PEC Fellowship Program
2008 Fellowship Participants harvest garlic at Waterpenny Farm in Rappahannock County. During an afternoon of farm tours, they learned about conservation easements, farmland preservation and agricultural practices directly from farmers and landowners.
The PEC Fellowship program is much more than an internship! The seven week program is designed to provide college students and recent graduates with comprehensive exposure to PEC's work in the Piedmont region and Virginia.
Fellows will experience a hands-on approach to learning about PEC through field-trips, classroom discussions, and individual practicum projects. Wherever possible, classroom lessons are followed with practical applications and field trips. During the 2008 program, morning lectures on land conservation and farmland preservation were followed by field trips to three farms to hear directly from land owners and work side-by-side with farmers.
Schedule
June 22-July 17 - Academic Session:
The first four weeks of the program takes the Fellows through an intensive curriculum, combining classroom instruction by PEC staff, guest lectures, assigned readings, and educational field trips throughout the Piedmont. In 2008, Fellows heard from over 60 speakers and visited nearly 30 sites around the region.
July 20-August 7 - Individual Practicum Session:
The final three weeks of the program allow the Fellows to develop and use their new skills in a "real world" setting to complete an individual practicum project. (with assistance from a PEC staff mentor) designed by each Fellow that incorporate their expressed interest in relation to PEC's mission.
Curriculum
View sample weekly schedules from last year's program:
Assistance
PEC is pleased to provide accepted 2009 Fellows assistance with the following:
Local housing
Classroom facilities
Activities and special project expenses
Small living stipend
An unforgettable experience
