From Babysitting Jobs to Guiding the Next Generation: Heather Boothe’s Full-Circle Journey with Enterprise for Youth and the National Park Service

Interviewed by Rachael King

Heather Boothe’s connection to Enterprise for Youth runs deep. As a teenager, when the organization was still called Enterprise for High School Students, she turned to them for her very first work experiences. Enterprise connected her with babysitting jobs and even trained her to work as waitstaff at catered events—a crash course in professionalism and responsibility.

Decades later, Heather finds herself on the other side of that relationship. Today, as the Chief of Interpretation & Education,  she leads interpretation and education at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where she manages the largest volunteer and intern program in the National Park System. In that role, she now welcomes Enterprise for Youth interns into the park, high school students who, like she once was, are eager to take their first steps into the world of work.

“They restore trails, remove invasive species, digitize archives, and even work with visitors at Muir Woods,” Heather explains. “But beyond the work itself, they learn how to show up, work safely, and discover their strengths. Sometimes the most valuable lesson is realizing what you don’t want to do—and that’s just as important as finding your passion.”

For Heather, the partnership feels like things coming full circle. “It’s funny to think I started with Enterprise for Youth babysitting jobs,” she says with a smile. “Now I get to help shape opportunities for the next generation—opportunities I wish I’d had as a teen.”