2026-2027 STRAW Apprenticeship

Point Blue Conservation Science•Petaluma, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Point Blue Conservation Science is seeking 6-8 enthusiastic individuals for their Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed (STRAW) program. Apprentices will work on habitat restoration projects, learning techniques and practices of community-based ecological restoration with a focus on training and early career development. They will work alongside a supportive team of Restoration Technicians, Project Managers, Directors, and Education Team members. The apprenticeship involves essential functions such as overseeing restoration days, teaching place-based concepts, implementing restoration practices like planting and harvesting, tool maintenance, site preparation, and participating in physically demanding fieldwork. Apprentices will also follow best management practices to prevent plant pathogen spread, assist in nursery operations, support pre-restoration school visits, and participate in site maintenance activities. This is a full-time, field-based, entry-level position requiring a 40-hour per week commitment, Monday-Friday, with potential for early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekend work. Occasional travel and overnight stays may also be required.

Requirements

Must meet school district requirements to work with school children, including an approved background check and fingerprinting.
Capability to lift up to 40 pounds and complete strenuous physical tasks in various weather conditions.
Abide by safe work methods and appropriate use of related safety equipment.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suite, including spreadsheets, word processing, and email applications.
Possess a valid US driver’s license with a favorable driving history to drive company-owned vehicles.
Must be 18 years of age or older at the start of the apprenticeship.
Enthusiasm for ecological restoration work.
Enthusiasm for teaching Kindergarten - 12th grade students and other public audiences.
Communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures, ethnic groups, and identities.
Openness to learn and share knowledge and skills.
A strong sense of self-awareness and professionalism.
Willingness to participate in open and effective communication with supervisors, including sharing progress, discussing challenges, and incorporating feedback.
Actively participates in regular, daily communication with staff using multiple platforms including WhatsApp, text, phone calls, photos, and email; responds in a timely manner.
Ability to work respectfully on private and public property.
Willingness to drive vehicles owned by Point Blue (e.g., trucks, tow trailers, all-terrain vehicles) from Point Blue office and/or storage facilities to project sites and drive a vehicle to tow a trailer.

Nice To Haves

Experience in community-based restoration and education.
Experience with habitat restoration methods for both private agricultural lands and publicly managed parks and refuges.
Experience working with a variety of partners and volunteers.
Experience with Best Management Practices in urban and rural community-based, climate-smart restoration.
Experience with restoration site maintenance, including irrigation, weed management and browse protection against herbivory.
Experience evaluating sites for potential hazards, mitigating risk, and prioritizing safety while working outdoors.
Experience with education theory and practices, specifically inquiry-based and culturally relevant teaching.
Experience educating K-12 students and adult volunteers mostly outdoors.
Skills in small and large group facilitation outdoors.
Experience understanding and stepping into various key roles during a restoration day.
Experience supporting safety, workflow, and overall engagement of student and adult volunteers during field days.
Experience welcoming and accepting the diversity of experiences students have outdoors.
Experience sharing personal career pathways with K-12 students interested in careers in conservation.
Experience extending personal and professional networks.
Experience attending internal trainings and workshops related to the environmental field.
Experience with tools for individual reflection and team building.
Experience with focused lessons on topics such as communication, giving and receiving feedback, collaboration, problem solving, goal setting, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

Oversee and step into various key roles during restoration days with K-12 students, including safety monitoring, leading parts of the opening and closing circle, volunteer management, leading student planting and learning stations, packing up tools and trailers, parking vehicles, and leading games and activities.
Teach place-based concepts of restoration science through inquiry-based learning to K-12 students.
Implement restoration practices such as native species planting and willow harvesting with guidance.
Perform tool maintenance and storage facility upkeep.
Assist with restoration site preparation.
Participate in physically demanding field work, including working on steep hillsides, carrying equipment, and loading/unloading vehicles.
Follow phytosanitary practices to prevent the spread of plant pathogens.
Assist in nursery operations, including planting, watering, hosting students, working with volunteers, and seed collection.
Test plants for Phytophthora spp.
Attend and support pre-restoration lessons at schools.
Participate as a core educator in Multi-Visit Programs (MVP), supporting lesson design and teaching.
Assist with restoration site maintenance, including assessing site requirements and plant health, installing drip irrigation, plant removal, seed collection, tracking site health, and recording maintenance activities.
Provide technical direction to volunteer groups during maintenance, ensuring safety and quality of work.
Communicate with staff to plan daily tasks and supplies.
Operate mechanical tools and equipment such as weed whackers and small engines.