The Environmental Leadership Program

Making a difference in our community!

About us
The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary service-learning program housed in the University of Oregon Environmental Studies Program. We match student teams with non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and businesses to address local environmental needs. Our students gain leadership, communication and applied professional skills by engaging directly in real-world problem-solving, and our community partners gain valuable assistance.

Our goals are to provide:
  1. Undergraduate students with unique and practical learning experiences that develop field-based research, writing and presentation skills;

  2. Graduate students with project management and team-building experience and skills; and

  3. Organizations with cost-effective and high-quality services.

About our projects
We develop our projects cooperatively with community partners. Depending on partners’ needs, projects can address environmental education and outreach, natural resource management, habitat restoration, species conservation, environmental monitoring, sustainable business practices, ecotourism, recreation management, environmental justice, and other topics.

Currently, we have two primary focal areas.

In our Monitoring and Mapping projects, students assist community partners by acquiring, analyzing and utilizing needed environmental data. Students apply practical sampling technologies and techniques, including Global Positioning System (GPS) locating, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, vegetation plots, and animal behavior observations.

In our Environmental Education projects, students develop, implement and share transformative learning experiences for children in nature. Students create scientifically rigorous curricula, teach programs in classrooms and conduct field trip activities.