Student Leadership

The Student Leadership Program offers year-round advocacy, awareness, and action experiences and training.

Kassie Fenn/CBF Staff

Explore to Learn. Learn to Lead.

The mission of CBF's Student Leadership program is to connect, educate, and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards to become critical thinkers and environmental problem solvers by advancing advocacy, raising awareness, and taking action to help Save the Bay.

Join the Program

Why join CBF Student Leadership?

Learn Outside. Expand your knowledge of watershed issues through immersive outdoor field experiences and interaction with regional experts.
Action. Earn service-learning hours during hands-on restoration events and community engagement opportunities.
Advocacy. Promote watershed issues that are meaningful to you and support the legislative process by meeting with representatives and decisionmakers.
Awareness. Build leadership skills, access resources, and make positive change in your community with support from CBF.

How does it work?

The program operates year-round and is open to high school students living within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Student Leaders gain a deeper understanding of watershed issues during virtual and in-person programming.
Student Leaders engage with decisionmakers, scientists, industry professionals, artists, and regional experts to better understand environmental policy, protection, and conservation.
Student Leaders select an issue impacting their community, then develop and implement evidence-based solutions using a Student Action Plan or SAPling.

Commitment to Include all Voices.

Whether you are just beginning your environmental stewardship journey or are well into your trek, we welcome all to join our coalition. We aim to bring emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races to the decision-making space as we work to ensure all individuals have access to clean water, clean air, healthy communities, and a saved Bay.