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.
The Future Leaders Program offers yearlong fellowships to early career professionals, focusing on conservation leadership, engagement & communication, 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.
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.
This is a unique opportunity for early career professionals to build upon their land management background. Work alongside experienced staff and learn new knowledge and skills related to land care. This immersive experience has been formative in shaping participants' conceptions of a land ethic.
These fellows contribute to various land management and monitoring activities on foundation property and the 4,000 acres of the Leopold-Pine Conservation 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.
This fellowship provides early career professionals 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.
If you're eager to grow and make a difference in the field of conservation, we invite you to explore our open positions. Applicants should be early career professionals with dedicated work experience and/or schooling in a relevant field. Successful applicants must commit to the full fellowship term. This program seeks people with a strong desire to learn in our key areas of study: applied science & natural history, engagement & communication, professionalism & ethics, conservation leadership, and strategic planning. Together, we can cultivate a community dedicated to environmental ethics and action.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation was founded in 1982 with a mission to foster the land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold, awakening an ecological conscience in people throughout the world.
