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Cultivating Conservation Leaders

Fellowship Programs

Leopold Fellowship Programs offer transformative experiences for conservationists at all career levels to develop leadership skills, deepen their land ethic, and advance ecological stewardship. Each path offers a unique chance to enhance knowledge, skills, and a commitment to our natural community.

Shaping Stewards of Tomorrow

Future Leaders Program

The Future Leaders Program offers yearlong fellowships to recent graduates, focusing on conservation leadership, fundraising, applied science, and more. Fellows can specialize in Education & Communication or Land Stewardship, working within Wisconsin's diverse habitats to develop effective management strategies. The program operates from our LEED-certified Future Leaders Center located near the Leopold Center, providing housing and facilities to support Associate Fellows’ growth and learning.

Click "learn more" to discover resources and reflections presented by past and present Fellows.

Opportunities for every stage

Current Fellowships

Leopold Fellowship Programs support fellows at different career stages. These fellows are our future leaders in action. Regardless of their career stage, all fellows receive a life-enriching experience framed by Leopold’s call to care for people, the land, and the connections between them. They also gain the tangible skills needed to carry this ethic forward into their work and communities.

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Leopold Fellowship in Land Stewardship

This is a unique opportunity for recent college graduates to work side by side with experienced staff applying their existing knowledge and skills while learning new ones, ultimately enhancing their own land ethic.

These fellows contribute to a wide variety of land management and monitoring activities on foundation property and across the Leopold-Pine Island Important Bird Area. In addition, Land Stewardship fellows support and participate in an array of on-site programming, creating opportunities for audiences to join us in our work to advance a land ethic locally and globally.

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Leopold Fellowship in Education & Communication

This fellowship provides recent college graduates the opportunity to build upon their education and communication background through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Working alongside staff members, fellows will gain firsthand experience in visitor services and mission-based communications, as well as in program planning, marketing, and delivery.

Education & Communication fellows support an array of on-site programs, outreach initiatives, and communications efforts, creating opportunities for audiences to learn about Aldo Leopold, the foundation, and our work. Visitation and programming vary throughout the year, allowing for periods of both high visitor interaction and behind-the-scenes work in the office, ultimately supporting the foundation’s mission to advance a land ethic locally and globally.

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Visiting Fellowships

This opportunity is for academics on sabbatical and conservation professionals who want to rekindle their passion. They may spend months at the foundation, studying Leopold’s life and work, and exploring ways to advance his land ethic. Immersed in this environment, Fellows can also engage in collaborative projects and dialogue with like-minded individuals, further enriching their experience and impact on the field of conservation.