The Conservation Foundation of Missouri Charitable Trust recognizes that one of the biggest problems facing the citizen conservation movement today is the alarming absence of youth leadership—a necessary ingredient for continuing the battle to protect our state’s natural resources into the future.

One of the most promising programs anywhere that seeks to address this concern is the Conservation Federation’s Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), a program funded by the Foundation.

This mentoring program develops leadership for the next generation of conservationists by engaging between 50 and 90 Missouri high school and college students in the annual citizen resolution process at the state’s largest conservation meeting. There, under the guidance of natural resource professionals and Federation educators, they learn to research the intricacies of conservation and environmental issues, researching supportive facts and formulating policy positions into a concise, logical resolution. 

Participants develop teamwork while interacting with other students from throughout Missouri and learn how to build support for their position.​

Students from all counties in Missouri are eligible from when they become high school sophomores until they obtain their undergraduate college degree. Those accepted into the program will have exhibited excellent academic achievement and a strong passion for conservation. They are accepted as full voting members at the Annual Meeting and invited to participate in committee discussions and all relevant activities. 

The issue resolutions they develop in teams are submitted to the Federation’s voting membership.  If approved, they carry the same weight as any other CFM policy resolution and become part of the basis for the Federation’s political activity throughout the year. Students can participate in CLC for up to three years.

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If you meet the criteria defined above, we invite you to submit your application as soon as possible.