About

The Park Ambassador Program provides youths ages 16-24 living in low-income areas of San Diego opportunities to explore the world, challenge themselves, develop leadership skills, and gain exposure to career pathways in public service, environmental stewardship, and natural resources management. 

The result is a win-win: youths gain access to new career pathways, the City of San Diego gains a resource for workers, and vulnerable communities’ benefit when their own citizens achieve success.

What We’re Doing

As part of the Parks Ambassador Program, the Parks Foundation works with local youth to inspire a love of recreation services and the environment, acquire leadership and project management skills, and a life-long career in public service, through:

• Providing mentorship through speaking engagements from a variety of community and civic leaders, including instruction on environmental stewardship and natural resource management best practices, and workforce development training such as resume writing and public speaking.

• Organizing community service and volunteer opportunities. Ambassadors are encouraged to participate in at least four community service projects to learn the value of public service and volunteerism.

• Opportunities to learn about and participate in civic engagement opportunities such as attending a City Council meeting or a meeting of the San Diego Parks Foundation.

• Providing tools to successfully gain valuable employment experience, through extensive job placement support. Successful ambassadors will be provided an opportunity to join the Parks and Recreation Department, an entry level position at the City of San Diego, or as a participant in the City’s mentorship program.

After participation in the program, the Park Ambassadors will:

• Learn to be good stewards of their parks and communities and beyond the program, impacting the welfare of their parks and community and its citizens.

• Make healthier life choices