We are proud to announce the success of our Native Landscape Management Apprenticeship! In close partnership with The Howard School, this program provides students with a career pathway in conservation and landscape management. In June 2022, we received generous funding from United Way of Greater Chattanooga and began laying the foundation and building trust for our collaborative effort. After months of preparation, we hired our first apprentices in January 2024.

Our current apprentices—Jahore Vann, Blandy Lopez, and Maria Alonzo Francisco—engage in native landscape restoration through invasive species removal and plant identification. They also further our mission with activities on campus, such as managing the s’mores station at Campfire Concerts and playing with kids at Summer Camp (they became a hit with our campers!). From driving the Kawasaki Mule to trekking our slopes, the apprentices enjoy their time here. They also regularly participate in professional development, where they build skills in career readiness that will extend beyond high school. Since the start, their supervisors and teachers have noticed a positive shift in the apprentices’ personal growth and interest in the outdoors. Apprentice Blandy Lopez notes, “There are a lot of skills you can learn here.” The apprentices have increased confidence, engagement, and perseverance in the classroom and beyond.

Educators at The Howard School explain the note-worthy changes they’ve witnessed in school. Jahore’s biology teacher, Harmony Paulus, says there has been a positive change in demeanor. The apprentices are more willing to ask questions and help other students who are struggling, especially in science classes. As an environmental science teacher, Amy Johnson asked her students to imagine property along a riverbank. For the class assignment, they were each to decide which business would be placed there, and Jahore chose to model a nature center by the river—a reflection of our campus here. Elias Wright-Pupo is also an environmental science teacher who has noted Blandy’s growth: “Blandy’s position as an intern at Reflection Riding caused a noticeable change in her attitude towards the outdoors. Blandy was already an engaged and participatory students—I saw a marked increase in her desire to do class activities outdoors and her knowledge of local ecosystems, which she often shared with her peers during our trips to Reflection Riding.”’ Ramsay Jibrin is a Howard coach who says, “The apprenticeship and field trips have been a great way to get our students interested in the environment and comfortable with being outdoors in a natural environment.”

The positive effect of our apprenticeship is crossing beyond education to everyday mentalities and conservation. On our campus, the apprentices are quick to help with staff and volunteers. Jahore has stepped into a leadership role of clearing the way for volunteers and working ahead for efficiency in invasive species removal and landscaping. Last month, our apprentices aided in restoring an imperiled bog ecosystem through the Southeastern Grassland Institute. Their supervisor, Zach Irick, said they were the hardest workers on the team. Go apprentices!

The apprenticeship program sets a strong foundation for aspiring conservationists as we mentor the next generation of environmental stewards. We hope to continue this partnership for many years to come as we connect our community with nature. Apprentice Jahore Vann wants everyone to know, “It’s really fun!”