Do you enjoy being outdoors? Does a career protecting farms, forests, waterways and wildlife sound interesting? Wake County is encouraging local students to join more than 100 high school students from around the state in a week of interactive, hands-on study covering a wide range of conservation topics.
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply for a $575 scholarship to attend the 2024 Resource Conservation Workshop. This week-long academic event will take place on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh from Sunday, June 16 through Friday, June 21. Wake County applications are below and must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024.
Teens will get hands-on experience in various fields of natural resources management, such as soil and water conservation, forestry, water quality and wildlife. High scores on a final exam give students an opportunity to win college scholarships and up to $1,000 in cash prizes.
The scholarship recipients will be chosen by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. The scholarship will cover the registration fee, a dorm room on campus, linens, instructional supplies, insurance and all meals. The Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, a nonprofit support group for the district, will also sponsor an additional $575 scholarship based on financial need. Students will be notified by April 21.
To apply, each student must submit a(n):
- Application: NOTE: To be considered for a Scholarship Based on Financial Need, please ALSO complete FINANCIAL NEED SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION.
- Essay (<250 words) describing student’s interest and experience in natural resources conservation &/or the great outdoors and why they think they are the BEST candidate to receive a full conservation camp scholarship; and
- Letter of Recommendation from an adult (teacher, pastor, scout leader, work supervisor, etc., but not student’s parents).
DEADLINE: Friday, March 22, 2024
Please return the completed Application, Essay and Letter of Recommendation from an adult (but not your parents/guardian) to Wake District by snail mail or hand-deliver to:
Wake County Office Park
Agricultural Services Building
4001-D Carya Drive Raleigh, NC 27610
or email to leah.purvis@wake.gov
Please Note: High school graduates are not eligible, and students can only participate once!
The competitive application process involves the Wake District reviewing all applicants’ essays on
- Their interest in natural resources conservation,
- Why they want to attend RCW and what they hope to learn,
- Their career plans or how they plan to apply conservation in their life, and
- Why this student is the BEST candidate.
The Resource Conservation Workshop is sponsored by the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in conjunction with the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation, NC State University Soil Science Department, the Hugh Hammond Bennett Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission.