LINC Summer 2026 Application

Thank you for your interest in the LINC (Linking Individuals to their Natural Communities) 2026 Summer Program! This program builds future leaders through engagement with the environment. For more information about LINC click HERE

This Summer we have two opportunities available

LINC SEJI - Science & Environmental Justice Intensive - 3-Week Internship - Get paid up to $1500

LINC SOL - Summer of Outdoor Leadership - 6-Week Internship - Get paid up to $2400

Application Requirements:

1. You must be enrolled in a high school from the following Bay Area counties to be eligible for LINC SEJI or LINC SOL:

Alameda
Contra Costa
Marin
San Francisco
San Mateo
Solano
Sonoma

2. Participants must be able to fill out a W9 with a Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number to receive the full stipend. If this is a barrier or you have questions regarding this please reach out to Isis Espinosa iespinosa@parksconservancy as we may be able to assist you.

3. You are required to attend all the key dates in order to participate in either program.

This application includes:

Short answer questions (Please answer in complete sentences)
One reference (i.e. coach, teacher, counselor, mentor, etc.)

*Note: If you start your application and leave this page, your responses will be deleted and you will have to start over. Please write out your responses to the short questions in a word / google document ahead of time and paste it into this application. If you have any questions or barriers to completing this application please contact:

LINC SEJI: Darryl Burton dburton@parksconservancy.org

LINC SOL: Isis Espinosa (hablo español) iespinosa@parksconservancy.org

Application deadline is Sunday March 15th, 2026 11:59 pm. Applications received after this date might not be reviewed.

HOW THE PROGRAMS ARE ORGANIZED:

SEJI - Science & Environmental Justice Intensive

This is a 3-week intensive program that helps youth build hands-on science skills to understand and address environmental justice issues. SEJI will consist of 12 youth from any of the Bay Area counties we serve. Youth will spend the first part of the program in a park based “field station” setting working with professional scientists conducting community science. In the second half of the program, youth will apply the skills and knowledge gained from the first half in a more urban setting by taking part in environmental justice-focused community science research. At the end of the program, youth participants will share the results of their projects and their reflections to other youth.

Past LINC Participants are eligible to apply to LINC SEJI only as long as they are still enrolled in a high school.

SEJI Program Key Dates

Application due date: Application due date: Sunday, March 15th
South Interview Date: Saturday, April 4th (for students from Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties)- Location TBA in San Francisco
North Interview Date: Saturday, April 11th (for students from Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)-- Location TBA in San Rafael
Family & Student Orientation: June 18th 10am - 2pm
Program Starts: Wednesday, June 24th
Program Ends: Friday, July 10th

SEJI Program Schedule: (Attendance all days required)

June 24th & June 25th: Community building, science activities and trip preparation—based at the Crissy Field Center in the Presidio of San Francisco
June 27th - July 2nd: 5-night trip to West Marin County—Field ecology research, outdoor exploration science and career development workshops. We will be staying in bunkhouses at the Martin Griffin Preserve run by All Hands Ecology
July 6th - July 10th: Environmental justice science projects—based at the Crissy Field Center
Due to the varying nature of the program, there will be a varied schedule. When meeting at the Crissy Field Center we will meet between 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. During the camping trip we will meet at 10:00am June 27th and return by 4pm on July 2nd

SOL - Summer of Outdoor Leadership

This is a 6-week program that brings youth from across the Bay Area together for a variety of outdoor experiences themed around service, youth agency, recreation, community building, and professional development. Core activities include community building, service learning, outdoor experiences like camping and kayaking, career development workshops, and reflection and expression workshops.

The program supports 24 youth split into two cohorts - One that is based in Marin County (LINC North: which serve youth from Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, and Sonoma counties) and another team based in San Francisco (LINC South: which serve youth from Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties) who will meet together often during the summer. Occasionally, LINC North and South will have separate but similar experiences based on activity location.

SOL Program Key Dates:

Program runs on Tuesdays - Fridays, from 9:15 - 3:30pm.
South Interview Date: Saturday, April 4th (for students from Alameda, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties)- Location TBA in San Francisco
North Interview Date: Saturday, April 11th (for students from Contra Costa, Marin, Solano, and Sonoma Counties)- Location TBA in San Rafael
Mandatory Family & Student Orientation: Saturday, May 16th
Program Starts: Tuesday, June 16th
Program Week Break: Tuesday, June 29th - Friday, July 3rd
Program Ends - July 31st

SOL Overnight Trips

Thurs. June 18th - Fri. June 19th: Overnight Camping Trip in SF Presidio. Juneteenth will be a half day.
Tues. July 14th - Fri. July 17th: 4-Day Camping Trip (destination TBD)
Thurs. July 30th - Fri. July 31st: LINC Graduation / Overnight Celebration

*Before applying to either program, make sure that you are available to attend all days of program including the overnights.*

I am applying for -

LINC SEJI & SOL (You will be accepted into either LINC SEJI or LINC SOL)LINC SEJI ONLY (3-week Internship)LINC SOL ONLY (6-week Internship)

Participant Info

First Name

Last Name

Preferred Name

Name you would like to be addressed by

Street Address

City

State

Zip Code

Birthdate

MM/DD/YYYY

Best phone number to reach you

Re-type phone number

Best email to reach you

Re-type email

Current High School

Grade starting in Fall 2026

High School Graduation Date

Have you applied to LINC before?

YesNo

How did you hear about LINC?

Tell us about yourself

Q1.Why are you applying to LINC? What interest you or excites you about the program? (Please provide detailed, specific responses with at least 3 sentences)

Q2. What are some of your long-term goal? How would LINC help you achieve those goals? (Please provide detailed, specific responses with at least 3 sentences)

Q3. Why do you think it's important to connect with the outdoors? (Please provide detailed, specific responses with at least 3 sentences)

Q4. Do you experience barriers that keep you from having a stronger connection to the outdoors? If so, can you explain them below? (ie. far from nature, lack of access to transportation, lack of time, financial barriers, etc.)

Q5. How do you want to grow as a leader?

Q6. Why is community important to you?

Q7. Describe your connection to science. Why are you interested in taking part in an intensive outdoor science program?

Is there anything else you would like to add that you didn't get to say in your responses?

References

Please provide a reference. A reference cannot be a family member or personal friend. References can include teachers, counselors, employers, youth workers, or other adults who know you well.

Reference First and Last Name

How do you know this person?

Reference's phone number

Reference's email

Optional Demographic Information

The Crissy Field Center is committed to providing opportunities to students who can benefit most from our programs. To help us better understand the needs of the families we serve and ensure equitable access, we kindly ask the below questions.

This information is completely confidential and will only be used to help us prioritize resources and design programs that are inclusive and accessible to all participants.

Race/Ethnicity

Gender

Pronouns

Languages Spoken At Home

Any other ways you identify that you want to share?

Do you have any siblings in Head Start Programs?

Are you or have you ever been in Foster Care?

Does anyone in your family receive MediCal?

Does you qualify for free/reduced lunch program at school?

Does your household live in public housing or receive housing vouchers?

Have you ever experienced homelessness?

Are you enrolled in a federal, state or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g. GEAR UP, TRIO such as Upward Bound or others)?

Any other financial indicators you would like to share with us?

I understand that my application will only be considered if it is complete. I have informed at least one reference is listed in this application, and I have submitted my application before the deadline (Sunday March 15th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.)

By checking this box I agree to the statement above

Contact Information