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Conservation Leader Internship Program

  • Are you a student who loves the outdoors and nature?
  • Are you a high school junior-senior or college student?
  • Do you love the outdoors or have a passion for the natural world?
  • Are you a member of an underrepresented community?

Thank you for your interest. The 2024 application period is now closed. 

Join TLC in an amazing hands-on learning experience designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the field of conservation as a professional.

Who is TLC?: We are a nonprofit organization that focuses on preserving and restoring privately owned land in McHenry County Illinois. TLC also maintains a number of preserves which are open to the public and provides free/affordable educational programming for the greater McHenry area (and beyond!).

CLIP Directors:

  • Kim Elsenbroek: Land Conservation Specialist with the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.
  • Megan Oropeza: Restoration Ecologist with the Land Conservancy of McHenry County.

Thank you for your interest. The 2024 application period is now closed. 

HOW TO APPLY: The application period  is open Jan. 4,-Feb. 9, 2024. During this period:

1. Fill out the online form. 
2. Write a letter of interest (500-1000 words stating: why would this internship be helpful to you & why is nature important to you)
3. Send resume & letter of interest to: [email protected] and [email protected]

Program Description:

The Conservation Leader Internship Program (CLIP) is a paid summer internship that will provide underserved communities such as women and BIPOC students/youth with hand-on professional training in the field of conservation. Participants will gain experience areas such as: Plant identification, Land management, GIS/GPS training, Prescribed fire training, Herbicide use, Rare plant monitoring, Wildlife/Stream surveys, Sustainable farming techniques, Land preservation techniques, Field safety, Scientific research/Experimental design, Art in the natural world, Career development and Professional networking. Collectively, these skills will give each participant a strong understanding of the field of conservation and serve as a springboard for a professional career in the field of conservation.

Eligibility: High School Senior or Freshman/Sophomore in college. Applicants are not required to be enrolled in a college program. NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Requirements: Applicants must be willing to work in extreme weather conditions and on adverse terrain.

Transportation to TLC Headquarters (4622 Dean St. Woodstock IL) is required. Housing is preferred (*TLC may have limited housing available, inquire within).

Program duration and reimbursement: May – August 2024; 40 hours/week; $15.00/hour (***or college credit).

HOW TO APPLY: The application period  is open Jan. 4,-Feb. 9, 2024. During this period:

1. Fill out the online form
2. Write a letter of interest (500-1000 words stating: why would this internship be helpful to you & why is nature important to you)
3. Send resume & letter of interest to: [email protected] and [email protected]

Have questions? Email Kim Elsenbroek at TLC for more internship details.

Want to help? Make a donation to support CLIP today! 

Artwork by CLIP graduate Sofia Oropeza, ’21.

CLIP Class of ’22 Research Report

The CLIP Class of ’22 put their knowledge and skills to work by putting together a research report on germination rates of Rudbeckia triloba after garlon chemical treatment.

You can read the report here

Program Details

Field Trips/Networking Opportunities

  • Nachusa Grasslands (The Nature Conservancy)
  • Indiana Dunes National Park (The National Park Service)
  • Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (United States Forest Service)
  • Glacial Park (McHenry County Conservation District)
  • McHenry County College (MCC)

Skills Gained

Plant identification
Land management
GIS/GPS training
Prescribed fire training
Herbicide use
Rare plant monitoring
Wildlife/Stream surveys
Sustainable farming techniques
Land preservation techniques
Field safety
Scientific research/Experimental design
Art in the natural world
Career development
Professional networking

CLIP PROGRAM DETAILS: Field Trips

04 February 2021
CLIP PROGRAM DETAILS: Field Trips CLIPterns will receive a professional contact from each field trip location and may apply for summer positions at these …

CLIP Program Details: Skills gained

04 February 2021
CLIP Program Details: Skills gained Land management: Invasive removal, site preparation and restoration techniques will be reviewed for ongoing TLC re…