Project Opportunities

PARTNER PROJECTS

Mobile Monitoring ProjectThis program begins with nine months (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters) of on-campus coursework at CSU followed by approximately four months of living and studying at the selected project site, which may be domestic or international. The number of students working on a partner project will vary, depending on the needs of the partner organization. This option allows students to select a capstone project from projects proposed by Conservation Leadership partner organizations.

Note: financial aid for U.S. students during the project portion of this option is available for tuition costs, and students will work with a financial aid advisor to create a financial aid package for travel abroad and other project expenses.

Is this option for you?

This option is good for students who need or prefer the structure for getting set-up with a capstone project in a desired region and have an interest in the specific geographic locations, conservation topics, and/or organizations presented in the projects. This option is also suited for students who prefer to work independently or in smaller groups (some projects may be in small teams of 2-4 students), and can take initiative to plan and pursue co-curricular field experiences on their own. Students participating in the partner projects abroad should also feel comfortable making their own housing arrangements and being self-reliant in a foreign country.

Click on the Partner Project theme to learn more about the proposed project:

Logo Name of Organization Thematic Topics Project Location
AIDERLima, Perú
AmbioChiapas, México
Big Thompson Watershed CoalitionResponding to Climate ChangeLoveland, Colo.
Blue VenturesBristol, United Kingdom
Bluff Lake Nature CenterProtected Area Management (Urban), Conservation Education and OutreachDenver, Colo.
Bureau of Land ManagementConservation and Development, Protected Area Management, Responding to Climate ChangeGrand Junction, Colo.
Center for Protected Area ManagementProtected Area Management, Conservation and Development, Responding to Climate ChangeCentral America
Colorado Haiti ProjectConservation and Development, Responding to Climate ChangeLouisville, Colo. / Haiti
Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales ProtegidasMéxico City, México
Conservation Solutions AfrikaNanyuki, Kenya
Continental Divide Trail CoalitionHuman Dimensions of Wildlife, Protected Area Management Golden, Colo.
Comité de Cuenca del Valle de JovelSan Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
DarajaNanyuki, Kenya
Department of Conservation, The Papa AtawbaiNew Zealand
Denver ZooHuman Dimensions of WildlifeDenver, Colo.
Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustHuman Dimensions of WildlifeJersey, Channel Islands
Eagle Valley Land TrustProtected Area ManagementEdwards, Colo.
EcosurMéxico
Environmental Defense FundRemote
Ewaso LionsHuman Dimensions of WildlifeNairobi, Kenya
FoCo CafeFort Collins, Colo.
The Conservation Fund El Triunfo A.C. (FONCET)Tuxtla Gutiérrez, México
Friends of the YampaResponding to Climate Change, Protected Area ManagementSteamboat Springs, Colo.
Gorilla Guardians and Red Rocks InitiativeConservation and Development, Protected Area Management Musenzi, Rwanda
Greater Wellington Te Pane Matua TaiaoNew Zealand
Grevy's Zebra Nairobi, Kenya
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias México
IslaConservation and Development, Protected Area Management, Human Dimensions of WildlifeBulgaria / Kosovo
IUCN Conservation Planning GroupHuman Dimensions of Wildlife, Protected Area ManagementRemote
Lacy Consulting ServicesConservation and Development, Human Dimensions of WildlifeDenver, Colo.
Metro Denver Nature AllianceConservation and Development, Climate JusticeDenver, Colo.
Mountain Area Land TrustProtected Area ManagementEvergreen, Colo.
Northern Colorado Foodshed ProjectResponding to Climate Change, Conservation and DevelopmentFort Collins, Colo.
Pro natura sur, a.c.Chiapas, México
Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP)Lima, Perú
Rocky Mountain WildHuman Dimensions of Wildlife, Protected Area ManagementDenver, Colo.
The School for Field StudiesRemote
Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el EstadoLima, Perú
Synergy Ecological RestorationFort Collins, Colo.
The Nature ConservancyArlington, Va.
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)Punta Gorda, Belize
Trees, Water & PeopleConservation and DevelopmentCentral America*
WILDLABSConservation Technology, Human Dimensions of WildlifeRemote
WWF's Markets InstituteConservation and Development, Responding to Climate ChangeRemote
Ya’axché Conservation TrustPunta Gorda, Belize
YAMPATIKASteamboat Springs, Colo.

*Any students traveling to countries considered higher risk by CSU need to be approved by the CSU International Travel Oversight Committee. Students will need to provide extensive details on their relevant travel experiences and language abilities as well as plans related to project work, transportation, housing, and risk management prior to purchasing airfare or making firm plans for travel to higher risk destinations. This will be handled during the fall semester with the assistance of the partner and program staff. The partnership with Trees, Water and People requires Spanish fluency and at least two cohort members for the project.

POD PROJECTS: BELIZE

This program begins with nine months (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters) of on-campus coursework at CSU followed by four months (June through October 2024) of living and studying abroad in Belize. Conservation Leadership-Belize includes field trips in which students are immersed in topics related to terrestrial/marine protected area management, human-wildlife co-existence and conflict, conservation and development and sustainable tourism. The remaining time is spent working collaboratively on a capstone project. Capstone projects are likely to revolve around writing protected area management plans, social science research for conservation issues such as the invasive lionfish, and/or evaluation of programs.  Students are likely to engage with different forms of social science research. Tools such as structured surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory methods and community consultations for protected area management have been used in past projects. Former students have carried out nationwide survey research, co-authored management plans of large protected areas in the southern part of Belize and evaluated human-wildlife coexistence programs. Please note: Although Belize’s official language is English, students who are proficient in Spanish may be highly rated for projects in the northern part of the country.  Most of those projects have involved social science research on invasive lionfish. All projects are in partnership with non-governmental organizations to address a local/regional conservation issue. Review our project map to learn more about past projects.

Note: Financial aid for U.S. students during the project portion of this option is available for tuition, travel and program costs.

Is this option for you?

This option is good for students who seek an intensive cross-cultural experience in Belize and prefer working abroad with the support and camaraderie of 5-7 Conservation Leadership peers. A faculty advisor will work with students and provide mentoring from abroad as well as through in-country field visits. This is also a good option for students who want to build a professional network of conservation professionals in this region and/or have interest in international/tropical conservation related issues.  Living and working in Belize is suited particularly well for individuals with a high degree of flexibility, humility and adaptability.

INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

woman looking out over mountainThis program begins with nine months (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters) of on-campus coursework at CSU, after which time students undertake an independent conservation project in a region with which they are familiar and in partnership with an organization which they have a relationship. Locations can be domestic or international.

Note: Financial aid for U.S. students during the project portion of this option is available for tuition costs, and students will work with a financial aid advisor to create a financial aid package for travel abroad and other project expenses.

Is this option for you?

This option is good for students with an existing idea and who have relationships in place with relevant organizations to collaborate with for their Capstone project. This could include employees or volunteers of a conservation organization who can take a nine month leave for coursework and then return to the organization and complete a project that meets the Conservation Leadership requirements. This option is also better suited for students who prefer to work independently on the capstone project or who’s life circumstances are better suited to an independent project in a location and with a topic of their choice.