Through hands-on projects, education and collaboration, we grow the next generation of environmental leaders.

Empowering Youth to Restore and Steward Our Environment 

Who We Are

Green Valley Project is a program of the C.R.E.W., located in Ventura County, dedicated to fostering a love for the environment and empowering local youth to create positive change.

  • Youth Leadership

  • Habitat Restoration

  • Environmental Education

Our Programs

Youth Council

PAX Environmental Science Institute

Native Plant Nursery Internship

We’ve Made an Impact

4,000+

native plants grown & planted

300+

youth trained in environmental leadership

12

completed community service projects across Ventura County

Featured Story

Youth Council members from Oxnard, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks went on a volunteer service trip to Santa Rosa Island this summer. We worked to build 20 wattles for the cloud forest project. Wattles are an erosion control technique used on hillsides to slow water runoff, capture sediment, and help stabilize the soil, creating better conditions for native plants to grow.

The wattles we built for the Santa Rosa Island Cloud Forest Project will play a crucial role in the environmental restoration happening on the island. Due to the ranching on island which occurred between 1844 and 1998, the cattle which where brought to the island to graze created serious problems including vegetation loss, erosion, and riparian habitat damage.

The island’s steep slopes are highly vulnerable to erosion from wind and rain, and wattles help slow water runoff, preventing valuable topsoil from washing away. By stabilizing the hillside, they create small, protected pockets where seeds can germinate and young plants can take root. This is especially important for reintroducing native species that will eventually rebuild the forest canopy. Together, these benefits directly support the long-term goal of reviving the island’s unique cloud forest ecosystem and ensuring it thrives for generations to come.

Partners

Environmental consulting firm offering a range of professional services including ecological restoration, water quality analysis, wildlife biology, environmental regulatory permitting, GIS services, and multidisciplinary project management.

PAX Environmental

A nonprofit, non-governmental land protection organization supported by private donations, working to protect the views, trails, water, and wildlife of the Ojai Valley for current and future generations to enjoy.

Ojai Valley Land Conservancy

A consulting and design-build collaborative, focused on bringing appropriate water management through a regenerative, whole systems approach. We integrate tools like greywater re-use, rainwater harvesting, and stormwater management with an understanding of both ecological patterns and client needs.

Watershed Progressive

As another program of The C.R.E.W., Once Upon a Watershed engages youth along the Ventura River watershed to develop their understanding of their water source and the importance of protecting its health through direct restorative action.

Once Upon a Watershed

Testimonials

"I really love Green Valley Project and everything they stand for. I’ve learned how to become a leader, how I can get involved for the long term, and I stayed because I was never given those opportunities before. I want to support and help this group in the future."

"I absolutely loved being part of this program and I hope I am able to come back next year! After each week I felt like I learned so much and was able to teach my friends and family more. Overall, I’ve learned so much that will help me in the future."

"This program is incredibly hands-on and allows you to learn in an intimate and laid-back environment. I’ve not only expanded my knowledge of botany, but I’ve discovered a new passion that has led me to study ecology and botany at UCSC—something I don’t think I could have done without this experience."