High school students can get hands-on experience and earn school credit as a nursery intern at Stillwater Natives in Bandon. Friends of Bandon Parks & Recreation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and Stillwater Natives nursery are collaborating for a second year, offering internships for students 16 years or older. Darcy Grahek, nursery owner, will help students gain experience with plant identification, propagation, growing from seeds, and organic horticulture. The interns will investigate habitat local wild spaces and meet career professionals working in the natural world.
This year’s program runs first semester, September 16, 2025 to January 9, 2026. A second session for 2 new interns will run February 16-June 8, 2025. Local high school students receive 6 hours a week work credit from their school and a stipend from FOBPR, funded by donations from community members. The students will learn about the planting and cultivation of native species of plants and how they are being used in to create landscapes and habitats. Darcy says that “Ideally, the student will have become aware of a career area that could take them in a newfound direction.” Each student will receive an $800.00 stipend upon completion of their internship.
According to the website, Stillwater Natives Nursery “is a small nursery with plants grown to meet specific local demands on the south coast.” Darcy Grahek has been gardening and landscaping with plants for over 35 years and has worked with mostly native plants since 2005. Darcy became a certified Master Naturalist through the Oregon State University Extension Service in 2015 and appreciates all the strong partnerships developed through service learning opportunities. For the students, there is a foundational understanding of native ecosystems that will come from this internship as well as practicalities of managing and maintaining greenhouses and nurseries. One hundred percent of the donations raised will be used to fund interns. More information is available on the Stillwater Natives website, www.stillwaternativesnursery.com or by calling Darcy at 541-260-2182.
