Service Area: Greater Los Angeles Area, including Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
SAMO Youth is an award-winning, immersive, paid internship program focused on park work experience in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
SAMO Youth recruits highly-motivated, young adults, aged 18-25, from communities throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, interested in a summer of exploring environmental careers.
Successful applicants work for eight immersive weeks over the summer. During this time, SAMO Youth Interns work closely with National Park Service (NPS) rangers and technicians, and experience many aspects of a career in the NPS, including trail maintenance, restoring structures, acting as guides to the public, organizing events, restoring habitat or working at the native plant nursery.
SAMO Youth was established in 2000, with 10 students. The program has grown annually and there are now hundreds of young people who can say that they were a SAMO Youth!
18 participants in the SAMO Youth Summer Field Crew
1,000 young black walnut and coast live oak trees planted
4.5 acres of land watered and restored
768 hours of facilities work accomplished
Over 8 miles of trail maintenance completed
1,050 hours completed at native plant nurseries
3,500 plants potted at Liberty Canyon Nursery
360 visitors engaged with at Park After Dark event
SAMO Youth were trained on the natural and cultural resources of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural Recreation Area. This allowed them to be informed naturalists at events, such as Park After Dark
SAMO Youth introduces participants to different careers within conservation. The partnership between the museum and SAMO Youth allows behind-the-scenes tours of various departments, such as the dinosaur and bird collections
SAMO Youth learn about the importance of the natural world. LA compost is a community based non-profit organization, and with them, SAMO Youth learned about the benefits of composting and how bringing communities together can benefit neighborhoods
Part of SAMO Youth is the growth of the participants and exposure to transferrable career skills. Enrichment activities and presentations are delivered by Park Biologists, Visitor Resource Protection Rangers, Education Rangers, and the Management team
“Participants bring their dedication, enthusiasm, and compassion daily to enrich theirtime in the park and encourage positive connection among their peers.”
— SAMO Youth Mentor
“From the very first day, SAMO Youth provides a safe work and learning space for all participants. A key concept of the program is the opportunity to connect and rely on one another. ”
— SAMO Youth Mentor
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