Scholarship Description
The goals of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative™ are to elevate
young people (including disadvantaged and at-risk youth) into
leadership roles by engaging them in environmental cleanup projects,
empower volunteers to rebuild the environmental and social well-being
of our communities, and improve local living conditions for both
citizens and wildlife.
Here's how to become an Apprentice Ecologist:
Option I (Trash Cleanup)
1. Plan and take a trip (with help from your family, friends, or
teachers*) to a mountain, river, shoreline, beach, park, or wilderness
area.
2. Pick up trash and take a few high-resolution digital photos** of
your environmental project in action.
Option II (Tree Planting)
1. Plan a native tree planting project (with help from your family,
friends, teachers, or public officials) in your yard, neighborhood,
school, park, or other natural area. Get permission from any
landowners and obtain your native tree seedlings from a local nursery.
2. Plant native trees and take a few high-resolution digital photos of
your environmental project in action.
Option III (Free-Form)
1. Be creative!
2. Organize and conduct an environmental stewardship project locally,
nationally, or internationally. Possible projects include starting a
recycling program, taking action to protect an area for wildlife,
campaigning to save a species or natural area, educating others about
wildlife or conservation issues, taking steps to prevent
pollution/contamination, or improving awareness about the importance
of renewable energy sources. The possibilities are endless!
After completing steps 1 and 2, register online and upload your best
photo and accompanying essay. We will publish your photo essay in the
Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists and provide links to
download/print an official Certificate of Achievement and an
Apprentice Ecologist heat transfer (for T-shirt). A large canvas tote
bag (made in the USA with 100% certified organic cotton) printed with
our logo will be awarded to the authors of the 10 best essays on an
annual basis (current award cycle is January 1 - December 31, 2008). A
$500 scholarship will be awarded annually to the author of the top
Apprentice Ecologist essay.
Website Address
http://www.wildernessproject.org