MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2025. BY SLEWS PROGRAM, CENTER FOR LAND BASED LEARNING.
The Center for Land Based Learning’s SLEWS Program is now recruiting volunteer mentors for the 2025–2026 school year! Mentors should be working or have experience in agriculture or natural resources, be at least 21 years old, and be fully available on the dates for their desired project. The deadline to apply to be a mentor is October 12th, 2025.
The Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program encourages high school students to dig into habitat restoration through real projects on farms, ranches and open spaces. Hands-in-the-dirt experiences bring science to life and stimulate environmental stewardship by connecting youth to climate adaptation techniques and building biodiversity.
Through multi-phased fieldwork and associated in-class lessons, students build knowledge, perspective and personal connection to the land. Each 30-student cohort is matched with a regional restoration project and participates in ecological field studies where youth discover careers and college opportunities in natural resource management and environmental science.
This school year, there are five SLEWS projects in the Lodi AVA (see below) thanks to partnerships with LangeTwins, Sloughhouse, East Bay MUD and Vino Farms.
| LangeTwins Winery with Lodi High School Students will work to install drip lines, control invasive weeds, and plant native plants. The partnership works towards helping the Lange family continue to integrate wildlife habitat into the farming landscape. TUESDAY Field Days: November 4th (November 18th backup), January 27th (March 3rd backup), March 3rd (March 31st backup) |
| Sloughhouse with Cordova High School Students will establish a 1,750-ft double-row hedgerow with diverse native plants to provide year-round food and habitat for bumble bees, native bees, and monarch butterflies.THURSDAY Field Days: December 4th (December 11th backup), February 5th (March 12th backup), March 12th (March 18th backup *Note this is a Wednesday) |
| East Bay MUD – Mokelumne Day Use Area with Bear Creek High School Students will help expand floodplains near the salmon hatcheries by planting native grasses and trees as part of riparian forest restoration.PRIMARILY TUESDAY Field Days: November 19th *Note this is a Wednesday (December 2nd backup), January 13th (February 3rd backup), February 17th (March 10th backup) |
| Vino Farms with Stagg High School Students will enhance pollinator and beneficial insect habitat as part of Vino Farms’ integrated pest management practices.WEDNESDAY Field Days: December 3rd (December 10th backup), January 21st (February 11th backup), March 4th (April 1st backup) |
| Vino Farms with Sheldon High School Students will enhance pollinator and beneficial insect habitat as part of Vino Farms’ integrated pest management practicesPRIMARILY FRIDAY Field Days: December 9th *Note this is a Tuesday (December 12th backup), January 30th (February 13th backup), March 6th (April 3rd backup) |
Additionally, there are more SLEWS projects in other regions. For the full list, click HERE.
Students see the lasting impact of their work over multiple visits to their adopted project. These integrated learning experiences combine team building, science learning, habitat restoration and reflection activities with outdoor exploration. Since 2001, we have served more than 8,500 students during more than 1,000 field days and planted nearly a half million native trees, shrubs and grasses.
Mentors play a crucial role by guiding students through habitat restoration projects and inspiring them by sharing their own educational and career experiences. Mentors are expected to commit to one project at one location, which includes three non-consecutive field days (typically 8:30am – 2:30pm) at the site with the same group of students.
If you want to experience the joy of being a SLEWS mentor, by October 12th:
1. Review the available project locations, dates and times to confirm your availability for one entire project.
2. Complete the mentor application form.
3. Do your best to attend the mentor training session on Tuesday, October 14th from 9am to 12pm at Franklin Channel (Elk Grove, CA).
Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a real impact on both students and the environment. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions to Lucero Macias Torres, SLEWS Sacramento/San Joaquin Program Coordinator, Center for Land-Based Learning at 916.270.5805 or lucero@landbasedlearning.org. Learn more at landbasedlearning.org.
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