This program is a professional development opportunity designed for undergraduate students and recent grads interested in environmental stewardship, land conservation, historic preservation, community planning, agriculture, and other related fields.
Fellowship Program
The highly acclaimed PEC Fellowship is much more than an internship. Each year, twelve students are selected for this 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.

Practicum
For the final three weeks of the program, the fellows focus on a collaborative practicum, designed to meet their expressed skills and interests.

2021 PEC Fellows conclude summer of learning
This summer PEC held its 15th annual fellowship program. From June 7 through 23, fourteen fellows joined PEC online to learn about conservation, urban planning, agriculture, historic preservation, public policy, and many other skills relevant to work in the environmental nonprofit sector.

A Few Highlights from 2020
Our work is about showing up, speaking out, and empowering communities to show up and speak out.

Welcome 2020 Fellows!
Our 2020 Fellowship program is going digital this summer. Eleven college students from around the country are participating in our 14th annual PEC Fellowship Program.

Academic Portion
The academic portion of the fellowship includes a combination of classroom sessions, hands-on activities, and field trips. The curriculum in recent years have been conducted remotely. In 2022 we hope to provide the opportunity to visit the Piedmont in-person.

Alumni Experiences
Find out what former fellows thought of the program. Hear what Fellowship Alumni had to say in their own words.

Happy Anniversary PEC Fellowship!
Boasting 116 alumni since its inception, the seven-week Fellowship Program has helped future environmental leaders gain hands-on experience in a unique mix of topics such as land conservation, land use, sustainable agriculture, energy policy, habitat stewardship, historic preservation, transportation planning and geographic information systems (GIS) with experienced professionals.
We receive applicants from all over the country. Through a selective process, twelve college students are chosen to participate in the summer Program.

Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders in Environmental Conservation
This summer marks our ninth Summer Fellowship Program, an annual seven-week educational program for college students and recent graduates.
Looking Ahead
PEC’s Fellowship Program, which just finished its 7th year, gives college and graduate students a comprehensive look at the work PEC does in this region. Through classroom discussions, field trips, hands-on activities, and a final project—participants gain practical knowledge and skills to transition into careers in conservation, urban planning, agriculture, historic preservation, public policy, and other related fields. PEC’s staff obviously thinks the Fellowship is a great program, but don’t take our word for it! Check out what some fellows said after completing the program this summer: