Summer Fellows: Moving Forward, Working with Nature
By Arely Mendia Perez
October 2021
Western Tanager, Vol. 88 No. 2, Nov.-Dec. 2021
Los Angeles Audubon's Summer Fellows Program has been a strong learning resource for many alumni from the Greenhouse Program, Kenneth Hahn Environmental Internship, and the West Los Angeles College Conservation Studies Certificate Program. This program provides hands-on experience along with further environmental education learning. Summer Fellows work on habitat restoration at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area. They grow California native plants in the greenhouse, install plants and irrigation systems in the parks, and observe local wildlife, such as Western Fence lizards, Gopher Snakes, Cotton-tail Rabbit, Red-tailed hawk, and Green Lynx spider, just to name a few. Working alongside nature is a big deal for the Summer Fellows, and the program provides them with access to nature as a career path.
Summer Fellows leave the program with valuable skills and experience, and we are thrilled when they move into other career and high education opportunities. This year, we are happy to inform you that Alan Cooper, Angela Mendia, Sam Mah, and Melvin Harris, all former Summer Fellows, are now employed by California State Parks.
Alan Cooper in the California State Park electric Vehicle at the top of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.
Alan Cooper has been a Summer Fellow for two years now, from the summer of 2020 to this summer, 2021. He first joined the Conservation Studies Certificate Program with West Los Angeles College. Once he had completed his certificate, he joined Summer Fellows. He planted native plant species, watered many important restoration sites, and helped at the California Least Tern colony enclosure in Venice. Alan’s goal is to become a park ranger with the US Forest Service. He is currently working as a park aide for the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and will be attending Humboldt State University - another great step toward his goal!
Angela Mendia in the Greenhouse at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, showing off her California State Park uniform.
Angela Mendia has been a Summer Fellow for four years, starting in 2018 to this summer, 2021. Since her sophomore year in high school, she was part of the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program, graduating in 2016. She joined our Summer Fellows program and has been a keen observer of arachnids at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. She has done all types of restoration and environmental work at the two parks, and she has proven herself a great nature photographer. She currently works as a park aide at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Having completed her degree in Television Production at CSU Northridge in 2020, Angela’s goal is to go study entomology at the graduate level, pursuing a career in Arachnology.
Sam Mah is showing off his California State Park shirt, as part of the uniform he is getting for his first week at the Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Sam Mah has also been a Summer Fellow for four years, starting in 2018 to this summer, 2021. He started the Kenneth Hahn Environmental Internship in 2016, working alongside Director of Outdoor Education, Cindy Hardin. Sam has planted many native plants at both parks and led volunteer groups in habitat restoration. He is very passionate about wildlife and nature. Sam is knowledgeable in environmental education and has been a hard worker for four years as a Summer Fellow. He currently works at the Los Angeles State Historic Park as a park aide as well. Sam’s goal is to be a conservation biologist or wildlife rehabilitator.
Melvis Harris in his California State Park uniform at Sue-meg State State Park. The Humboldt green scenery behind him.
Melvis Harris has been another one of our star Summer Fellows alumni from years past. Melvin was an intern in the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program when he was in high school, studying Western Fence Lizards for his project at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. As a Summer Fellow, he assisted with habitat restoration, native plant germination, native plant installation, and watering important sites at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation State Area, and Leo Politi Elementary. In December, Melvin completed his BS in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University. He currently works at Sue-meg State State Park (formerly called Patrick’s Point SP) in Humboldt County.
We are very proud of our Summer Fellows alumni for continuing their environmental career path with California State Parks. We wish them luck as these early-career professionals continue in their endeavors.