Paradise Valley Conservation Leadership Initiative- Student Participant - Summer 2026

2026 Paradise Valley Conservation Leadership Initiative- Student Participant

Application deadline: February 27, 2026 

Interviews may be scheduled on a rolling basis.

This summer, Ecology Project International (EPI) is partnering with AMB West, Park County Environmental Council (PCEC), and Montana-local NGOs to kick off a conservation leadership program for high school students in Paradise Valley. This distinctive program integrates conservation-focused learning, ecological restoration projects, and immersive field research to build emerging leaders and community connections in Paradise Valley.

Program Description

This thirteen-day program invites high school students to step into the role of emerging conservation leaders while exploring the landscapes of Montana’s Paradise Valley and surrounding areas. Living at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch’s basecamp, students will immerse themselves in outdoor experiences, hands-on stewardship work, and place-based lessons in restoration and land management. Students will form meaningful connections with peers who share their enthusiasm for ecology and conservation.

The program will bring together a cohort of twelve students guided by two experienced instructors. Students will engage in collaborative, applied field studies with local partners that connect directly to ongoing initiatives in the region. From watershed restoration to rangeland ecology, students will gain exposure to real-world conservation challenges and practice the field methods used to address them. Working in small groups, students will contribute to a partner-driven project, analyze their findings, and ultimately present their work at a final showcase event.

Days will be spent outdoors and students will learn by getting their hands dirty as they support local conservation efforts. Instructors lead daily lessons that deepen students’ understanding, weaving together ecology, natural history, and leadership skill-building.

Evenings at basecamp offer time to cook meals together, reflect on the day, and enjoy classic camp life. Students will sleep in provided cabins beneath Montana’s starry sky and spend unstructured time building friendships, sharing stories from the field, and learning from one another’s perspectives.

By the end of the program, students will have new skills, higher confidence, and a broader understanding of what it means to lead, collaborate, and care for their local ecosystems.

Dates:
The 2026 session is scheduled for 12 consecutive field days, followed by a presentation day:

• A pre-season Meet and Greet will take place a weekday evening mid-May, date and location TBD.
• Program: Saturday, July 11- Wednesday, July 22
• Presentation: Thursday, July 23

Student Responsibilities:

• Actively & enthusiastically participate in all program activities including: team projects, community partner engagement opportunities, service work, and science education curriculum lessons.
• Conduct conservation service projects to aid ecological restoration efforts in Paradise Valley and surrounding areas. These projects are often physically strenuous.
• Assist community partners in gathering high-quality data related to their projects.
• Present project results to local stakeholders, community members, and fellow students at end-of-session Conservation Leadership Symposium.
• Contribute to a positive group culture, including helping with group responsibilities in camp like meal preparation, camp set-up and maintenance, and vehicle loading/unloading.
• Abide by EPI’s Big Five: No tobacco, drugs, alcohol, coupling, or disruptive behavior.

Student Qualifications: 

Required: 

• Must have completed freshman year of high school and not yet entered freshman year in college;
• Willingness to work and camp in inclement conditions including rain, heat, bugs, rough terrain;
• Understanding of methods of scientific inquiry, processes, and question formation;
• Desire to engage in conservation service work, research, and outdoor learning.
• Must be available to attend all of the following:
  • Pre-season Partner Meet and Greet in May
  • All field days for the duration of the program
  • Post-season Project symposium on July 23rd

Preferred: 

• Outdoor experience including camping and hiking;
• Experience with conservation service;
• Field experience collecting and working with data.

Participant Benefits: 

• Students will have the opportunity to gain up to three hours of college credit through University of Montana.
• Transportation from EPI’s Missoula Office OR PCEC’s Livingston office to Paradise Valley and Mountain Sky Guest Ranch at the start of programs.
• Students will be asked to bring their own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. All meals, snacks, transportation, and additional necessary equipment are provided during program.

Expected Student Costs:

• There is no cost for application or enrollment in this program (tuition = $0).
• Students and families will be responsible for timely arrival to pre-season Meet and Greet, program drop-off and pick-up, and post-program project symposium. This may result in travel expenses like fuel and/or overnight accommodations near Livingston, Montana for evenings before program or before symposium day for some students. Costs will vary depending on where they live relative to program locations.
• Students will be expected to pay the course registration costs if they opt to receive university credit.
• Please reach out if anticipated costs present a barrier for participation.
  

To Apply: 

The application period will open Wednesday, December 10th and close Friday, February 27th. Students will be selected based on the quality of their online application responses, participation in an in-person or virtual interview, and availability to participate in the scheduled program session. Students are required to attend the pre-season meeting, full session, and the project presentation event.

About Ecology Project International: 

Ecology Project International (EPI) is a non-profit education and conservation organization that offers experiential educational programs to students in a variety of outdoor settings. Students work alongside professional scientists on applied research projects and actively engage in conservation in national parks, forests, and reserves throughout the western hemisphere. For more information, visit https://www.ecologyproject.org/yellowstone-impacts.

About AMB West Basecamp:

AMB West Basecamp is a rustic, no-cost retreat space on the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch provided by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for nonprofit organizations. Since 2015, groups have used Basecamp to design their own programs—whether leadership trainings, outdoor education, or conservation work—and to connect in a serene, wilderness setting.

About Park County Environmental Council:

Park County Environmental Council (PCEC) is a grassroots nonprofit that works with local communities to protect the land, water, wildlife and people in the northern gateway to the Yellowstone National Park. Through community organizing, land-use advocacy, wildlife and habitat protection, and environmental education, it seeks to guide safeguarding of natural resources by empowering residents to meaningfully participate in conservation decisions.

Have questions about the program?

Contact Carly Innis at carly@ecologyproject.org.