Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Sep 14, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026

Course / Training•Remote

National Geographic Society & The Nature Conservancy Externship (Community Conservation, Data Visualization and Mapping)

National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy

Application Deadline

August 30, 2026

Official Page

The National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy run a virtual externship that gives young people a structured route into conservation work. The current edition, Community Conservation, Data Visualization and Mapping, runs online for eight weeks from 14 September to 9 November 2026. Externs take on a conservation issue in their own community and learn to tell that story with maps, working with geographic information systems (GIS) and Esri StoryMaps. Conservation and GIS specialists from both organisations lead the sessions, and every meeting and event is recorded so participants in other time zones can keep up. The program rotates its theme between cohorts — the two earlier 2026 cohorts covered freshwater and marine conservation — and more than 1,200 young people from over 117 countries have taken part across three years.

Benefits & funding

  • US$500 stipend, paid at the end of the program to externs who complete it, to offset internet and technology costs.
  • Eight weeks of online classes, mentoring and workshops with conservation and GIS staff from both organisations.
  • Training in Esri mapping tools, GIS and Esri StoryMaps, alongside public speaking and solution-finding.
  • Work covering biodiversity and conservation, mapping and data storytelling, ending in portfolio-ready deliverables.
  • The Nature Conservancy states that participants who complete the program can receive seed funding of up to US$2,000 for an approved community project; 240 community projects have received funding so far, totalling US$479,000 in seed funding awarded.
  • No application fee. The externship can count towards academic credit, subject to the applicant’s own institution approving it.

Eligibility

  • Open to people aged 18 to 25.
  • Open to applicants anywhere in the world; no nationality or residency requirement, and the application form’s country list covers every country.
  • No prior work experience or coursework in GIS, conservation or environmental topics is required.
  • No degree held or current enrolment is required.
  • People who have already taken part in a National Geographic Society and Nature Conservancy externship cannot apply again.
  • The commitment is about 10 hours a week; Extern advises 10–15 hours a week to do well in its programs.

Can you apply?

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  • Age requirement

    18–25 yrs

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Application process

  1. 1
    Open the externship page on Extern and start the online application — name, email, phone and country of residence — before 30 August 2026.
  2. 2
    Complete the multi-step form covering background, interests and motivation.
  3. 3
    If shortlisted, record and submit a short “Get to Know You” video.
  4. 4
    Attend a live interview with the program team.
  5. 5
    Accept the place and join the cohort starting 14 September 2026.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline for the current cohort

    Aug 30, 2026

  2. Program starts

    Sep 14, 2026

  3. Program ends

    Nov 9, 2026