One Tam’s Youth Initiative coordinates the array of youth programs offered by the One Tam partners, tailors these programs to Mt. Tamalpais, expands participation to serve the diverse communities of Marin County, and nurtures new collaborations with local community groups and schools. The One Tam youth team offers numerous pathways for young people to participate in programs that build on one another, providing opportunities for ongoing engagement over time. Our goal is to provide youth participants with successive volunteer, internship, and job opportunities through college. Most of our youth programs can be counted towards volunteer hours for school. Our programs include:
Due to COVID-19 all youth programs are currently virtual for the safety of our staff and students.
Linking Individuals to their Natural Community (LINC)
This five -week program brings youth from across the Bay Area together for a variety of local service projects, to deepen understanding of ecology and climate change, and to engage in useful workshops to gain career and leadership skills. Projects and activities will vary by week and may include plant identification and habitat restoration. At the conclusion of the program, all participants receive a $500 cash award. Pending COVID-19 safety restrictions, we may celebrate with an overnight camping or backpacking trip.
With the pandemic still in play, we are planning to move forward with the summer program in a virtual capacity while aiming to do in-person outdoor activities on Saturdays as conditions improve, and as our agency permits. When we are able to safely be together outside, these small group gatherings will take place outside on Saturdays and will follow strict social distancing guidelines.
- Season: five weeks in summer
- Program days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
- Age groups: grades 9–12
- Partner: Parks Conservancy >>
Rising Environmental Youth Leaders (REYL)
REYL is a school-year climate change & youth leadership high school program connecting young people from underserved communities to their local parks and open space. The program begins with a two-day immersive training focused on leadership skills and community building in preparation for the school year. Climate change focus will vary from sea level rise, fire ecology and biodiversity.
Throughout the program, participants learn the skills necessary to become strong environmental advocates and community leaders through service learning, environmental education, and outdoor trips. Youth will develop a Community Action Project focused on creating climate change awareness in their community. Each participant will be provided a year-round mentor for support with their project and professional development, and all participants receive a $1000 educational award.
- Season: 25 weeks, October 2020 – May 2021
- Program days: Every Thursday, 4:30 - 6:30 & one Saturday a month
- Age groups: grades 9–12
- Applications closed
- Partner: Parks Conservancy
Schools on the Watershed
In partnership with Marin Municipal Water District’s Schools on the Watershed program we provide school-year, environmental education opportunities for Marin elementary, middle and high schools and service-learning programs for youth groups and after school programs. We also support the very popular Trout in the Classroom Program on watershed lands.
- Age groups: grades K–12
- Season: school year and summer
- Partner: Marin Municipal Water District >>
Community Volunteer Days
Have a few hours? There are dozens of volunteer programs throughout the year across all of Marin, and many are open to youth participants. Have fun, meet new friends, explore the outdoors, and give back to the special places where you love to hike, run, ride, and play. Age restrictions vary across different programs—check in with volunteer leaders in advance.
- Age groups: variable by program
- Season: year-round
- Marin County Parks volunteer programs (open to all ages with parent supervision) >>
- Marin Municipal Water District volunteer programs >>
- Parks Conservancy volunteer programs (open to all ages with parent supervision) >>
To learn more about youth and education programs on Mt. Tam, contact Grecia Solis Pacheco (gpacheco@onetam.org), Youth & Education Programs Manager.
