Timeline:

1. Application process opens: May 15, 2026
2. Application deadline: July 15, 2026
3. Decision announcement: July 30, 2026
4. Fellowship term: October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027

Applications must be submitted online (Apply Now!) accompanied by a resume. Two online letters of recommendation must be received by the July 15 deadline.

Requirements: Applicant must be a Maryland resident and a college student currently enrolled in a natural resources field of study. Expectations are that fellowship activities will require roughly 5 hrs/wk and may include travel to Annapolis, to locations around the state and possibly to conferences across the US. However, most work can be carried out from your home base.

Two Letters of Recommendation must be submitted online. One from a faculty member in a natural resources field who verifies the student's enrollment in the college and speaks to the student's career interest and their ability to manage a fellowship workload in addition to their academic program. The 2nd letter should be from any other non-family member who can speak to the personal motivation and character of the applicant and their ability to work independently with initiative. Note: Inform your references which Fellowship program you are applying to - they are required to know.

Expectations: The primary goal of the Fellowship is to help a student successfully graduate in a Natural Resources field of study. Beyond that, specific Fellowship expectations are found in Appendix A for Natural Resources Careers and in Appendix B for Urban & Community Forestry. A final report must be submitted listing accomplishments and suggestions for how to improve the Fellowship program.

Remuneration: $10,000 total stipend, paid out monthly, based on mutually agreed upon goals and deliverables. The Fellowship payments are intended to offset the cost of college and will not be considered taxable income if the student's tuition and books/fees equal or exceed the Fellowship payments in each fiscal year. The estimated timing of payments will be $3,000 in 2026 and $7,000 in 2027.

Students who are awarded a Fellowship are ineligible to apply for future Fellowship positions.

Appendix A

Expectations for the Natural Resources Careers Fellowship
October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027

1. Primary goal of the Fellowship
   • Successful matriculation in your degree program
2. Promotional goals
   • Promotion of careers within Natural Resources fields by sharing your educational experiences, work experiences and future career plans with students around the state
   • Promotion of the Fellowship program within your university and to similarly situated students for recruitment of future applicants
3. Efforts on behalf of the Natural Resources Careers Camp
   • Become familiar with NRCC, attend monthly committee Zoom meetings and visit camp in July of next year to speak with students and meet NRCC staff and industry participants
   • Assist in the promotion of the camp through social media and online marketing
   • Work with partners to increase visibility of the camp and recruitment of students: local Forestry Boards, Maryland Forest Service, industry partners and the Green School program
4. Support mission of Maryland Forestry Foundation
   • Conduct research on forest policy, forest landowner incentive initiatives and other topics pertinent to the legislative efforts of Foundation staff
   • Promote and provide input to Foundation webinar and other events
   • Attend bi-annual Forestry Board Association meetings
   • Attend relevant conferences if possible
   • Assist in conceptualizing and planning a summit meeting to bring together the two industries of Rural/Traditional Forestry and Urban Forestry
   • Submit 3 blogs to be posted on the Foundation website
5. Reporting duties
   • Submit a Final report listing your Fellowship accomplishments and suggestions for how we can improve the Fellowship program
   • Regular phone and email communication with Foundation staff and partners

Note: Not all items listed above will be a part of an individual's set of assigned efforts. The Foundation will work with the student to develop a reasonable plan of expected outcomes.

Appendix B

Expectations for the Urban & Community Forestry Fellowship
October 1, 2026 - July 31, 2027

1. Primary goal of the Fellowship
   • Successful matriculation in your degree program
2. Promotional goals
   • Promotion of careers within Natural Resources fields by sharing your educational experiences, work experiences and future career plans with students around the state
   • Promotion of the Fellowship program within your university and to similarly situated students for recruitment of future applicants
3. Efforts on behalf of the Maryland Urban & Community Forestry committee (MUCFC)
   • Attend quarterly MUCFC meetings to assist with grant reviews   (dnr.maryland.gov/forests/Pages/programs/urban/mcfc.aspx)
   • Assist in the promotion of MUCFC and its grant and other outreach programs
4. Support mission of Maryland Forestry Foundation
   • Conduct research on forest policy, forest landowner incentive initiatives and other topics pertinent to the legislative efforts of Foundation staff
   • Promote and provide input to Foundation webinar and other events
   • Attend bi-annual Forestry Board Association meetings
   • Attend relevant conferences if possible
   • Submit 3 blogs to be posted on the Foundation website
5. Efforts on behalf of the Urban Forestry Careers Camp
   • Assist in updating the curriculum for UFCC and visit camp in mid-July of next year to speak with students and meet UFCC staff and industry participants
   • Help to promote the camp and to recruit high school students
   • Work with partners to increase visibility of the camp: local municipalities, universities, Forestry Boards, Maryland Forest Service and industry partners
6. Reporting and meeting duties
   • Submit a Final report listing your Fellowship accomplishments and suggestions for how we can improve the Fellowship program
   • Regular phone and email communication with Foundation staff and partners when appropriate

Note: Not all items listed above will be a part of an individual's set of assigned efforts. The Foundation will work with the student to develop a reasonable plan of expected outcomes.

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