Spokane Conservation District Celebrates First Graduating Cohort of Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship Program
Spokane Conservation District is proud to celebrate the first graduating cohort of our Natural Resources Youth Apprenticeship Program as they complete their Associate of Applied Science degrees and take the next step toward meaningful careers in conservation, environmental science, and natural resource stewardship.
What began in June 2024 with orientation, team building, and a new group of young adults stepping into unfamiliar work has grown into something much bigger. Over the past two years, this group has planted hundreds of trees, maintained and watered young plantings, assisted with outreach events, supported our Annual Tree Sale, learned equipment safety, practiced tree climbing, completed chainsaw and chipper work, trained on skid steers, and gained invaluable hands-on experience across forestry, water science, agriculture, wildlife, and environmental stewardship.
They balanced field work with college coursework, taking classes at Spokane Community College while continuing to build real-world skills at the District. With each season, their responsibilities grew, and so did their confidence, professionalism, and sense of purpose.
This group has shown tremendous growth, responsibility, integrity, courage, and grit. We’ve watched them grow from new apprentices learning the basics into confident young professionals ready to make a lasting impact through conservation, restoration, environmental science, and natural resource stewardship.
Their next chapters are just as inspiring. Some are continuing their education, others are entering the workforce, and many are pursuing careers that will protect, restore, and steward our natural resources. While their paths may look different, they all have gained valuable experience, meaningful connections, and the confidence to make an impact in their communities.
Several members of the cohort are already stepping into new opportunities, including internships, positions with consulting firms, and leadership roles at Spokane Conservation District. Some will now serve as crew leaders for the next generation of apprentices, helping guide the new cohort just as they were guided through their own journey.
This milestone is about more than graduation. It represents the power of investing in young people, creating pathways into conservation careers, and building a workforce rooted in hands-on experience, mentorship, and a commitment to caring for the land better than how they found it.
To our first graduating cohort: congratulations! Thank you for your hard work, curiosity, and willingness to learn. Your dedication has strengthened this program and helped lay the foundation for the future of natural resource stewardship in our region.
And now, we are excited to welcome our newest group of apprentices as they begin the next chapter of the Natural Resource Apprenticeship Program. They are following in the footsteps of a remarkable first cohort, and we cannot wait to se how they grow, lead, and shape the future of conservation in Spokane County and beyond.
