Outdoor Leaders Fellowship Application

The Outdoor Leaders Fellowship will be comprised of leaders from the greater DC Metro area, representing a wide variety of environmental interests and a diverse range of personal and professional backgrounds. This cohort will actively serve a 12-month commitment within the program from January to December 2025, focusing on stewardship initiatives, community organizing, and leadership development. Additional programming will include workshops on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, professional development, and grassroots activism with the end goal of delivering tangible community and environmental impact.

Each fellow will:

· Facilitate various outdoor adventures: day and overnight trips including hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, biking, camping, service trips, etc.

· Participate in training workshops aimed at enhancing various outdoor technical skills and environmental knowledge

· Develop individual blog content to share with Soul Trak community

· Produce vlog and social media content on outings

· Individually and/or with other fellows, facilitate social sustainability projects for communities of color

· Collectively conceive and execute two large initiatives across the program in which each fellow engages external BIPOC community members in achieving larger sustainability goals

· Develop and demonstrate social and environmental leadership skills over the course of the program

· Mentor Soul Trak youth and college volunteers/participants

· Learn or deepen skills in rock climbing, paddling, camping, outdoor cooking, trail maintenance, water cleaning, invasive species, and plant life training, social sustainability, and urban gardening

· Ability to earn certification in Wilderness First Aid/CPR, Belay, Leave No Trace, and Single Pitch Instructor, among other areas

· Expert-led professional development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training sessions

· Develop a broader network of BIPOC peers and mentees in the DC Metro community

. Group facilitation experience in an environmental context.

· Comfortable pursuing hands-on service and recreational initiatives in year-round weather.

· Ability to commit to 10 hours a month across a 12-month period: meeting on one Monday evening per month and having weekend availability for programs

· Strong cultural competency and ability to work in diverse groups, with a commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion

· Demonstrated engagement in the community or outdoor initiatives, ideally involving equity and access initiatives

· Comfortable planning and facilitating outdoor activities for community members