Education and Internships

The nursery is not only a hub for growing native plants—it is also a place of learning, mentorship, and career exploration. Every season, interns join the nursery team to gain firsthand experience in the full cycle of plant production, from gathering wild seed to preparing young plants for restoration projects across the Santa Monica Mountains. Working alongside restoration professionals, interns learn the science and practice of ecological restoration while making a real contribution to the health of local ecosystems.

The internship goes far beyond technical training. Participants develop a deep understanding of how climate change, wildfire, and urban pressures affect native habitats, and how thoughtful land stewardship can help ecosystems recover. Daily tasks—watering, transplanting, soil preparation, monitoring plant growth—become lessons in responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving. Many interns say the nursery feels like a bridge between classroom learning and the real-world application of science.

Because the program is rooted in partnership with the National Park Service, interns are also introduced to the broader field of public lands management. They learn about career pathways in conservation, connect with professionals working in biology, resource management, and education, and often take part in restoration projects on park lands where the plants they helped grow are returned to the earth.

For many, the nursery internship serves as a launching point. Some pursue degrees or jobs in environmental science, horticulture, or resource management. Others carry the knowledge into different fields, bringing with them a lasting appreciation for the natural world and the role individuals can play in protecting it.

This investment in young people is also an investment in the future of the region. By training interns to care for native plants and habitats, the nursery cultivates not only the next generation of conservation leaders but also resilience for the landscapes and communities that depend on them.

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