We are excited that you are interested in 2 weeks of adventure, and leadership in wild Florida! Our application deadline is May 15th, and the program runs July 15th-26th. We encourage students to apply regardless of any previous experience in conservation work, activism, or nature exploration as long as they are ready to participate in these activities with the help of training and mentorship. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds of race, ethnicity, religion, class, gender identity, locations, sexual orientation, and disability, and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all participants.
This is an Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) program and we will be using ACT's facilities, lands, staff, supervision, and expertise (
https://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/young-leaders-for-wild-florida).
Our application includes one essay prompt. If you would prefer not to write an application essay, you can instead participate in a short phone interview (state this on the essay form and we will reach out to you to set up a time).
All youth between the ages of 16 to 19 living or studying in Alachua County are encouraged to apply. If you are 15 and very interested, we may make exceptions-- please contact us.
We will try to inform you of your application status as soon as possible, and you will know your status for sure by May 18th. If accepted, we will send you an email with further information on confirming your enrollment. Please note that spots are limited, and students who apply earlier will receive preference. As we have limited spots available, we may have to put some students on a waitlist.
We will reserve 10 spots for new applicants, if you are a past YLWF participant we encourage you to apply again but cannot promise a spot in the program.
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Basic program information:
Young Leaders for Wild Florida is a entirely donation-based program-- we don't want finances to prevent your participation in the program. We ask participants to donate whatever is appropriate for their financial situation (our own costs are about $300 per participant). If you have demonstrated financial need, we can also cover all costs of your transportation to and from the program and provide free lunch.
COVID-19 Information:
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our greatest priority to ensure the safety of our participants and our community. We do not require mask use, but will accommodate if it will increase the comfort of participants.
If you have any questions, please contact our summer program director Alvin Chun (alvin.m.chun@gmail.com).
