The Application Window Is Now Open for the Fall 2025 Cohort
Student Ambassador Program
Mount Diablo Trails Alliance (MDTA) is launching a new Student Ambassador Program to give students a greater voice related to the trails and recreation opportunities, while providing opportunities to develop their leadership, problem solving and collaboration skills.
Description of Student Ambassador volunteer and learning opportunities:
The Student Ambassador Program is open to high school students only
The Fall 2025 cohort’s term will run from October 2025 to June 2026
Option to participate in two (2) MDTA Board meetings during the term
Gain mutual understanding of various stakeholder recreation and conservation goals
Promote and volunteer at one (1) Dig Day trail maintenance event
Help promote Responsible Recreation practices and awareness during virtual meetings (e.g., Google Meet) or pop-up events at trailhead staging areas
Hypothetical Volunteer Hours that Ambassadors Can Earn during the Term: 15 Hours
Attend two (2) Board meetings – 5 hours
Volunteer at one (1) Dig Day – 5 hours
Promote Dig Days to constituents via email or social media – 1 hour
Participate on a virtual meeting or two for change-in-use or Responsible Recreation advocacy meetings – 2 hours
Attend one (1) Responsible Recreation pop-up event at a Mount Diablo State Park trailhead – 2 hours
Application Deadline
Applications must be received no later than Saturday, August 30th at 7:00PM.
To learn more about this leadership opportunity and application process, download the application using the button on this webpage.
Students represented more than 35% of the 100+ volunteers at the Diablo Ranch Trail Dig Day held on January 11, 2025.
Background
MDTA believes that the trail user community can be a source of positive impact, especially helping with the implementation of the trail related goals of the 2016 Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) for Mount Diablo State Park. Dig Day trail maintenance events over the past two years already have been integral to supporting that Shared Stewardship mission and its focus on Better Trails & Greater Access.
At Dig Days, students from local high schools increasingly have been a major volunteer force, sometimes representing nearly half of the volunteer base! The students’ dedication, teamwork and community service have been inspirational, cultivating the idea for the Student Ambassador Program’s launch this Fall 2025.