A paid summer internship for El Monte Union students is offering hands-on environmental career training while investing directly in local campuses.
The Cindy Montañez Young Leaders Program, offered by TreePeople, is a four-week paid internship open only to students enrolled in the El Monte Union High School District. Participants earn $18 per hour while gaining field experience in forestry, watershed management and climate resilience.
For a district serving working-class families in El Monte and South El Monte, the paid structure removes a key barrier. Many summer enrichment programs rely on volunteer hours. This internship compensates students for their time and labor.
District-Focused Environmental Career Training
Eligibility for the TreePeople internship is limited to El Monte Union students. Applicants do not compete against peers across Los Angeles County. The program centers on the district and its campuses.
Students explore career pathways in mountain and community forestry, water conservation and urban climate planning. They also learn how environmental projects move from concept to implementation.
A core element of the TreePeople internship requires students to design and propose an eco-project for their own school. That structure ties the experience directly back to El Monte Union campuses.
Students return to school with plans that can expand shade coverage, improve water efficiency or strengthen sustainability awareness. The work is practical and campus-based, not theoretical.
The program includes a mandatory orientation in mid-July. Internship days run Tuesday through Friday from late July through mid-August.
Building A Local Environmental Career Pipeline
Environmental and sustainability careers continue to grow across California. Public infrastructure, water systems and urban forestry projects are expanding under state climate initiatives.
Early exposure through the TreePeople internship can shape a student’s college major and career goals. Paid field experience strengthens college applications and scholarship prospects, especially for first-generation students.
The program honors Cindy Montañez, a former California legislator and environmental advocate known for advancing climate and equity initiatives.
TreePeople has worked in Los Angeles County for decades, focusing on urban tree planting, watershed health and climate education. By concentrating recruitment within El Monte Union, the organization directs resources to San Gabriel Valley youth.
Applications for the TreePeople internship are due Sunday, March 29. Students can apply online at https://bit.ly/CMYLP-2026. Questions can be directed to [email protected].
As climate infrastructure investment expands statewide, programs like this give El Monte Union students paid experience, professional exposure and tools to improve their own campuses. For local families, the opportunity connects summer income with long-term career growth rooted in their community.
