OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

• Educational Programs come in many shapes and sizes, some with  scholarships, others not. Some are stand alone while others are individual courses within larger academic institutions.
  • The NANPA High School Scholarship Program is an 1 week immersive education program in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The program takes place annually in July. This special photography program is open to ten high school students who are interested in nature and nature photography. Combining classroom and field-based instruction, students  improve their photography skills, learn about NANPA, meet industry professionals, and gain an appreciation of the Smoky Mountains’ rich natural history.
  • The NANPA College Scholarship Program is open to college, masters, and PhD students seeking to learn how to integrate photography and conservation.  This intensive program takes place before the bi-annual NANPA Summit and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make personal contacts with the top pros in nature photography as well as editors and other industry leaders who attend the Summit.
  • National Geographic Student Expeditions are 10 to 21 days summer camp type experiences all around the world, some of which have a focus on photography.  Group leaders are photographers themselves.
  • Universities that offer Conservation Photography courses include Eastern Mennonite University and Stanford University.
• Nature Photography Competitions are a great way to get your foot in the door.  In many, if not most cases, winners are invited to attend the winning ceremonies.  In the cases of premier events like those below, you will get the chance to meet some of the top professionals and thought leaders in the industry, including iLCP Fellows and others who are using visual media to further conservation awareness and outcomes.  Here are two of our favorites and we encourage you to find identify local and other international competitions that promote youth entrants to share their talents!
  • Nature’s Best Photography Offers a Youth Category  (Age 18 and under) in in its Annual Photography Competition.  The winner is invited to attend the opening of the Nature’s Best annual exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and WiLDSPEAK, iLCP’s symposium on Photography, Conservation & Communications.  Both events usually take place during the same week in November.
  • The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition is hosted by the Natural History Museum in London and is one of the most prestigious competitions of its type in the world.  There are multiple age categories and the winners are invited to attend the black-tie awards ceremony in October.

Clue us in!  If you know of, or have participated in, other activities that have helped you explore conservation photography, send us an email with that information and appropriate URL links to info@ilcp.ngo!