Education and Communication Fellowship
What is the Education & Communication Fellowship?
Position Description: The Education & Communications Fellowship is a unique opportunity to build upon your education and communications background through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Working side-by-side with experienced staff members, fellows will build a wide array of skills needed to contribute to, conduct, and manage education programs at non-profit conservation organizations through firsthand experience in visitor services, program planning, program marketing, and program delivery. Fellows will also gain experience in mission-based communications to a variety of strategic audiences both in-person and across digital platforms. Visitation and programming vary throughout the year, allowing for both periods of high visitor interaction and times of behind-the-scenes work in the office. Fellows will have opportunities to interact with both a diverse range of conservation professionals and the Leopold family, who play active roles in guiding and executing the foundation’s mission.
Position Impact Statement: Education & Communications 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 to advance a land ethic and land health locally and globally.
An example is Gregory Hitch. After his education and communication fellowship, Gregory went on to a PhD program in American Studies at Brown University. He is currently researching the cultural impacts of climate change on indigenous people and communities, indigenous food movements, and American environmental history.
What You’ll Gain
During the fellowship, you’ll gain the wide array of skills needed to advance the educational mission of a nonprofit organization, including everything from direct delivery of interpretive programming, to creating content for social media, to putting together budgets and managing and independent project. This fellowship will allow you to learn, grow, and draw inspiration from the iconic place that helped shape Leopold’s thinking. You will also work closely with our dedicated education and communications team, as well as connect with our Leopold ambassadors worldwide. You can expect to attend a variety of workshops, talks, and other events that will help you expand your professional network, knowledge base, and understanding of non-profit operations.
Specific skills you’ll acquire include:
- Visitor and customer services
- Project management
- Graphic design (for print and digital)
- Social media management
- Interpretive program planning/delivery
- Discussion facilitation
- Event planning (in-person and virtual)
- Marketing and public outreach strategy
- Creative writing
- Introduction to campaign development (philanthropy and annual giving)
- Introduction to land management
How and When to Apply
This program seeks people with a strong desire to learn about education and communication techniques that foster inclusive care for land and communities. Applicants should have a four-year degree in a relevant field and some previous work experience. Successful applicants must commit to the full fellowship term. Check the employment section of our website for the announcement, along with a list of required application materials.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation recognizes that just as a healthy ecosystem depends on biodiversity, a healthy human society depends on cultural and social diversity. We are committed to expanding the conversation on land ethics by acting to achieve a rich diversity of staff, board, volunteers, members, supporters, and those we seek to engage with our programming. We encourage applicants to address this foundation goal in their application materials.
Still a Student?
We do not offer summer fellowship opportunities for currently enrolled students. As our Future Leaders Program grows, we expect to add more seasonal fellowship opportunities in communications and education. Check the employment section of our website in early spring for position announcements.