San Antonio Missions National Historical Park's 2023 Cultural Landscape Apprentices

A team of three strong women reflect on their growth at San Antonio Missions as their term as Cultural Landscape Apprentices ends.

“Even though we are working hard, it is nice that we are working outside, because mentally, it is just so calming even though your body is under so much stress. I mean... just the landscapes we get to look at and appreciate every day.” Daniela

Meet Dijonta Mahone, DariAnn Douglas and Daniela Avalos, the 2023 Cultural Landscape Apprentices at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

NPS Photo/Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen

Designed to prepare participants for careers in conservation, water management, and environmental planning, the Cultural Landscape Apprentice program matches young adults with opportunities to learn about cultural landscape management in a hands-on environment alongside National Park Service (NPS) employees at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. The program is a collaboration between the National Park Foundation, National Park Service, Mission Heritage Partners, and American YouthWorks' Texas Conservation Corps. Apprentices learn a variety of job skills under the direction of NPS employee mentors, including grounds preservation, maintenance, and landscape rehabilitation. These three women engaged in landscape bed rehabilitation, irrigation system management, landscaping of larger areas via mowing, weed eating, tree/shrub pruning, leaf blowing etc., and other related tasks throughout their term in the park.

Dijonta, DariAnn and Daniela’s 8-month long apprenticeship just ended at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and we asked them to share what they gained from their experience. The trio agreed that emotional control and social skills were big learning moments in the apprenticeship. Faced with constant teamwork, time constraints and with the added effects of outdoor work, they often had to practice their emotional control with each other and communicate calmly and effectively. The team also works not only within their own small crew daily, but also with all the national park staff at San Antonio Missions which made communication and teamwork all the more important.

Left: DariAnn Douglas. Right: Dijonta Mahone

NPS Photo/Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen

Daniela Avalos in the Convento at Mission San José.

NPS Photo/Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen

These three women agreed on their tremendous growth and personal development through the program and how they could not have done it alone. As Daniela said, when “working with women, their strength lifts you up.” They gained confidence from their experience thanks to each other. Daniela adds, “we’re hyping each other up constantly, because we know that it’s hard work, so to try to give each other motivation... especially with new tasks like wood chipping, [we’d say things] like, yes ‘You got this!’, ‘You have the strength!’”.

Gained: Confidence, self-respect, and skills.

“It helped me have more self-respect for myself, and a backbone. That’s one thing working with all women... you know, I stand up for myself now, and before I was very timid and shy. So, thank you guys.” Daniella says to Dijonta and DariAnn. They shared some of the new skills they’ve learned both with landscaping tools and larger equipment such as mowers and even the funny challenges backing up trucks. Dijonta also grew in another surprising way, or as she explains, “crazy enough, I got over my fear of grass. That was my phobia. I hated grass... it’s more of the unknown of what’s in grass when I walk, but I did it.”

Left: Three Cultural Landscape Apprentices plant new native plants near the parking lot at Mission San Jose.  Right: Apprentice works with National Park Service Staff to work large equipment.

NPS Photo/Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen

Being a team three women was empowering, but it also brought something else to the work. Connection; a connection to nature and a new connection with the mission sites. These mission sites within the park are sacred grounds, and they felt the importance of that in their landscaping work. Especially at Mission San Juan, Daniela explained, “I always make sure to cut very gently, just because I don’t want to disturb what is there, and I want to honor the people that are buried there.”

Another one of their projects at San Antonio Missions was to clear a densely wooded area that would ultimately benefit specific native trees and the field’s biodiversity, but to do this, many trees needed to be removed. Tree removal was difficult for them emotionally. DariAnn explained that “it was just so hard to see that many trees go down” and Daniela shared that, she “would always ask the trees for forgiveness before we did anything.” However difficult, they saw the importance of their work, as did the community. Community members that frequently visit the park would greet and thank them for their hard work, making the crew feel appreciated but also fulfilled by their jobs.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is proud of them as a team and as individuals. They connected to the park and made the landscaping work they did that much more meaningful for them. Hearing how they surprised themselves with their strength and resilience reflects on how the Cultural Landscape Apprenticeship program empowers young adults to learn new skills and make lasting memories.

Three Cultural Landscape Apprentices jump for a fun picture at Mission San José! 

NPS Photo/Chantelle Ruidant-Hansen