Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Grants
State Parks will be best prepared to address climate change with a talented and diverse natural resources workforce, equipped to lead the care of our landscapes. Historically, natural resources career paths have not been inclusive to all. Bringing diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and Indigenous knowledge into stewardship builds resilience and broader support for our parks.
As part of our Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways program, we invest in workforce development partnership models between State Park Districts and non-profits, community-based organizations, colleges, and Tribes. Each project provides both essential job training skills for communities that have been historically excluded from the State Parks workforce and adds resources to advance climate resilience projects.
Each funding round, we looked for proposals that addressed the following criteria:
- Provide job training skills, mentorship, and/or career exposure in the natural resources field
- Provide programming to participants from traditionally underrepresented communities
- Collaborate with California State Parks for natural resources training/workforce development program implementation
The trainings not only prepare the next generation workforce with the necessary skills but also expands awareness about the diversity of careers in parks, connects participants to mentors and professional networks to support them in their career journey, and helps participants navigate state hiring processes.
To learn about the next grant cycle, sign up to the Parks California newsletter.