Summer Apprenticeship Program

Summer Apprentice Program


The Summer Youth Apprentice Program hosts 40 West County youth at community garden, creek restoration, and farming sites across Richmond, CA where the youth will spend 6-weeks (100 hrs) learning about environmental justice, food justice, and food sovereignty and working alongside our staff to steward land, and cultivate resources our community!

The program includes workshops, field trips, guest speakers from people working various environmental, farming, social justice, and land management fields, hands-on learning work days, and a camping trip!

In 2025, we will be hosting youth apprentices in the following Project Areas:

  1. North Richmond Farm: 323 Brookside Dr, Richmond, CA 94801
  2. North Richmond Storytellers: 355 Brookside Dr, Richmond, CA 94801
  3. Orchard For All and Farm Stands at locations throughout Richmond
  4. Greenway Community Gardens: 16th Street and 6th Street along the Richmond Greenway
  5. Watershed Restoration Crew: Various locations along Wildcat Creek & Cerrito Creek
  6. Ujima “Collective Work and Responsibility”: Crescent Park Apartment Community Garden 

How to Apply

  • Application Deadline: Complete and submit the full application form by Friday, May 23, 2025.
  • Selection Notification: Accepted applicants will be announced on Monday, June 16, 2025.
Interview Process
  • Interview Dates: All interviews will take place online via Zoom from Monday, May 29 to Friday, June 9, 2025.
  • Requirements:
    • Only completed applications will be considered.
    • Applicants must schedule and attend their interview on time.
    • Please download Zoom in advance on your device (phone, tablet, or computer): https://zoom.us/download
Program Eligibility
  • Age: Open to West Contra Costa youth aged 15–19 years old.
  • Location & Transportation:
    • Apprentices must provide their own transportation.
    • Project sites are located in Richmond (Central, East Richmond Heights, South, and North Richmond).
  • Applicants must be safe to work at the project sites in Central Richmond, East Richmond Heights, South Richmond, and or North Richmond.
Stipend & Participation

Compensation: This is a paid apprenticeship. Apprentices will earn a $1,500 stipend for approximately 100 hours of hands-on learning and community service.

Full Participation Required:

The full stipend is awarded only upon 100% completion of all projects, tasks, and learning activities.
If participants complete less than 100 hours, they will be paid a percentage of their stipend based on participation and the percentage completed.

Looking forward to another unforgettable year!