Are you a teen between the ages of 14 – 19 looking for work experience and the opportunity to make a difference in your community? Apply to be a Camp Assistant with LandPaths for our nature camps in Sonoma County!
Do you fit the following criteria? If so, please apply!
- You have experience OR want to gain work experience being a camp assistant with youth in beautiful, inspiring outdoor places in Sonoma County.
- You love nature OR you want to develop a love for nature, and to share that love and curiosity about the world with younger children.
- You would like to develop your leadership skills.
- You like to work with other people and creatively collaborate.
- Bilingual skills are a plus, but not mandatory.
What are LandPaths’ nature camps?
LandPaths’ nature camps are week-long sessions during Spring, Summer, and Winter breaks. They are held at Rancho Mark West Nature Preserve (Santa Rosa), Preston Farm (Healdsburg), Duckworth Farm (Sebastopol) and Bohemia Ecological Preserve (Occidental).
Kids aged 6 to 13 spend their time the old-fashioned way! Campers return year after year to make new friends, sing songs, hike, play camp games, build forts, learn woodworking skills, swim, canoe, make arts and crafts, act in plays, and learn to cook food straight from the garden!
The result is happy, aware, curious kids who feel like they belong in nature and cannot wait to get back outside to care for the land and have fun with the community.
How will you benefit from being a Camp Assistant?
- Learn how to work in a group setting from skilled and experienced environmental educators.
- Spend time outdoors in a beautiful place, gaining all the mental and physical benefits of time in nature.
- Harvest and enjoy fresh, chemical-free food from the garden (If you volunteer at Preston Farm or Rancho Mark West)
- Learn outdoor education, teaching, and leadership skills for working with youth (e.g., group management, small and large group nature-based games, inquiry-based exploration of the natural world, all the skills needed to safely lead youth hikes, basic water safety and canoeing skills).
- Receive a free Camp T-shirt.
- Gain invaluable hands-on work experience which can be great for your resume or college application!
- Upon successful completion of at least one week of the High School Work Experience, you will be awarded a certificate of completion and can request a letter of recommendation outlining successes and skills achieved as an Owl Camp Assistant.
- Earn Community Service Hours for college applications, school requirements, or other needs.
What to expect after you register:
- For Summer Camp, please be aware that there will be a required full-day training (9am – 4pm) in June 2025.
- A commitment to work at least one full week, or five days total at summer camp. The hours are from 8:15am – 4pm.
- You will assist our Education Field Specialists in camp activities like crafts, cooking, gardening, hiking, nature games, and more.
- Work Schedule: You will arrive by 8:15am to set up crafts and activities and stay through the end of the day to help with clean-up, debrief and share stories from the day. (*If arriving by 8:15 am and staying until 4:00 pm is an obstacle for whatever reason, please discuss this during your interview.)
- We expect that you will be a positive role model for the campers. At the training, you will get to participate in activities that share LandPaths’ values, and our approach to equity and belonging at camp.
- You are responsible for your own transportation to and from camp. Please note that transportation assistance may be available for those in need. Do not keep a lack of a car or transportation keep you from applying! Just mention in your interview that you need transportation assistance to get to camp and we will try to work something out!)
- You must also bring your own food (including lunch, snacks, and water) each day of camp.
For Spring and Winter Camps, we will reach out to you to schedule a time.
*Please note that priority goes to participants who have previous experience with LandPaths’ programs. If you are a returning teen volunteer, the interview will include feedback from your previous years as a leader and will be oriented toward setting goals for the upcoming camp season.
If you have any questions about registering or the registration/interview process, please email Laura, Volunteer Coordinator: [email protected].
