Field Ranger Program 2025

Youth economic advancement

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Low-income communities do not have equitable access to public lands. In 2016, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation conducted a Parks Needs Assessment study. This study inventoried the county by taking a closer look at local parks availability in relation to population densities. As a result, the County created a report of each neighborhood and classified them on a spectrum from Very High Park Need to Very Low Park Need. Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor reported that the unemployment rate for 18-24-year-olds reached 8.3% in Los Angeles County in 2023.The FRP program addresses these issues by providing professional work experience to youth from Very High/High Park Needs areas while connecting them to their local National Forest and supporting the USFS with workforce capacity. As visitation to ANF recreation sites grows and maintenance becomes a priority for the USFS, the need to recruit youth for careers in public lands is now more important than ever.

The FRP is an authentic approach to bridge communities in Very High/High Park Needs areas and their local National Forest. These communities encounter barriers that limit their ability to visit a National Forest and discover new career pathways. Factors that contribute to their lack of accessibility to forests are proximity, transportation, time, financial resources, opportunities, and awareness. The FRP addresses these challenges by providing a paid learning and career pathway experience to work alongside USFS mentors, while increasing workforce capacity and responding to National Forest needs. The primary goals are to provide: Experiential job training for young professionals Build a bridge between local, underrepresented communities, and environmental careers Support the USFS with increased workforce capacity In Year 3, we will hire ten youth to participate in a 10-week summer program to provide public engagement and education across the ANF. Participants will learn about local ecology and issues facing public lands, support native habitat restoration efforts, and assist with recreation maintenance. We are working with USFS staff that are born and raised in Los Angeles County to ensure we connect participants with mentors that share similar backgrounds. We further support the growth of each participant by providing resume building workshops, professional networking opportunities and professional development funds to assist each participant's specific career path.

The FRP addresses issues identified in the Parks Needs Assessment by connecting Very High/High Park Needs communities to public lands. The program supports these communities by providing work experience with transferable skills, professional growth, and opportunity to be eligible for USFS jobs. FRP provides a platform for youth to grow and feel empowered to make positive changes in their forests. Their experience in this program transforms their perspective about environmental careers that shapes the impact they have in the communities of LA County.
We partnered with Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD) to implement the FRP from 2023-2025, which funds a portion of the program. LA2050’s support will contribute to a well-rounded program that employs ten youth and promotes long-term impact through enrichment activities, mentorship, and professional experience. The NFF will continue to pursue funding to maintain and extend the program beyond the summer and 2025

The FRP started with four participants in 2023 and expanded to eight in 2024. To better understand the impact of the program, we conduct pre- and post-program surveys comprised of quantitative and qualitative questions. We collect and analyze this data to make program improvements. In 2023 participants reported feeling more familiar with public lands and the ANF, as well as motivated to visit the Forest during their free time and bring their friends. Last year’s cohort: Completed 1,440 total hours Conducted educational outreach to over 600 community members Completed 6 workshops Improved infrastructure in eight campsites Removed four full trucks of trash from the forest Performed trail work maintenance and cleanups Additionally, one participant was hired due to the experience she gained from the program. These results indicate that the program is hitting its goals of raising awareness, building connections to National Forests, and addressing USFS workforce capacity needs.

As the primary partner of the USFS, the NFF works with the ANF to develop, plan, and execute the FRP. The ANF staff is committed to training participants, leading work projects, supervising activities, and providing mentorship.
The NFF works with Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF), a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Latinos to opportunities, as our implementation partner on-the-ground. Their MANO Project connects, builds, and develops young leaders of color by exposing them to reliable resources, promoting civic engagement, and serving as a trusted partner. They have established systems and infrastructure for youth workforce development and provide support in recruitment, hiring participants, processing payroll, and all Human Resource related responsibilities related to the program