The Roots of Success Environmental Literacy Apprenticeship/Pre-Apprenticeship Program (RoS) increases environmental literacy and prepares youth for jobs/careers in environmental fields. We do this through a registered Apprenticeship/Pre-Apprenticeship program that prepares youth for good jobs in the environmental fields.

Roots of Success is offered in high schools, youth programs, job training programs, reentry programs, prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and other settings. Since 2009, over 26,000 students have gone through the RoS program.

The RoS program strengthens academic, professional, financial, social entrepreneurship, and advocacy skills, deepens understanding of environmental problems and solutions, and prepares youth to work in environmental fields. It also strengthens STEM competencies in critical thinking, science and scientific inquiry, math, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

The RoS program’s transformative impact stems from its pedagogy, environmental justice focus, a curriculum that connects what students are learning in the classroom to employment and advocacy opportunities, industry recognized credentials, and a structure that meets the needs of diverse program partners, settings, and individuals.

Roots of Success is the first federally registered (and California state registered) “Environmental Literacy” Apprenticeship program in the United States. The Apprenticeship prepares instructors to teach environmental literacy, ensuring that youth will be prepared to address environmental and climate change issues and injustices and work in environmental and STEM fields. Apprentices earn a “CTE Environmental Literacy Instructor” credential that supports teacher preparation and professional development.

The Pre-Apprenticeship program is offered to RoS students. It provides students with a strong foundation of environmental literacy, inspires and prepares them to be activists who can improve conditions in their communities, and strengthens the academic and professional skills and credentials employers require. Graduates earn an “Environmental Specialist” credential that is highly valued by employers.

The curriculum is composed of 10 modules:

1) Fundamentals of Environmental Literacy
2) Water
3) Waste
4) Transportation
5) Energy
6) Building
7) Health, Food & Agriculture
8) Community Organizing & Leadership
9) Financial Literacy & Social Entrepreneurship
10) Application & Practice