The National Conservation Leadership Institute was designed after an extensive national review of leadership programs at different academic institutions, government organizations, and corporate universities. These program models indicate that learning occurs best with preparation for the experience, a combination of both classroom and online instruction and, very importantly, opportunities to apply and use the learning in real situations. Based on this research, the National Conservation Leadership Institute was designed with four major components.

Prework:
One month critical foundations work is composed of directed reading, analysis, and electronic discussion of Institute selected material. Fellows get an initial introduction to working with their cohort members and some initial introduction to leadership concepts. During the prework, fellows outline a significant leadership challenge that the will work with over the entire course of their NCLI experience.

A 10-day residency:
Fellows will engage in the in-class portion of the Institute in the fall at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s prestigious National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The curriculum begins with a focus on personal leadership then expands to leadership relevant to teams, to the organization, and to society. Harvard University faculty from Cambridge Leadership Associates provide the course “connective tissue” linking exercises, case examples, and learning into a cohesive picture of Adaptive Leadership™ for conservation. Recognized experts in historic and current conservation practices challenge Fellows’ critical thinking skills and provide case examples specific to conservation issues making for lively, applied discussion and debate.

Individual projects:
Each Fellow will be required over the next five-month period to develop, and if possible, implement a project to apply what they have learned during the residency and pre-work. This project will address a real, current problem / challenge within their organization. Each participant will be part of a small team that will function as peer consultants, providing input to their team members on individual natural resource projects. The Fellows will present their project work and solutions to the full Institute during the final long weekend in the spring. 

Culminating residency:
The following spring at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, current and past Fellows reconvene for a truly unforgettable time to share their Institute experience and their project presentations. Final learning and discoveries are shared and lifelong key relationships are cemented.