Each summer, twelve students are selected for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend seven weeks in the Virginia Piedmont, while studying with seasoned professionals in land conservation, planning, agriculture, and more.
UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Fellowship is being planned as a digital-only curriculum.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders in Environmental Conservation
Are you an undergraduate or recent graduate interested in learning more about a career in environmental conservation? If so, you should consider applying for the 15th Annual Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Fellowship Program, based in Warrenton, Virginia! Twelve students will be selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend seven weeks in the Virginia Piedmont, while studying with seasoned professionals in land conservation, land use planning, agriculture, habitat and more.
The PEC Fellowship is much more than an internship. For the first five weeks, the program combines classroom discussions, field trips, and hands-on activities to give participants a comprehensive understanding of the work that PEC does. For the last few weeks, the fellows work on a collaborative practicum, focused on their interests as well as a particular aspect of PEC’s work in the Piedmont.
Through this personalized experience, participants gain the practical knowledge and skills necessary to successfully transition into careers in conservation, urban planning, agriculture, historic preservation, public policy, and other related fields. In addition to providing fellows with local housing, PEC covers all program-related expenses and provides a stipend to cover living expenses.
The 2021 application and other updated information will be posted in late December. Please check back then!
What’s Provided
Local housing: Housing is provided at no cost by PEC supporters who live in the Warrenton area. Though we try to find housing as close to town as possible, accommodations are typically located 20-30 minutes away from the classroom location. *Personal transportation is required.
Classroom facilities: Meetings take place at the PEC Headquarters Office in Warrenton. The classroom also serves as a workspace for fellows during the practicum portion of the fellowship.
Activities and special project expenses: For all group outings, PEC covers admission fees and travel expenses. Expenses associated with practicum projects may also be covered.
Stipend: For each of the seven weeks, fellows receive a stipend to help with meals and expenses. Stipend amount TBD, based on housing and program costs.
Subjects Covered
- Land Conservation
- Wildlife Management
- Historic Preservation
- Land Use Planning
- Transportation
- Water & Air Quality
- Energy Conservation & Policy
- Agriculture & Best Management Practices
- Working with State & Local Government
- Communications and Development
- Pre-professional Development
Eligibility and Application
The program is designed for undergraduate students and recent grads interested in careers in environmental stewardship, land conservation, historic preservation, community planning, agriculture, and other related fields.
Alumni Experiences
Find out what former fellows thought of the program. Hear what Fellowship Alumni had to say in their own words.
Academic Portion
The academic portion of the fellowship includes a combination of classroom sessions, hands-on activities, and field trips. Most classroom discussions take place in Fellows Hall at PEC’s Headquarters Office in Warrenton.
Practicum
For the final three weeks of the program, the fellows focus on a collaborative practicum, designed to meet their expressed skills and interests. Each pair of Fellows is mentored by a PEC staff person or a professional from one of PEC’s many partner organizations. At the end of the final week, the fellows present their work to PEC’s staff and board of directors.
Fellowship Blogroll
Welcome 2020 Fellows!
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Eligibility and Application
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Alumni Experiences
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Happy Anniversary PEC Fellowship!
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Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders in Environmental Conservation
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Looking Ahead
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Academic Sessions (weeks 1-5)
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Practicum (weeks 5-7)
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Changing Perspectives: My time as a PEC Fellow
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Fellowship Program – Five Years In
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