Question 1

Summer Internships!

Accepted Answer

Application for the 2025 Internship is now Closed.  Please check back in the Spring 2026 for the 2026 internship.

For 2025, we are offering  four paid internships in two project areas. Each internship is for 10 hours/week for 6 weeks at $18.20/hour.

1. Sustainable Urban Landscapes (3 Interns)
2. GreenScape Changemaker: Community and Climate Action (2 Interns)

Key Dates:
 • Applications are due Friday April 25.
 • Interviews will be scheduled for May 5-9.
 • Candidate selections will be announced May 16.
 • Candidate acceptances are due May 23.
 • The internships start June 9 and end July 18.

Additional Details:
 • The ideal candidate will be a rising junior or senior high school student passionate about environmental issues.
 • The skills required are effective communication, good research skills, good time management and familiarity with the preparation of documents, spreadsheets and slides.
 • Interns must be willing to work as a team.
 • Interns must be able to work with minimal supervision.
 • The work will generally be from home or at the project site (pls see internship requirements)
 • There will be weekly in-person or zoom meetings with a GreenTown mentor.
 • The internship will culminate in a slide show presentation and demonstration to the public and/or GreenTown members on the summer accomplishments.

The internships are open to: Students attending the MVLA schools 
OR residents of Los Altos or Los Altos Hills attending other schools.

Question 2

1: Sustainable Urban Landscapes

Accepted Answer

Mentor:  Gary Hedden

Description: There is great interest in creating sustainable urban landscapes featuring native plants as such landscapes are resilient, drought-tolerant and support local wildlife, especially birds, bees and butterflies. This internship will involve researching other efforts and recommending a plan of action for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. The findings will be presented to the GreenTown Board.

Work may include: The findings may also be presented to the Los Altos Environmental Commission and/or the Los Altos Hills Environmental Design and Review Committee.

Links & Resources: 
https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/biodiversity(https://collaborate.mountainview.gov/biodiversity)
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Public-Works/Public-Services/Palo-Altos-Urban-Forest/Urban-Forest-Master-Plan(https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Public-Works/Public-Services/Palo-Altos-Urban-Forest/Urban-Forest-Master-Plan)
https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/urban-forestry/urban-forest-plan(https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/urban-forestry/urban-forest-plan)
https://lci.ca.gov/planning/land-use/urban-forestry/(https://lci.ca.gov/planning/land-use/urban-forestry/)
https://sustainability.santaclaracounty.gov/ufmp(https://sustainability.santaclaracounty.gov/ufmp)
https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/urban-and-community-forestry(https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/urban-and-community-forestry)
https://canopy.org/(https://canopy.org/)
https://www.ourcityforest.org/(https://www.ourcityforest.org/)
https://vibrantcitieslab.com/toolkit/(https://vibrantcitieslab.com/toolkit/)
https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/what-is-urban-forestry?srsltid=AfmBOoqolx9IZtNzaxC95_as9cBP5OYYM4etib-_b7hqyKGvll7zE90A(https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/what-is-urban-forestry?srsltid=AfmBOoqolx9IZtNzaxC95_as9cBP5OYYM4etib-_b7hqyKGvll7zE90A)

Question 3

2: GreenScape Changemaker: Community & Climate Action (2 interns)

Accepted Answer

Mentor:  Jane Packard

Description: Are you passionate about sustainability and looking for a hands-on way to make an impact in your community? Join us and help advance Los Altos’ climate action goals by engaging local leaders and community groups in sustainable green landscaping practices.

Work may include: As part of this internship, you will:
 • Learn how climate action is implemented at the Heritage Apricot Orchard, a local example of sustainable landscaping.
 • Research and develop strategies to engage youth in GreenScape community service
 • Promote & Advocate your insights by writing a blog, contributing an article to the Los Altos Town Crier, or posting on GreenTown’s social media to inspire broader community action.
 • Get dirty and dig in where you’ll help maintain the orchard while learning firsthand about sustainable landscaping.
 • Explore key environmental concepts, including:
    • The role of healthy trees in producing oxygen and capturing carbon.
    • The importance of water conservation in climate resilience.
    • The value of cultivating soil fertility to reduce plant stress due to climate change.
    • The impact of pollinator-friendly practices on local ecosystems.
    • The benefits of sustainable landscaping for greener communities.
 • Assess the capacity and interests of youth-oriented service organizations to participate in GreenScape initiatives.
 • Present your findings and recommendations to the Environmental Commission to help shape future community programs.

Links & Resources:
Los Altos Climate Adaptation and Action Plan(https://www.losaltosca.gov/sustainability/page/climate-action-and-adaptation-plan)
What Can I Do Now?(https://www.losaltosca.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/59951/what_can_i_do_now.pdf)
Los Altos Environmental Commission(https://www.losaltosca.gov/environmentalcommission)
GreenTown interns research on making Heritage Orchard more inclusive(https://www.losaltosonline.com/community/greentown-interns-research-on-making-heritage-orchard-more-inclusive/article_750a5350-5f37-11ef-ac9a-d37006c5f354.html)

About Us

GET INVOLVED

Volunteer Opportunities Abound...

Internships for Students

JOIN US

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ...