SLEWS Academy

bring Our Award-winning program to your community.

If you are looking to grow or start high school level environmental programming within your organization, SLEWS Academy is for you! Our Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program is a successful, award-winning program that you can replicate. We give you all the tools you need to bring environmental restoration career education and experiences to students and communities, so there’s no need to build a new program from scratch.

BROOKS, CA., January 26, 2024 Students from Pioneer High School in Woodland plant a section of a hedgerow in a field near tribal headquarters in Brooks, Calif., January 26, 2024. Photo by Robert Durell

What is SLEWS Academy?

SLEWS Academy trains educators and natural resource professionals to replicate and implement the SLEWS program within their own organization, anywhere in California. This program engages high school students in real, impactful environmental restoration projects in their region, where they’ll gain environmental education, discover career paths, and practice leadership skills in the field. SLEWS Academy is a 2-year program cycle consisting of staff training, planning, implementing, and support to start your own SLEWS program.

Upcoming Class

  • September 30, 2024 Last day to complete the Interest Form to apply to SLEWS Academy.
  • Applicants are contacted about selection into the program by September 20, 2024.
  • October 7, 2024 Confirmation to participate with returned signed agreements.
  • January 28-30, 2025 Kickoff Training in Woodland, CA. This three-day in-person intensive training will teach you how the SLEWS program functions, including an immersive field day, budgeting, planning and building relationships with partners.
  • February-July 2025 Online training workshops. Continued training and problem solving as you plan to implement the program.
  • August 20-21, 2025 Culminating retreat in Woodland, CA to present your implementation plan and begin the program in your region.
  • 2025-2026 Continued program support to assist with grant writing, connections, and access to the SLEWS network.

For questions and information, contact the SLEWS Academy Manager at slewsacademy@landbasedlearning.org.

Environmental education nonprofits or natural resource organizations such as environmental or wildlife education centers, resource conservation districts, land trusts, state parks, or CDFW education centers are a great fit for this program and are encouraged to apply.

Requirements:

  • Have the desire and ability to grow your programming
  • Have (or plan to hire) dedicated staff or a team to run the SLEWS Program
  • Have the funds required to participate
  • Implement a SLEWS program in the academic year within two years of the SLEWS Academy training