Fellowship Program
2013 Dates: June 16th - August 3rd
Are you an undergraduate, graduate student or recent graduate interested in learning more about PEC’s work in the Virginia Piedmont? If so, you should consider applying for the 7th Annual PEC Fellowship Program, based in Warrenton, Virginia! Twelve students will be selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a summer in the Virginia Piedmont, while studying with seasoned professionals in land conservation, planning, agriculture, and more.
Field Trip Terry Ingram's
Threlkeld Organic Dairy Farm
Photo by Andrew Washburn
The highly acclaimed PEC Fellowship is much more than an internship. For the first four weeks, the program combines classroom discussions, field trips, and hands-on activities to give participants a comprehensive understanding of the work that PEC does. For the final three weeks, the fellows work on an individual practicum, focused on their interests as well as a particular aspect of PEC’s work in the Piedmont. Through this personalized experience, participants gain the practical knowledge and skills necessary to successfully transition into careers in conservation, urban planning, agriculture, historic preservation, public policy, and other related fields. In addition to providing fellows with local housing, PEC covers all program-related expenses and provides a stipend to cover living expenses.
Subjects Covered
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Academic Sessions (weeks 1-4)
Field trip to the State Capitol Building
in Richmond
The academic portion of the fellowship includes a combination of classroom sessions, hands-on activities, and field trips. Most classroom discussions take place in Fellows Hall at PEC’s Main Street Office in Warrenton. Though most sessions are taught by PEC’s staff, a number of other professionals and community members lead discussions or serve as panelists. The classroom sessions provide background information on each of the main subjects. The hands-on activities give participants a chance to apply this knowledge and develop practical, real-world skills. The field trips further illustrate the topics presented in the classroom - sometimes showing sound environmental practices in action, or in other cases, showing the negative results of inaction, poor planning, or bad policy.
Practicum (weeks 5-7)
Fellows learning how to do an
energy audit
For the final three weeks of the program, the fellows focus on an individual practicum, designed to meet their expressed skills and interests, and based largely on the first four weeks of classroom and field trip activities. Each fellow is mentored by a PEC staff person or a professional from one of PEC’s many partner organizations. At the end of the final week, the fellows present their work to PEC’s staff and board of directors.
What's Provided
Local housing: Housing is provided at no cost by PEC supporters who live in the Warrenton area. Though we try to find housing as close to town as possible, accommodations are typically located 20-30 minutes away.
Classroom facilities: Meetings take place at our Main Street Office in Warrenton. The classroom also serves as a workspace for fellows during the practicum portion of the fellowship.
Activities and special project expenses: For all group outings, PEC covers all admission fees and travel expense. Expenses associated with practicum projects may also be covered.
Stipend: For each of the seven weeks, fellows receive $200 at the end of each week to help with meals and general living expenses.
The following article appeared in PEC's Membership Newsletter -- The Piedmont View
Changing Perspectives: My time as a PEC Fellow
Fellowship Program - Five Years In
Apply
2013 Deadline: March 1st
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The Piedmont Environmental Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
