The application period for the Resource Conservation Workshop is January 15 - March 31, 2026.
Do you enjoy being outdoors? Does a career protecting farms, forests, waterways and wildlife sound interesting? Wake County is encouraging local students to join up to 90 high school students from around the state in a week of interactive, hands-on study covering a wide range of conservation topics.
Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors are encouraged to apply for a $650 scholarship to attend the 2026 Resource Conservation Workshop (RCW). This week-long academic event will take place on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh from Sunday, June 14 through Friday, June 19.
Teens will get hands-on experience in various fields of natural resources management, such as soil and water conservation, forestry, water quality and wildlife. High scores on a final exam give students an opportunity to win college scholarships and up to $1,000 in cash prizes!
The scholarship recipients for Wake County will be chosen by the Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. The scholarship will cover the registration fee, a dorm room on campus, linens, instructional supplies, insurance and all meals. The Friends of Wake Soil and Water Conservation District, a nonprofit support group for the district, will also sponsor an additional $625 scholarship.
To apply, each student must complete the application document below and email it to Leah Purvis (leah.purvis@wake.gov) by Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Letters of recommendation should be emailed directly from the recommender to Leah Purvis by March 31.
Please Note: High school graduates are not eligible, and students can only participate once!
The Resource Conservation Workshop is sponsored by the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in conjunction with the N.C. Division of Soil and Water Conservation, NC State University Soil Science Department, the Hugh Hammond Bennett Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
For more information, check out NC State's RCW webpage and the Division of Soil and Water Conservation webpage.
Questions? Email leah.purvis@wake.gov