The Summer 2023 Application has closed. Please check our Fellowship page for more details.
Virginia Conservation Network Summer Environmental Fellowship
Launching our second*paid* summer environmental fellowship program
With the successful introduction of last year’s first-ever Environmental Fellowship Program, The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) will be continuing the success with a second paid Environmental Fellowship Program for the Summer of 2023!
Our first class of Fellows brought amazing knowledge and experience to our organization and Network. Their work throughout VCN’s various projects and initiatives was invaluable towards our Networks’ effort of protecting Virginia’s environment and natural resources.
The Virginia Conservation Network gave me a rare opportunity. I was able to get my foot in the door and gain valuable experience in a field I wanted to enter desperately but didn’t know how to. I learned more on the job than I did over the course of many semesters of schooling and made many extremely valuable connections along the way. The abundance of professional development opportunities, wonderfully kind mentors, vast partner network, and absolutely favorable working conditions make the Virginia Conservation Network an extremely ideal organization to work with.
Experience in Virginia’s Conservation Community
Fellows will join the VCN team for ten weeks over the summer, working directly with one of VCN’s Outreach or Program Team managers. Both programs offer invaluable experience in a summer-long project.
Outreach Team Fellowship
As a part of the VCN Outreach Team, your work will mostly focus on engaging with our communications, events, and partner resources departments. Fellows successful in this role are logistics-driven and creative problem solvers. Examples of projects may include developing training materials for partners, creating content for social media and newsletters, helping organize grassroots advocacy efforts, and attending public events with staff and partners.
Program Team Fellowship
As a part of the VCN Program Team, your work will focus on policy analysis/development among one of VCN’s four policy arenas: Transportation, Energy, Clean Water, or Land Conservation. Program Team fellows will help develop VCN’s annual environmental briefing book, Our Common Agenda; learn how to engage state legislators; and how to effectively advocate for state policy. Fellows successful in this role will have strong analytic skills and a strong desire to work in policy development/advocacy.
Apply to the Environmental Fellowship
The Environmental Fellowship Program is intended for current students and/or recent graduates. We’re looking to hire three full-time, paid fellows from June 5th to August 11th. The fellowship is an hourly position paid at $15 an hour for 40 hours per week, including paid time off and sick days. The position can be done in person or remotely. In-person opportunities are available at our headquarters office in Richmond, Virginia.
Please fill out the application below and attach your resume. The deadline to apply is March 17th. Interviews will occur during March 2023. Fellows will be accepted in April 2023.
For any questions about the fellowship or application process, you can email fellowship@vcnva.org.