Olivewood has multiple opportunities for high school students to get involved in the gardens! There are four internships throughout the year; the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Internship beginning in the winter, a Garden to Kitchen Internship in the spring, the Youth Community Leadership Program in the summer and the Culinary Program in the fall. These programs all include a job readiness component and are designed to benefit students from National City, CA. Programs and lessons are designed to give youth tools to support their growth professionally and personally. Lessons include garden preparation, propagation, civic engagement, maintenance, pest management, advocacy, nutrition education, culinary literacy, financial literacy, and other career development topics.
Our high school programs engage Sweetwater High School and other South Bay students that otherwise have little access to career development opportunities. In addition to the program-specific skills students learn, this program provides students with leadership and team-building opportunities along with practical job skills that will prepare them for college, work experience, or both. The interns themselves form bonds of support through the shared work experiences that strengthen and encourage their confidence to succeed.
High school students are also able to complete required community service hours at Olivewood through our Volunteer Program which provides students a safe space to work outdoors in a collaborative and educational environment. Students can volunteer in the garden, kitchen, with special events or projects, or in the office at a time that works best for their schedule.
For any questions, please contact the Director of Youth Programs, Jeni, at [email protected].
This program is for any teen grades 9-12 that wants to gain skills and knowledge surrounding community engagement, food systems & food justice, learning about food access and co-ops with this program culminating in a community action group project
Students will:
Thursdays 4:00 – 6:00pm
During this internship, students will propagate plants & learn entrepreneurship skills that will culminate in a Spring Plant Sale for the community!
Students will:
This internship for covers topics such as basic gardening techniques, how to prepare recipes, introductions to both garden and culinary sciences, and budgeting. Interns will also be exposed to professionals in different career paths such as culinary, non-profit management, marketing, agriculture, nutrition science, catering, and event coordination. Participants will also gain skills in professional development presentations, time management, and have the opportunity to get a food handler’s certification. This is a great opportunity to learn how to grow food and prepare nutritious and delicious meals for you and your family!
This internship covers topics such as customer service skills, recipe development, advanced culinary techniques, going on a field trip to a commercial kitchen, meeting guest chefs, & more! This is a great opportunity to meet professionals in a career field that you enjoy studying or interests you for the future. Participants will also gain interview skills, time management, and have the opportunity to get a food handler’s certification. This internship is an opportunity to develop professional and personal skills that will build your work experience and benefit your resume.
Support for our High School Leadership Programs is provided by:
Talls & Smalls – February 6th, 2026
Garden Explorers February: Petal Power!
Chefcitos (February 14th, 2026 – 10AM)
