Recently, Napa RCD welcomed three 2025 Spring Teen Conservation Interns.
The Teen Conservation Internship empowers high school students to develop valuable career skills and lead impactful environmental projects in their communities. As interns, these teens will coordinate conservation efforts focused on improving watershed and forest health, gaining hands-on experience both in the office and the field. By the end of the internship, they’ll have a solid foundation in resource conservation planning and the skills to inspire and instruct others in making a positive environmental impact.
Click through the sections below to read a little more about each 2025 Spring Teen Conservation Intern and what drew them towards this work.
Meet Reggie
Reggie Ellison has lived in Napa County for most of his life and is currently a 12th grader at New Technology High School. As a dual-enrolled student, he has taken several Environmental Science and Biology courses across the bay. During his internship, he is excited to explore Napa RCD’s rotary screw trap (RST) and learn about the number of salmon tracked through RST monitoring, especially how many will be counted this spring. His favorite environmental science topic is hydroponics and aeroponics, and he enjoys birdwatching when he’s in the valley.
Meet Dante
Dante Marquez is a senior at Calistoga High School, where he has lived his entire life. As an intern, he is excited to explore different career paths and gain experience in an ecology-focused work environment. Dante has always had a unique interest in arthropods and other often-overlooked animals. In his spare time, he keeps various species of isopods, geckos, and more.
Meet Miles
Miles is a junior at American Canyon High School and is excited to learn about the local ecosystem and the people who help protect it. He has a strong interest in bugs and being mindful of the natural world, with aspirations to work in environmental design. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar for his pet chameleon and simply looking out the window.