to evaluate the performance of its interns.

Five other youth will be selected from among regular participants in REDA’s community activities and natural area trips. Before they can join the HLR, interested youths will be required to submit an application (resume and cover letter) indicating the reason why they would like to join this program and what their qualifications are. Applications will be screened by REDA team and potential candidates will be interviewed by REDA to make a selection.

The HLR Mentoring Program will be expected to last for 1 week following the end of the grant’s performance period.