Hands-On Conservation: High School Students Revitalize Northeastern Oakland’s Trails
By Michael Earls with the Climate Justice and Sustainability Hub
On Northeastern University’s Oakland campus, winding trails weave through tree-lined landscapes, creating a serene natural escape amid the urban bustle. This summer, Northeastern Oakland partnered with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to repair and elevate a frequently flooded section of the trail. High school students from across the East Bay joined forces to complete a significant overhaul, enhancing accessibility for campus visitors while gaining hands-on experience in environmental conservation.
“This project was a way to bring students into the conservation space, giving them hands-on experience in fieldwork that’s directly improving the campus,” said Andrew Gonzales, Sustainability Manager at Northeastern Oakland. “It’s the kind of work where they can look back and say, ‘I was part of this, and it made a difference.’”
The trail mid-repair. Photo provided by Kate Casale.
The connection between Gonzales and the SCA goes back years. Gonzales, an SCA alumnus, first encountered the organization as an undergraduate when he interned with the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico. This experience inspired his career path and led him to his current role, where he now helps drive the campus’s climate justice initiatives. When Gonzales reconnected with the SCA this year, he saw an opportunity to not only bring their impactful work to the Oakland campus, but also to empower local youth.
“It brought back this nostalgia of possibility and endless boundaries,” Gonzales reflected. “Hopefully, maybe one of these students, after this experience, feels inspired to study conservation or to become an advocate and keep moving this work forward in their own lives.”
After reconnecting, Gonzales and the SCA identified the ideal project: transforming a frequently flooded portion of the trail into an accessible, durable path. The high school students got their hands dirty by clearing brush, leveling the ground, and building up the path with wooden beams and gravel. By the end of two weeks, the roughly dozen students had transformed the often-muddy stretch into a sturdy, inviting trail.
The completed, repaired trail. Photo provided by Kate Casale.
For many of these high school students, this project was more than just physical labor—it was a lesson in patience, dedication, and the value of incremental progress. Kate Casale, the Bay Area Director for the SCA, noted that the hands-on nature of the work allowed students to see the direct results of their efforts, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment. “They really felt accomplished,” Casale shared. “Most of these young people are coming with absolutely no experience…they felt proud of the work they’d done.”
An SCA student hard at work. Photo provided by Kate Casale.
Beyond practical skills, students had the chance to explore conservation careers. They learned about diverse environmental roles, from state park management to sustainability leadership. For some students, who might have otherwise spent their summer in typical part-time jobs, the immersive experience offered a new perspective and understanding of the real impact they could have in their community.
The project also gave students a meaningful introduction to Northeastern Oakland’s campus, allowing them to connect with the space hands-on. For many, it was their first time experiencing a college environment up close, giving them a tangible connection to higher education and future opportunities.
“You can tell them that Northeastern is in Oakland all you want, but stepping onto campus makes it real for them,” Casale explained.
Through this unique exposure to environmental work and higher education, students could envision new possibilities for their futures—right in their local community.
Both Gonzales and Casale are excited about the possibility of future collaborations. They’re already discussing potential projects for next summer, exploring new ways for students to contribute meaningfully to campus conservation. “There’s real enthusiasm to keep this partnership growing,” Gonzales said, noting that expanding the program could provide students with even more hands-on experiences in sustainability.
By fostering partnerships like this, Northeastern Oakland continues to build its role as an engaged, sustainable campus committed to community-centered climate action. The collaboration with the SCA has not only enhanced the campus environment but also empowered a new generation of environmental stewards—one trail at a time.
Written by Michael Earls, November 25th 2024
Photos by Kate Casale