After graduating as Conservation Advocate or as Conservation Ambassadors, students are charged with completing outreach in education, service, creative arts, media engagement, and outdoor mentorship. Students are currently well on their way to completing hundreds of hours of outreach, reaching thousands of people across the Commonwealth and beyond! Here at the Academy, it is essential to demonstrate what outreach can look like. Read this week’s blog to see what our full-time staff do as outreach!
Our programs thrive thanks to the continued involvement of our alumni, who serve as youth mentors, apprentices, summer staff, and instructors. The opportunities we offer allow alumni to return to field school each year provide them with valuable leadership development and resume-building skills as they advance in their careers. It’s truly a full-circle moment to see a former student leading the classroom as staff member. Below, we highlight the various ways our alumni contributed to the Academy this summer, giving back to the next generation.
It is always a pleasure to invite back the members of each field school’s “top team” at the end of the summer to celebrate their accomplishments. This past weekend, the Wildlife Leadership Academy hosted “Winner’s Educational Weekend” in conjunction with the much-anticipated Alumni Reunion.
In continuing to showcase our excellent apprentices, we are highlighting one of the ways in which they used their field school training. As part of our week-long curriculums, Conservation Ambassadors learn how to be interviewed via radio, television, or podcast. This year, apprentices sat down with Multimedia Marketing Specialist Katie Mace to reflect on their leadership experiences. Please enjoy this week’s vlog from the Ursids apprentices!
This week’s blog was written by Shanti K., Nadia P., Allison R., and Grace Z. – apprentices at the PA Gobblers field school. As a group, they share their experience in the Apprentice Program at PA Gobblers.
Academy students gain extensive knowledge about wildlife, fisheries, and conservation plus develop leadership and communication skills. Do you know of a student who would benefit from our program? Learn more about the nomination process today!
The mission of the Wildlife Leadership Academy is to engage and empower high school age youth to become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a sustained wildlife, fisheries and natural resource legacy for future generations.
Our student’s Conservation Ambassador journey begins as they attend rigorous summer field schools that focus on wildlife/fisheries biology and conservation as well as leadership skills development and continues with community outreach through education, service, media engagement, creative arts, and outdoor mentorship. Take a tour of a field school below or click right through to learn the benefits of being a part of the Wildlife Leadership Academy and apply!
Leading by Example – Community Outreach
After graduating as Conservation Advocate or as Conservation Ambassadors, students are charged with completing outreach in education, service, creative arts, media engagement, and outdoor mentorship. Students are currently well on their way to completing hundreds of hours of outreach, reaching thousands of people across the Commonwealth and beyond! Here at the Academy, it is essential to demonstrate what outreach can look like. Read this week’s blog to see what our full-time staff do as outreach!
Engaging our Alumni at Field School
Our programs thrive thanks to the continued involvement of our alumni, who serve as youth mentors, apprentices, summer staff, and instructors. The opportunities we offer allow alumni to return to field school each year provide them with valuable leadership development and resume-building skills as they advance in their careers. It’s truly a full-circle moment to see a former student leading the classroom as staff member. Below, we highlight the various ways our alumni contributed to the Academy this summer, giving back to the next generation.
2024 Alumni Reunion and Winner’s Educational Weekend Recap
It is always a pleasure to invite back the members of each field school’s “top team” at the end of the summer to celebrate their accomplishments. This past weekend, the Wildlife Leadership Academy hosted “Winner’s Educational Weekend” in conjunction with the much-anticipated Alumni Reunion.
2024 Apprentice Program – PA Ursids
In continuing to showcase our excellent apprentices, we are highlighting one of the ways in which they used their field school training. As part of our week-long curriculums, Conservation Ambassadors learn how to be interviewed via radio, television, or podcast. This year, apprentices sat down with Multimedia Marketing Specialist Katie Mace to reflect on their leadership experiences. Please enjoy this week’s vlog from the Ursids apprentices!
2024 Apprentice Program – PA Gobblers
This week’s blog was written by Shanti K., Nadia P., Allison R., and Grace Z. – apprentices at the PA Gobblers field school. As a group, they share their experience in the Apprentice Program at PA Gobblers.
Nominate a Teen Today!
Academy students gain extensive knowledge about wildlife, fisheries, and conservation plus develop leadership and communication skills. Do you know of a student who would benefit from our program? Learn more about the nomination process today!
Our Mission
The mission of the Wildlife Leadership Academy is to engage and empower high school age youth to become Conservation Ambassadors to ensure a sustained wildlife, fisheries and natural resource legacy for future generations.
Becoming a Conservation Ambassador
Our student’s Conservation Ambassador journey begins as they attend rigorous summer field schools that focus on wildlife/fisheries biology and conservation as well as leadership skills development and continues with community outreach through education, service, media engagement, creative arts, and outdoor mentorship. Take a tour of a field school below or click right through to learn the benefits of being a part of the Wildlife Leadership Academy and apply!
PA Bucktails
Focusing on white-tailed deer, their biology, habitat and management.
Learn MorePA Bass
Focusing on bass and warm water conservation.
Learn MorePA BROOKIES
Focusing on brook trout and coldwater conservation.
Learn MorePA DRUMMERS
Focusing on ruffed grouse and early successional habitat.
Learn MorePA GOBBLERS
Focusing on the wild turkey, their biology and habitat engagement.
Learn MorePA URSIDS
Focusing on the black bear, its biology and habitat needs.
Learn More