Conservation Connect Fellow

Each year the National Forest Foundation (NFF) hosts a small group of exceptional graduate students pursuing advanced studies in conservation, natural resources management, and related fields. The goal of the Conservation Connect Fellowship Program is to build experience, knowledge, and skills within the next generation of collaborative and conservation leaders. The National Forest Foundation (NFF) invites master’s and doctoral students to apply to the Conservation Connect Fellowship Program. Fellowships pair the knowledge you are acquiring through your academic work with practical, hands-on experience and contribute directly to collaborative stewardship of our National Forests. Here’s what you will gain by being a Conservation Connect Fellow: • Applied experience with a national leader in conservation through a hands-on practicum project. • Mentorship from skilled conservation professionals from the NFF and its partners, including the USDA Forest Service. • Trainings to foster collaborative leadership skills. Learning topics include facilitation, stakeholder engagement, relationship building, and working with diverse partners. Fellows also have the opportunity to engage in organization-wide trainings. • Real-world understanding of forest and public lands management. • An expanded personal and professional network. Fellowships include a summer 2026 or academic year 2026-2027 practicum, or some combination of the two, and may be location specific or fully remote, depending on the project. Fellows will be compensated at a rate of $22.90/hour for up to 300 hours over the one-year fellowship. Requirements: Practicum (at least 245 hours) The NFF will interview candidates and strive to match selected fellows with one of their preferred projects, as indicated in the application. Practicum work will take place over the summer and/or the academic year, with specific dates to be determined individually. Many fellowships allow for flexibility to distribute hours over the course of the summer and/or academic year depending on the student’s availability. As part of their practicum, fellows may spend a portion of their time (up to 20%) performing tasks associated with nonprofit administration, such as meeting agenda development, notetaking, or organizational support. Eligibility: Graduate students pursuing a master’s degree or doctorate are eligible for the Conservation Connect Fellowship. We anticipate students will have taken coursework related to the study of natural resources, conflict resolution, collaboration, non-profit management, communications, or other fields related to the specific practicum. Fellows must be enrolled in a graduate program during the 2026-27 academic year, graduating no earlier than December 2026. Tagged as: Internships Apply tot his job