Business Championship Award presented to SAMO Fund for "OYE!" Oxnard Young Ecologist Program

Santa Monica Mountains Fund's Nursery at Rancho Sierra Vista was recently awarded the Business Champion Award from the Career Education Department at Oxnard Union High School District.  The RSV Nursery, and it's staff, were recognized for their positive impact on students through the "OYE!" Oxnard Young Ecologists program. 

The "OYE!" program introduces students at Oxnard High School to native plants and the process of wildlife habitat restoration. Students learn to identify native plants, collect seeds for future conservation efforts and restore local habitats. "When the students intern at the nursery, they help with all of these activities," explained Karla Gonzales, Assistant Nursery Manager, who helps to oversee the program and received the award on behalf of the RSV Nursery staff. 

"The nursery is very important in ensuring native plants thrive, habitats are restored, and our environment is protected."

SAMO Fund hires the students as part of our workforce so the students are fully compensated during the 12 week program. "The Fund also provides roundtrip transportation and food for the students. The aim is to expose young adults to environmental careers and conservation stewardship and to pay them a fair wage for their work," explained Deanna Armbruster, Executive Director of SAMO Fund.  SAMO Fund has partnered with Oxnard High School District for two school years through a career technical class. The class allows students to work with local organizations to get work experience and give back to their community. "It has taken a whole team to make the Oxnard Youth Ecologists program what it is today," said Deanna. Nursery Manager Antonio Sanchez led the charge, along with Karla Gonzalez and Tak Chipman. In 2022, thanks to funding from the William and Joanne Miller Family Trust, Desserie Vasquez was hired as the Assistant Lead manaager for this program.  

OYE! Students learned about native plants, seed collection
and land restoration during their workforce program. 

Additional funding is needed to continue to offer this program.