The National Park Ambassadors Program is a six-month environmental leadership program for young professionals focused on South Florida’s four national parks. We are looking for individuals of diverse backgrounds in Greater Miami who enjoy the outdoors, who want to learn more about the Everglades and South Florida’s marine environment, and who can devote one Saturday a month for six months to the program, to develop a deeper knowledge of these parks and greater leadership skills on environmental issues of importance to South Florida.
Participants will spend six Saturdays from January to June exploring four national parks (Everglades, Biscayne, Dry Tortugas, Big Cypress) while learning about local ecology, native wildlife, and environmental issues in South Florida. The program will provide opportunities for mentoring, networking and team-building. Participants will be asked to work with others to complete a project of their choice that benefits one or more parks and the community. After completing the program, participants will be invited to join an advisory council and encouraged to serve as national park ambassadors in communities where they live and work.
Eligibility
The South Florida National Parks Trust (SFNPT) will select 12 to 16 individuals under the age of 40 from Greater Miami who reflect the diversity of South Florida, who live and work in urban settings, who are committed to staying in South Florida, and who exhibit leadership qualities. We are looking for candidates who are environmentally aware but have limited experience and/or exposure to South Florida’s national parks. Candidates should be able to fully commit to the six-month program with the goal of becoming national park ambassadors in South Florida.
Participating Organizations
The National Park Service, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and The Miami Foundation have joined the SFNPT to support the launch of this program in January 2018, and the program itself is funded in part with a generous grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with additional support from the Public Lands Alliance.
