INTERESTED IN A CONSERVATION CAREER?
Apply to the Conservation Leadership Academy to build leadership skills, make a positive impact in your community and expand your mind.

The Conservation Leadership Academy (CLA) targets local teens interested in conservation careers. 

This program involves monthly trainings, each with a different conservation theme, such as environmental justice, human-wildlife conflict, healthy habitats, and diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI). Service-learning opportunities will take place on the same day as the monthly training between February and October. The teens will also design their own projects and participate in service opportunities designed to increase awareness of conservation through community-based methods. Some funding is available for these projects. As part of the cumulative Action for Wildlife project, teens will engage a community of their choosing (i.e. neighbors, school, church, etc.) in an event or program of their own design. The Action for Wildlife project should result in increased environmentally responsible behaviors in their community, healthier habitats, heightened public awareness of a particular topic, or reduced human-wildlife conflicts in urban areas.

Once selected for the program, participants must attend 7 of the 9 trainings listed below. Plan for 2 hours per training, followed by a service-learning opportunity spanning 3-4 hours. The trainings will occur at the Brandywine Zoo unless otherwise specified. Adherence to current health and safety protocols will be expected.

2022 Schedule of Trainings

February 19 – Be Bird Friendly
March 20 – Water Conservation
April 24 – Climate Change
May 21 – Backyard Habitats
June 25 – Diversity and Inclusion in Conservation
July 23 – Plastic Pollution
August 20 – Human-wildlife Conflict
September 18 – Wildlife Field Research/Citizen Science
October 15 – Indigenous Voices in Conservation

Earn a certificate of completion along with a CA$H award upon program completion.

See application for details!