Youth Stewardship

The Volunteer Division’s Youth Services team coordinates and runs a variety of programs that offer youth and educators opportunities to connect with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s parks and open spaces city wide.

Youth Stewardship Program (YSP)

The Youth Stewardship Program (YSP) runs from October through June of each year and engages youth and school groups, grades K-12, in environmental education and service-learning field trips in parks citywide. Our program mission is to foster in youth an understanding of their important role in building healthy social and natural communities.

YSP exposes urban students to an outdoor learning environment that proves to be engaging and challenging. Students are taught science, environmental education, local natural and cultural history, social responsibility, a personal connection to their communities, and fundamental life skills. Each trip is between 1.5-3 hours and includes an environmental education and restoration component.

The program is free of cost and available to any youth group or classroom in San Francisco.

If you’re interested in incorporating a youth stewardship component to your curriculum, please complete a Youth Stewardship Program application. Someone from our Youth Services Volunteer Team will contact you within two weeks of receiving your application. 



Drop-In Youth Volunteer Opportunities


Individuals are welcome to drop-in to monthly youth friendly volunteer parties:

  • 1st Wednesdays 10am-noon at Heron's Head Park  

**Youth waivers are required for all participants under the age of 18. Youth under 14 years old must be accompanied by a chaperone.

You can find other volunteer opportunities on our volunteer calendaricon_Calendar_VolunteerPrograms Opens in new window

For groups of 10 or more, please fill out our Group Park Volunteer Request Form  


Group Community Service Projects

To organize a service-only project for your group or class year-round, please complete a Group Park Volunteer Request Form      .

 

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Not sure how or where you’d like to volunteer? No problem! Get in touch with staff at recparkvolunteers@sfgov.org.