August 15, 2021River Partners believes a thriving California requires growing the next generation of restoration leaders. That’s why every summer we host full-time, paid summer interns – whom we fondly call Restoration Scholars – from two- and four-year universities to gain valuable hands-on experience with our science and farming experts. Their research and insights also help grow River Partners’ long-term impact. This summer, we welcomed our largest cohort of Scholars to date. We know you’ll be as inspired as we are by their personal stories, smarts, and dedication to keeping California’s environment and communities thriving for generations to come.
Vanessa Padilla
It’s likely that not too long from now, Vanessa Padilla may very well look back at her summer internship and appreciate the landscape of her hometown and a broader understanding…
Shaine Hill
Shaine Hill has always enjoyed the ways nature networks. From ant farms he maintained as a young boy in Folsom to his summer internship at River Partners, the Plant Biology…
Samantha Stephan
Samantha Stephan has always had a love of the outdoors. From the time she completed what she termed “a real hike, and not just a quick little nature walk” at…
Madison Pierce
When Madi Pierce begins her final year at Cal Poly SLO, the Forestry and Natural Resources major will be well-prepared. River Partners’s Chico office was an ideal home base for…
Madeline Perrault
Madeline Perreault’s experience enjoying the outdoors spans land and water—from hiking, camping, and backpacking to surfing for her junior high and high school teams. So as the San Diego native…
Lauren Hoff
Growing up on a Fresno farm, Lauren Hoff spent most of her waking hours exploring and enjoying the outdoors. “My family could always find me trying to catch feral cats…
Kyle Nguyen
Working in the sweeping, wide-open spaces of the San Joaquin Valley, Kyle Nguyen spent much of this summer looking closely at some of the area’s tiniest creatures. Out of the…
Katie Wong
The connections in the natural world come in all shapes and sizes, and between species. When it comes to the relationship between companion plant species—particularly those that differ dramatically in…
Francisco Gallegos
Francisco Gallegos arrived at San Diego State with an interest in pursuing psychology. But when he discovered the university’s on-campus greenhouse, his curiosity was ignited in a different way. “I…
