Applications for the University of California Santa Cruz Conservation Leadership Immersion Program (conservationleadership.ucsc.edu) are available today through February 1, 2026! We would like to enlist your help reaching prospective Scholars using the attached materials, social media posts, and our website. Our goal is to serve students from groups with ideas, perspectives and experiences traditionally underrepresented in conservation who can contribute to broadening, redefining, and strengthening efforts to protect land, wildlife, and water.
In March we will select 8 undergraduate Scholars from around the country to participate in a two-week conservation immersion program followed by an 8-week summer internship. Each Scholar receives a $10,800 stipend for living expenses and housing.
The beginning of the program (May 31 – June 13, 2026) starts with a two-week, immersive field course on conservation practice, leadership, and ecological research on UC Natural Reserves from the coast to the mountains in Central California. For the remainder of the summer (June 15 – August 8, 2026), Scholars pursue eight-week research and practice internships with nationally recognized research labs or conservation organizations. Professional development workshops during Fall 2026 prepare Scholars to apply for jobs and graduate school. In summer 2027, Scholars will attend a national research conference. Throughout the program, we work with each Scholar to provide ongoing mentoring support that continues past program completion as alumni, and they join a nationwide alumni network for peer support and professional networking.
We serve all students who can study in the United States without a visa (including citizens, nationals, residents, refugees, DACA, undocumented, and more) and who are currently juniors or seniors at a 4-year college or university. We highly encourage applicants from groups whose ideas, perspectives, and experiences are underrepresented in environmental conservation to apply. Visit our FAQ for more questions about eligibility and criteria.
Applications are now available and will close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
For more information, visit conservationleadership.ucsc.edu or email us at scholars@ucsc.edu.
Kind regards,
Prof. Kristy Kroeker, Faculty Director
Abraham Borker, Ph.D., Assistant Faculty Director
