What will your experience be?
2013 Field Schools

The 2013 field schools have been announced – Pennsylvania Bucktails and Pennsylvania Brookies – will be held in June and July. Read more.
LEARN about wildlife and fisheries from the experts

At each field school you will learn about wildlife or fisheries from the leading biologists in the state including experts from Kutztown University, PA Game Commission, PSU, Quality Deer Management Association and more! Learn more.
EXPERIENCE learning through hands-on engagement

You will learn hands-on about wildlife research and technology used by biologists in the field, the tools of today’s sportsmen, and the outdoors through photography and journaling!
BECOME a wildlife conservation ambassador

Using the confidence and leadership skills built at the Academy, you will become a conservation ambassador in your community!
Stories from the Wildlife Leadership Academy

Our Mission

The mission of the Wildlife Leadership Academy is to empower youth to become ambassadors for wildlife conservation in order to ensure a sustained wildlife legacy for future generations. A year round program, the Academy begins with rigorous summer field schools that focus on wildlife biology and conservation as well as leadership skills development and continues with community outreach through [...]

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Support Us

When you support the Academy – you support the next generation of conservation leaders. Your support of the Academy helps the Institute and it’s partners to bring this life-changing program to the youth of Pennsylvania. How You Can Help DONATE ONLINE - click on the price to make a difference, securely, today: $35 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1000 other [...]

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Apply

We are excited you are ready to start the journey of applying to the Academy! Follow the links below to learn more about becoming a student or adult leader. If you are applying to be a student at the Academy - click here to learn more If you are a applying to be an adult mentor at the [...]

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The Institute

The Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education was born to provide an educational forum for people to connect with nature.

Through direct learning experiences in the natural world, our goal is to engage individuals in the conservation and stewardship of the natural environment that sustains our communities. Through arts, literature, history and sciences, the Institute inspires people to discover, enjoy, appreciate and protect the wildlife, fields, rivers, lakeshores, forests and wild landscapes of Pennsylvania ecosystems.

We believe that education is the fundamental component, often the missing link, to conserving biological diversity and protecting ecological integrity.

Over time, the most lasting impact will be made because people believe in the need to leave a legacy that includes healthy wildlife populations, functioning ecosystems, vibrant economies based on resource management, and a place to go to enjoy the outdoors.

Education

At the field school, the students are trained to teach others about wildlife and their conservation. They practice and learn how to present a PowerPoint and create educational tri-folds like the one in this photo. Through these exercises they gain confidence and valuable leadership skills. After field school, youth… give educational presentations at their [...]

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Service

An important part of being a conservation ambassador is continuing to learn and giving back. The service category covers all of these areas. Youth are encouraged to… participate in activities with wildlife biologists –such as research assistance, shadowing, monitoring activities assist local conservation organizations with service projects like stream clean-ups, food plot planting, hanging up [...]

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Media

An important part of being a conservation ambassador is having the skills to engage with the media. At the Academy, youth interact with professionals from the field and practice mock interview so they are prepared to share the conservation message after the field school. After field schools youth… write articles for their local papers as [...]

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Creative Arts

Being a change-maker goes beyond knowledge – it is making a connection. At the Academy we teach the youth about nature photography, journaling and sketching. We encourage the youth to continue their connection with the outside work through the creative arts after the field school as well. We continue to encourage this expression after the [...]

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