Center for Conservation Excellence Internships
A group of interns completes a summer internship through the NWTF conservation law program.
The Center for Conservation Excellence is an NWTF program that educates students, professionals and the general public on conservation law and policy topics, including threats to modern conservation efforts. With the objective of the program being conservation law-focused education, there are three main deliverables that the program seeks to address:
- Conservation law/policy in academia.
- Continued education in conservation law/policy for professionals.
- Offering professional opportunities in conservation law/policy.
The CCE offers internship opportunities throughout the year, allowing conservation law-focused students to explore various conservation law and policy issues that face conservation nonprofits, as well as state fish and wildlife agencies.
While some interns stay at the NWTF, others may be placed for a semester or loaned for a specific project to other conservation nonprofits or state fish and wildlife agencies, depending on the current need for assistance with research, writing, or legal/policy analysis. Over the past few years, the CCE has placed or loaned interns to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Safari Club International, Wildlife Management Institute, National Rifle Association, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Michigan Office of Attorney General and beyond.
Whether a student is interested in pursuing conservation law specifically, or a partnering field like biology, nonprofit governance or consulting, students who have interned with a conservation organization, like the NWTF, are better equipped to consider and evaluate wildlife and habitat issues in their varying fields. These students and recent graduates are prepared to make a significant impact with their careers and protect conservation efforts.
The summer 2024 internship, which took place from mid-May to mid-August, included students from Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan and South Carolina. Since 2020, the summer internship position, like the spring and fall positions, has become almost completely remote. However, to maintain the camaraderie and networking aspects that come with an in-office experience, the summer interns had the opportunity to spend one week together in Edgefield, South Carolina, where they were able to fish, shoot and work together for a few days at NWTF headquarters. This included meeting the staff in person, exploring the Winchester Wild Turkey Museum, and learning more about conservation law and policy from the CCE team, Carol Frampton (director) and Shelby LaButte (assistant director).
If you are interested in a conservation law internship, conservation policy internship, or a post-graduate career in conservation law or policy, including teaching wildlife law, email LaButte (slabutte@nwtf.net).