CSI 2025 Participant Application

Welcome to the Conservation Science Intensive (CSI) Application!

Conservation efforts today require more hands, hearts, and minds to address challenges at the scale necessary for meaningful change. However, mainstream conservation initiatives have often overlooked the invaluable contributions of diverse worldviews and lived experiences.

CSI is a unique program that unites youth leaders across California to explore natural history, restoration practices, and environmental stewardship through hands-on activities and guided mentorship. Participants engage in coastal habitats in and around Bolinas Lagoon, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Tomales Bay. Topics include intertidal invertebrate diversity, the ecology of marine mammals and migratory birds, and the interconnected ecosystems of the watershed. This experience provides participants with practical knowledge, skills, and field science familiarity to enhance their resumes or college applications.

Program Highlights

During this 5-day, 4-night immersive expedition, participants will:

  • Meet inspiring leaders with diverse career paths in conservation;

  • Develop leadership skills and confidence in their unique voices;

  • Build a supportive, inclusive community of peers; and

  • Work with professional mentors who are experts, eager to share their knowledge and career journeys.

New This Year:
Based on participant feedback, we are introducing a project component to the CSI schedule. Participants will use GIS technology to create a story map, individually or in small groups, capturing their CSI experiences. This resource can continue to tell your story beyond the program. Participants must commit to pre-program gatherings and the final project presentation in August.

Eligibility

  • Open to applicants entering their junior or senior year of high school or first year of college in fall 2025. Applicants must be enrolled at a high school or college located in California.

  • Applicants must designate a trusted local emergency contact within a four-hour drive of Stinson Beach, CA. This individual must be available for the program’s duration and ready to assist in case of illness, injury, or emergency.

  • CSI encourages applications from historically underrepresented communities and welcomes young people who identify as transgender, non-binary, and/or women.

We do not prioritize the most experienced candidates, but rather the candidates who could get the most out of this experience. Do not let concerns about prior experience deter you from applying.

This program is for you if you are:

  • Curious about conservation and its varied pathways;

  • Interested in leadership and development of leadership skills;

  • Seeking to build meaningful relationships with peers;

  • Passionate about fostering diverse and inclusive environments for all;

  • Respectful of and value diverse perspectives and lived experiences;

  • Open to engaging visionary work with creativity, courage, and innovation;

  • Enjoy exchanging knowledge with an open heart and mind;

  • Motivated to positively impact your communities; and/or

  • Excited to build skills and confidence in outdoor adventures and fieldwork.

Important Dates (Pacific Standard Time):

  • Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

  • Interview Notifications: February 8, 2025

  • Informal Group Interviews (Zoom): March 1 (choose 9 a.m., 10 a.m., or 11 a.m.)

  • Acceptance Notifications: March 21, 2025

  • Introductory Zoom Session (Zoom): May 23, 4–6 p.m.

  • Story Map Introduction (Zoom) : May 30, 4–6 p.m.

  • Program Dates: June 23–27, 2025

  • Office Hours (Zoom) : Weekly in July and August or by appointment

  • Project Presentations (Zoom): August 22, 4–6 p.m.

Program Fee: $1,200
The fee covers all programming, rustic overnight accommodations, and meals for the week.

Financial Support:
Cost should not deter participation. Full and partial fee waivers and transportation stipends are available. Indicate your interest in financial assistance at the end of the application. This information remains confidential between the program director, applicant, and their parents or guardians. Scholarships are guaranteed for those who qualify, and no additional application is required.

For questions, contact Catie Clune at catie.clune@egret.org or andrea.salazar@egret.org.

 A note about the application process::
We understand that written applications may not capture everyone’s abilities. While we encourage you to express yourself authentically, spelling and grammar will not be judged. If you prefer an alternative format for your responses, email Catie.Clune@egret.org with your suggestions.

We look forward to reviewing your application and welcoming you to this transformative conservation experience.

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Applicant's Full Legal Name *
Applicant's Preferred Name (if different than name listed above)
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Applicant's Email Address *
Retype email address *
Parent/Guardian Full Name *
Applicant's Parent/Guardian Email Address *
Parent/Guardian Phone Number *
City, State, Zip *
Applicant's Birth Date *
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Applicant's Phone Number
What grade will you be entering in fall of 2025?
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Why do you want to be a part of the Conservation Science Intensive? (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 5 sentences.)
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What do you think it means to be a good leader? Describe your skills and areas for growth in leadership skills. (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 4 sentences.)
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What experience(s) in your life have made you resilient?  (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 4 sentences.)
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What goal do you have for yourself this year that is not academic focused? How do you plan to achieve it? (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 3 sentences.)
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What is something in nature that you find particularly fascinating or intriguing?  (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 3 sentences.) *
What does a safe, inclusive environment look like for you? What should we be mindful of to best support your growth? (Please provide detailed, specific responses of at least 5 sentences.)
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How could we be supportive of any physical, emotional, mental, learning needs so that you can thrive? Do you have any specific accessibility needs?
If accepted, will you have a parent or pre-designated guardian in the San Francisco Bay Area during the time of the program, in case of an emergency?
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If selected, I will be able to attend the entire program.
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How did you hear about this opportunity? (At an event, presentation in class, past program participant, email, etc.?)
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