By Jackson Moody, NACD Membership and Development Coordinator 

Did you know that NACD has a sister organization that cultivates, educates, and inspires conservation leaders of all ages? The National Conservation Foundation (NCF) was formed to develop our next generation of conservation leaders. Organized in 1952, the NCF supports the advancement of programs and partnerships to deliver conservation solutions through locally led environmental conservation and focuses on developing the next generation of conservation leaders. The foundation provides funding for public outreach, youth development, and leadership development programs.  

Envirothon 

Envirothon’s start can be traced back to 1979, when the Pennsylvania Soil and Water Conservation Districts created an “Environmental Olympics.” Their goal was to cultivate and expand high school students’ interest in natural resource-based careers. The Environmental Olympics quickly gained popularity and grew rapidly to include 40 different teams at the 1987 Pennsylvania games.  

The massive success of the Environmental Olympics had gotten the attention of neighboring states. In 1988, teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts joined together to compete in the first national competition, renaming it to “Envirothon.” With the addition of the first Canadian province of Nova Scotia in 1992, Envirothon became the world’s largest natural resources international competition.   

Today, there are 55 programs with over 25,000 high school students from across the United States and its territories, Canada, China, and Singapore competing in local, state, provincial, and national events each year.  

The first-place team from each state, provincial, and partner-nation Envirothon competition is eligible to attend the NCF-Envirothon annual international competition to compete against the top teams for thousands in scholarships and awards. Each team arrives at the NCF-Envirothon competition because of extensive training and superior performance. 

Drawing up to 500 students, volunteers, and guests annually, the competition is hosted in a different U.S. state or Canadian province each year. The six-day event exposes students to five areas of study: Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, and Current Environmental Issues. Teams may be immersed in the complex issues involving rangeland management in the western U.S. one year and then be studying the impacts of climate change on the Maritime coastal communities of eastern Canada the next. 

At the competition, the teams are trained, tested, and scored on their knowledge and performance on five different Station Tests and an Oral Presentation component. Together, the six scored components will be tabulated for final team ranking and awards distribution.

 The 2026 NCF-Envirothon competition will be hosted by the Mississippi Soil & Water Conservation Commission and will be held at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS, from July 19-25, 2026. The theme and current environmental issue that students will focus on during the competition is “Non-Point Source Pollution — It Starts at Home.” 

While the competition is what brings students together, the real purpose of NCF-Envirothon is to equip students with the knowledge and skills to educate others, inspire action in their local communities, and promote a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.  

Many alumni of Envirothon go on to successful careers in natural resource management and inspire positive changes in their local communities. If you want to read about what some of their Alumni are up to, you can do so here. If you are a previous competitor, NCF-Envirothon would love to connect with you! You can fill out the alumni contact form here. 

If you’d like to get involved with Envirothon in your state or learn how to support a team at your local high school, click here for our list of state and provincial contacts. If you are in Asia and want to learn more about Envirothon in China and Singapore, follow this link. 

The Next Generation Leadership Institute 

While Envirothon helps our nation’s students develop into the next generation of natural resource leaders and professionals, the Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) focuses on conservation district officials already serving their community and provides them with skills to meet the needs of natural resource management, decision-making, and advocacy in our country. 

Board members or district officials from any state or U.S. territory are eligible to apply to this yearlong leadership development program. Those who are selected will spend a full calendar year learning and growing with a cohort of dedicated members from across the country. Typically, applications for this program open in late summer, with the new NGLI cohort being selected in the first week of December. 

NGLI participants learn effective communication techniques, build skills in conflict management and delegation, practice advocacy skills, and develop their own unique leadership style. This group of district officials will meet virtually and in person throughout the year, including NACD’s national meetings, and even make a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal agency leadership and lawmakers. The NGLI syllabus consists of three in-person travel sessions, two optional travel sessions, and 12 virtual sessions with various content providers.  

NACD staff and the executive board will mentor the cohort throughout the year during these sessions. In addition, each participant will develop a distinct Strategic Planning capstone project designed around the use of a needs assessment analysis of internal and external assets and challenges, which will produce a presentation on an issue or problem each board member is facing in their own district. 

Many graduates of the NGLI program have gone on to serve in leadership roles in state and territory associations and at NACD. Our current President-Elect, Mark Masters, and Second Vice President, Ryan Britt, are graduates of the 2020 NGLI cohort. Three of NACD’s Executive Board members are NGLI Alumni, as well as several NACD Regional Board chairs. 

If you’re considering applying for our 2027 cohort, click here to read more about the participation requirements, tuition, and other details. Signing up for eResource is the best way to hear when applications open again!