For dozens of local high school students each year, the answer is a resounding yes.
Through Generation Green, an eight-week work-study program run by the U.S. Forest Service and the Great Basin Institute, students trade their usual summer routines for hard hats, hiking boots, and hands-on conservation work in the forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
But Generation Green is about far more than just a summer job.
This program introduces young people to careers in natural resource management, builds their leadership skills, and fosters a lifelong connection to the environment. Many participants describe it as a transformative experience, one that changes how they see themselves and the world around them.
For many of these students, this is their first real opportunity to explore the outdoors. Beyond professional development, they learn how to responsibly recreate in Tahoe’s forests, taking part in activities like backpacking and hiking that become cornerstones of their summer.
The impact speaks for itself:
- 209 Students have successfully gone through the program since 2008
- 191 have gone on to higher education
- 6 Alumni have full-time permanent positions in the Forest Service
These numbers tell a powerful story: Generation Green is cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards and community leaders. Students leave the program with a deep appreciation for nature and a clear sense of purpose; many choose to build careers in natural resources, public service, or nonprofit work, including our very own Outreach Coordinator, Jaclyn Tain.
At Tahoe Fund, we’re proud to support this extraordinary program and the life-changing opportunities it provides. Thanks to our donors, we can continue to help students gain the skills, confidence, and inspiration they need to be leaders today, tomorrow, and forever.
