Our Community

One of the many things that makes the Natural History & Sustainability Program at Merritt so special is our community, both on campus and within the greater Bay Area. We proudly partner with local environmental and food justice organizations to provide guidance, education, and internship opportunities.

Student clubs

The Garden Club

The Environmental Center Garden Club, led by Mouse Lockwood, focuses on various projects around the EC garden. Activities include removing invasive plants, weeding in the native plant garden, harvesting crops, and planting seeds. The club also goes on hikes together and visits other gardens in the area!
Club meetings will resume on Wednesday, February 19 at 11 am and will continue every other Wednesday. Contact Mouse for more information.
The Sustainability Club

The Sustainability Club is currently working on a project called ‘Sustainable Merritt’ with Merritt’s Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa. This project will continue; however, new President Leia O’Dell has some additional exciting projects in mind for the spring 2025 semester! Feel free to email for more information and for the current meeting schedule.
The Hiking Club

The hiking club meets once a month on the second Saturday. The hikes are approximately 3-5 miles and will be "led" by volunteers or invited guests.
Upcoming hike information: February 9 at 1 pm, Redwood Bowl Fungi led by Ricardo! Email the club leaders for more info.

Local organizations and partners

We partner with many local organizations and businesses so our students can gain access to opportunities and make relationships through field trips, speaking engagements, volunteer opportunities, and/or internships. Some partners are also part of our NHS Advisory Board.

Planting Justice provides sustainable living-wage jobs, food access, and holistic programming for communities impacted by mass incarceration. They also have North America’s most biodiverse urban farm and organic nursery.

Learn more here
Fresh Approach is guided by the communities they serve, and in collaboration with other nonprofits, government agencies, and health systems, they are building resilient food and farming systems through healthy food access, nutrition education, urban agriculture, and community engagement.

Learn more here
The mission of the Alameda County Resource Conservation District (ACRCD) is to provide leadership in the county and region to enhance natural resources conservation, preserve wildlife and habitat, and improve rangeland and agricultural management through partnerships, education, outreach, resource services, and technical assistance to clients, and funding support.

Learn more here
ESA partners with clients and communities to drive sustainable, resilient, and equitable solutions that shape a better world.

Learn more here
The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 126,809 acres, 1,330 miles of trails and 55 miles of shoreline. They manage and preserve natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy and protect. The regional parks are ideal for healthful recreation and environmental education.

Learn more here
Urban Tilth inspires, hires, and trains local residents to cultivate agriculture, feed our community, and restore relationships to land to build a more sustainable food system, within a just and healthier community.

Learn more here
The Berkeley Food Network seeks to end hunger and poor nutrition by using innovative, community-centered solutions to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system.

Learn more here
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources connects the power of UC research in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development with local communities to improve the lives of all Californians.

Learn more here
The Watershed Project's mission is to inspire San Francisco Bay Area communities to understand, appreciate, and protect our local watersheds.

Learn more here
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is working to build a full service community district focused on high academic achievement while serving the whole child, eliminating inequities, and providing each child with excellent teachers, every day.

Learn more here

Our Advisory Board

Felicia Walker

EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Emily Ortzow

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Mark Fujiwara

PLANTING JUSTICE
Ethan Rayner

THE WATERSHED PROJECT
Tia Neal

FRESH APPROACH
Yvette Arroyo-Agredano

CIVICORPS
Jill Sunahara

ENVMNTL SCIENCE ASSOCIATES
Colleen Hotchkiss

ALAMEDA RESOURCE CONSERVATION

Our advisory board meets annually and provides guidance, advice, support, and real-world experience in their fields. These industry leaders also offer insight and guidance for our evolving curriculum. This ensures our students are ready to launch a new career and engage in our greater community.

The EC Garden Origin Story

Student Kate Berlin made this video of the very first Envmt 35 (Intro to Urban Agroecology) class post-covid, and the first time in decades the garden had been used as a lab space. How does the space look now, after so many classes have worked to make it bountiful and beautiful? Many thanks to Kate for this wonderful record.