College Mentorship
Brief nature experiences, even as short as 10 minutes, have been shown to significantly improve mood and reduce stress among college students.
Meaningful Opportunities For Growth
As part of our commitment to supporting youth through every stage of their educational journey, One Cool Earth’s College Mentorship Program provides meaningful opportunities for early adults to grow as leaders, educators, and changemakers. We partner with Cal Poly, Cuesta College, and other institutions to engage students studying environmental science, agriculture, child psychology, and education.
Through internships, volunteer events, and mentorship opportunities—including support for the Cal Poly Food Pantry Garden—college students gain hands-on experience while contributing to our mission. This program is a key part of our vertical integration strategy, fostering a lifelong connection to environmental stewardship and youth wellness.
To learn more about these programs, contact us at action@onecoolearth.org.
Here are some of the ways college and college-aged students can get involved with our programs:
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We have ongoing garden workday opportunities that happen all over the county throughout the school year. These workdays typically occur after school or on Saturdays and include tasks such as spreading wood chips, building beds, planting, weeding, spreading mulch, etc.
Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours after school on a weekday.
If you are interested in joining for a Garden Workday, please fill out our Volunteer Waiver (below). At the day and time of the event, you will enter at the school front office and the staff will direct you to the garden. Please bring a hat, sunscreen, water and wear closed-toed shoes.
Workdays are weather dependent - it's always a good rule of thumb to call the office ahead of time to ensure that the event is a go! -
The Garden Educator Assistant will work with students and assist a One Cool Earth’s Garden Educator with preparing and teaching lessons in school gardens. They will also perform garden maintenance tasks in the school garden. The position would be well-suited for someone who enjoys working with children and has a background knowledge or strong interest in gardening, education, nutrition, biology, and/or natural resource management.
This opportunity can be used for internship credit and assistants are selected after an application process. To apply, email action@onecoolearth.org.
Time Commitment: Minimum of 2 hours, weekly. -
One Cool Earth is seeking a dedicated volunteer to join the Under the Trees program for pregnant and postpartum mothers. Volunteers will oversee older siblings ages 2-6 years to:
Lead story time in the garden.
Assist nature play activities such as mud kitchen, fort building, and arts and crafts.
Keep an eye out for any safety concerns and returning children to mothers when needed.
When: Wednesdays and Fridays 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Dates: Varies - reach out for more information.
Location: 875 Laureate Ln, San Luis Obispo.
Time Commitment: 2- 4 hours, weekly.
Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
If you are a student interested in volunteer/internship opportunities, explore our open positions and apply using the button below! Questions? Email our team at action@onecoolearth.org.