Introduction to Field Conservation Ecology
- Get hands-on experience in conservation research field methods, with an emphasis on developing observational skills.
- Define an ecological research question, and conduct a guided pilot study.
- Share your findings in a final presentation and poster.
- Explore the complexity of environmental problems in social, political, and economic contexts through class debates and discussions.
- Dates
June 14 – 20, 2026
- College Credits
2 credits
- Cost
$2,400
Includes instruction, room and board, tuition, and activity fees- Who's Eligible?
Rising high school juniors and seniors
- Refund Policy
Cancellations received on or before March 15 are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations received between March 16 and April 30 will receive a refund minus a $250 cancellation fee.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after April 30.
All refunds will be processed to the same credit card used for the original purchase. To cancel or request a refund, please email [email protected].
Meet the Faculty
Curriculum
In this residential course, you’ll live on the SMSC campus for one week, learning through a combination of classroom lectures, discussions, field experiences, and outdoor adventures with SMSC faculty and other conservation practitioners. You’ll be introduced to the major concepts of ecology that apply to species and habitat conservation, including:
- diversity
- succession
- species interactions
- communities
- populations and ecosystems
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the complex nature of present-day conservation in practice
- Investigate complex ecological systems and ask questions about the influence of human impacts
- Critically review conservation issues and responses based on sound science
- Network with leading conservation science and policy practitioners
- Develop skills in ecological field research, collect preliminary data, define a research question to address an issue in conservation, and present your question and preliminary findings to a general audience.
