Sun Coast Young Leaders Council

The Sun Coast Young Leaders Council of the National Parks Conservation Association may be the place for you. We are now accepting applications to the council for the 2023-2024 cohort! 

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) believes that engaging the community is critical to ensuring the protection of our national parks, which is why we have a Young Leaders Council. The council brings together individuals ages 21 – 34 to explore effective methods of engaging younger audiences in national park advocacy and protection. As a part of the council, we will host online trainings, networking activities and field trips as a way to learn more about the Sun Coast region and how to protect it. For our inaugural cohort, we’re looking for young leaders in the state of Florida.

What You’ll Get Out of Participating  

As a member of the council, you will be part of a membership organization that has been successfully advocating for national parks since 1919. You will have the chance to interact with and learn from NPCA’s talented staff, other community/student/young leaders councils, as well as our Next Generation Advisory Council. You will be able to visit several national parks, build relationships with other national park advocates and challenge your current perspectives surrounding public lands. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to help our national parks by building their base of support for the future.  

Requirements 

To fulfill the mission of the council and ensure robust participation, all prospective council members must be:  

• Age 21 to 34;  

• Able to serve on the council for at least a two-year term; 

• Able to attend monthly zoom meetings;

• Able to commit to participating in at least three in-person events in South Florida

• Living in the state of Florida

We strongly encourage participants that have historically been underrepresented in the outdoor recreation and conservation spaces. Members of the YLC are empowered to learn about and participate in advocacy related to NPCA’s work in the Sun Coast region. We encourage Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), Women, LGBTQIA, People with Disabilities to apply. 

Other Things to Keep in Mind  

• This is not a paid position, although NPCA will cover some event expenses, with pre-approval, related to participating.

• NPCA is an advocacy organization, and we will also announce opportunities to get involved in park advocacy activities, although participation will not be required.

How to Apply

Prospective council members must fill out the online questionnaire to express their interest. Applications will be accepted until March 15th. If you have any questions, please contact Cheryl Swaby at cswaby@npca.org.  

Sun Coast Youth Leadership Council Apply Online ›

You will be prompted to log in to a Google account to complete the form. If you do not have a Google account, or encounter any other difficulties with the form, please contact cswaby@npca.org for assistance.

Next Steps

Successful candidates will be notified by April 15. Prior to that point, you may be contacted by a member of the NPCA staff regarding your application or for an interview if additional information is needed.