Strategic Support and Resources

Expand Your Learning in the Field: Opportunities Across the Hawaiian Islands

Want to know what professional opportunities in natural resources are out there for students across Hawaiʻi? This list identifies opportunities that are beneficial to those interested in pursuing Natural Resources careers.

General Resources

808 Volunteers

808 Volunteers is a community in which organizations can add service opportunities to attract youth volunteers in one, easy to navigate, place. Thus, youth and youth service groups can be connected to a network of like-minded peers, inspiring each other and collaborating on projects. Search by type of opportunity (example: environmental or animal/wildlife) or island.

ClimbHI Bridge

Students will be able to pick areas of interest and visit businesses and entities in that field for a guided experience of the operation, the opportunities available, and the requirements to take advantage of the opportunities in the future.

Conservation Connections

The one-stop shop for anyone looking for opportunities to work, volunteer, intern, research, or donate to organizations that are doing great work stewarding the land, ocean, and cultural sites of Hawaiʻi.

K-12 Opportunities

Farm to School and School Garden Initiatives

Below are links to various farm to school and school garden programs and initiatives that connects students to their ‘āina:

Nature Adventure Camps - Oʻahu and Maui

Hawai‘i Nature Center’s week-long Nature Adventure Camps are held during school breaks including the summer months. Kids can go tech-free and high touch with five days of outdoor adventure. All offerings are led by expert environmental educators who specialize in outdoor exploration with hands-on education. Themed camps celebrate natural history, environmental science, and sustainability. Outdoor classroom activities include hikes, fishing, bug hunts, nature games, and crafts.

Hawai‘i School Peace Gardens

By providing access to dedicated, intentional outdoor spaces, School Peace Gardens increase a sense of safety and total well-being among students and school staff, while supporting the integration of Peace and Sustainability Education into School Design. School Peace Gardens can support the integration of Peace and Sustainability Education into the school curriculum by actively addressing local and global issues such as climate change, food access, human and ecosystem health, and more.

Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha

Youth come to Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha to care for the land with traditional Hawaiian values. Students learn how to nourish themselves by planting seeds of hope and watching their seedlings grow into the programs serving Wai‘anae Coast communities today.

Honolulu Community Action Program - Hā Initiative

The Hā Initiative is a fun and creative place for kids in grades 2 through 8 to spend their after-school time. Through this program, kids learn and grow by exploring the worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM). The program is free and provides participants snacks, tutoring, and an opportunity to meet other kids and engage in exciting hands-on science projects and computer activities.

Hui o Hoʻohonua (HOH808)

Volunteer with Hui o Hoʻohonua (HOH) and participate in service learning work days at Pouhala Marsh and at Kapapapuhi Point Park.

Hui o Koʻolaupoko

Volunteer with Hui o Ko`olaupoko (HOK) to improve water quality through ecosystem restoration and storm water management, focusing specifically in the Koʻolaupoko region – from Makapuʻu to Kualoa. HOK implements innovative, on-the-ground projects that effectively manage and protect water quality and natural resources in Hawai`i.

Molokaʻi Land Trust

Molokaʻi Land Trust provides STEM related service-learning opportunities for public and private schools on island as well as an internship program designed to provide internships for Molokai youth/students who are interested in Natural Resource Management, Conservation, Restoration Ecology, and/or any other related field.

Paepae o Heʻeia

Education Programs, volunteer opportunities, and internships are all available through Paepae o Heʻeia, a private non-profit organization dedicated to caring for He’eia Fishpond – an ancient Hawaiian fishpond located in Heʻeia, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu.

Trees for Honolulu’s Future

Volunteer or participate in Trees For Honolulu’s Future's Keiki Art Contest as they work to build bridges among public and private organizations and local communities by educating about, advocating for, and facilitating the planting and caring for new trees and the protecting of existing trees in communities across Oʻahu and specifically connecting communities with expert assistance and funding.

Wild Kids

After-school program designed to offer students the freedom to make mistakes, create their own way (both literally and metaphorically), and hone their awareness of their surroundings, others and themselves. Wild Kids is built around exploration, discovery and imagination. For two hours, participants explore the land adjacent to Le Jardin Academy’s campus and enjoy mud slides, scavenger hunts, hiking, tree climbing, making up games, building shelters, creating nature-based art, camouflage activities, scouting for trails, tracking birds, and searching for the magical forest elves known as "Little Greenies."

High School Opportunities

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