OREGON HOUSE, CA, Jan 6, 2026: — Community members from across Yuba County (and beyond) gathered at the Alcouffe Center in Oregon House. The draw was Yuba College as they introduced a new summer internship designed to prepare students for careers in natural resources and outdoor stewardship. Yuba College presented exciting, college-credit–earning opportunities connected to the protection and restoration of the Yuba River watershed.
Dr. Michael Bagley, Dean of Science and Technology at Yuba College, and Dr. Joe Krulder, Project Director for the Working Lands Workforce Development Pipeline grant, spoke to an enthusiastic audience about how the internship would operate, who is eligible to apply, and how the program connects education with long-term employment opportunities in Yuba County.
“This internship is about creating real pathways for local residents into meaningful, well-paying careers that directly benefit the Yuba River watershed and our rural communities,” said Dr. Bagley during the presentation. “By offering college credit, hands-on training, and strong student support, we are helping participants take the first step toward careers in forestry, land restoration, fire prevention, and natural resource management—right here at home.”
The Alcouffe Center at Oregon House hosted the event. Great food courtesy of Camptonville Community Partnership!
The six-week summer 2026 internship is part of Yuba College’s Working Lands Workforce Development Pipeline, a collaborative effort involving regional partners such as the South Yuba River Citizens League, the North Yuba Forest Partnership, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Yuba Watershed Protection and Firesafe Council, Bear Yuba Land Trust, Camptonville Community Partnership, Yuba Water Agency, and the Yuba County Resource Conservation District. The program responds to a growing need for a trained, locally rooted workforce capable of restoring forests, meadows, floodplains, and waterways while reducing wildfire risk and strengthening climate resilience.
Participants in the internship will receive classroom instruction and hands-on field experience along the Yuba River watershed, learning from experts in ecology, hydrology, forestry, agriculture, and watershed management. Students will also have opportunities to job-shadow professionals working on large-scale restoration and wildfire mitigation projects. The program earns college credit, and eligible students may qualify for financial aid.
To ensure accessibility and retention, the internship includes wraparound supports such as stipends, meals, transportation, outdoor work apparel, and student support services. High school interns will be accompanied by para-educators, and the program is designed to be culturally responsive through partnerships that serve veterans and historically underrepresented communities.
Dr. Krulder emphasized that the internship is intended as a first step toward long-term employment. “This program connects education directly to workforce needs in the Yuba River watershed,” he said. “We’re training people who already have strong ties to this region and wish to remain in the region for the foreseeable future.”
Community members interested in learning more or applying are encouraged to contact the Yuba College project team: Dr. Joe Krulder (jkrulder@yccd.edu), Dr. Michael Bagley (mbagley@yccd.edu), Dr. Kelly Thomasson (kthomass@yccd.edu), or Erika Hernandez (ehernandez@yccd.edu).
The Working Lands Workforce Development Pipeline aims to build a skilled, climate-conscious workforce while providing students with meaningful outdoor learning experiences—ensuring that the Yuba River, one of California’s last great waterways untouched by catastrophic wildfire, remains protected for generations to come.