The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy share a deep commitment to conservation and exploration with a focus on empowering young people to take action on behalf of the planet. The two Independent Sector members have developed sustainable strategies that help build efficiencies to deliver deep impact and scale, while expanding pathways to careers that address environmental challenges.
In 2021, the two organizations partnered to offer young adults virtual learning and leadership experience to equip them with the knowledge, tools, and relationships to seek and implement solutions in their communities. The result? Their eight-week Externship Program, which leverages the momentum around digital learning to rapidly scale access to mentors, peers, and conservation tools for young people leading the way to solving our planet’s challenges. The externship includes virtual classes, mentorships, workshops, digital presentations, and seed funding.
“We set out to increase access to conservation and exploration learning and leadership, and that led to the development of the Externship Program,” said Lina Gomez, National Geographic’s Vice President, Strategic Innovation and Youth Initiatives, Education.
“As we considered options and listened to young people, we identified some gaps in existing pathways. We started out with a pilot that fall with 100 participants ages 18-25. Two and a half years later, 1,000 externs from more than 120 countries have experienced the community conservation-focused externship we developed in partnership.”
Externship vs. internships
Unlike traditional internships, externships are flexible, and scalable, and enable participants from around the world. Externships also help address barriers that may not be readily apparent — such as a lack of a sense of belonging due to identity, gender, or race, or physical limitations or cultural considerations that could affect access to internships.
“Externs” determine their own schedules and research topics and receive mentoring and coaching throughout the experience. Additionally, they have access to National Geographic Explorers and scientists from The Nature Conservancy through live facilitated sessions, enabling them to build a network of peers around the world. The National Geographic Explorers and The Nature Conservancy experts, who work in conservation, exploration, and storytelling, serve as mentors and guest presenters throughout the eight-week program.
Externs also have an opportunity to apply for up to $2,000 in seed funding to implement community-based solutions they develop through the externship. To date, $219,000 has been awarded to 110 community-based projects from more than 40 countries.
Externship eligibility
The Externship Program is open to global applicants between 18-25 years old. The application process is intentionally designed to gauge applicants’ interest in conservation and exploration topics, as well as their commitment to solving environmental issues in their communities. Participants do not need formal training in conservation or to be enrolled in school. While the majority of applicants are undergraduate students, participants represent diverse disciplines ranging from biology and ecology to business administration, economics, communication, and the arts.
The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy promote the program globally to schools, universities, and nonprofits with the help of an implementation partner who is experienced in connecting organizations with diverse groups of applicants. Applicants of all backgrounds are considered, including youth from communities most impacted by environmental challenges, and youth from communities traditionally underrepresented in conservation. According to Gomez, “Our greatest recruitment success has been the externs themselves. About 60 percent of applications are the result of referrals from program alumni.”
Developing solutions for community conservation issues
Externship participants are encouraged to understand the global context, research what is happening in their community, and identify relevant solutions.
“To date, we’ve hosted externships that focus on marine and freshwater, with participants tackling issues such as freshwater access, human-animal conflict over freshwater resources, dams on rivers, water pollution, and human impact on the environment,” said Kate Ireland, Director of Youth Engagement at The Nature Conservancy. “Externship-led projects have also included mangrove restoration, coral reef planting, community advocacy campaigns, video documentaries and social media content for raising awareness, community-based trash cleanups, and education programs.”
Opening doors to conservation and environmental careers
Program evaluation has shown strong results around the externship’s usefulness in helping participants meet career and educational goals and improve their confidence in pursuing a career in the industry.
“We’ve seen externs translate their experience into a range of positions and opportunities,” said Ireland. “These include roles at both The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, as well as other conservation and community development nonprofits. They’ve also pursued careers at government agencies, KPMG US, Slack, Fulbright Association, Spotify, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and many more. Externs have also gone on to receive fellowships, scholarships and grants to extend their education and conservation work.”
“Our evaluations have shown significant increases in externs’ knowledge of the conservation field and likelihood to pursue a career in conservation,” Gomez added. “All externs come in with an interest in conservation, but we see participants who take on new roles, continue their research projects, and pivot their careers with a conservation lens. We’re honored to get to know these incredible young people who are leading change in their communities.”
Debra Rainey is Manager, Communications at Independent Sector.
