We are pleased to announce applications are currently being accepted for the 2017-2018 Cabela’s Apprenticeship Program, a collaboration among Cabela’s, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to provide tangible, experiential opportunities for undergraduate students. Opportunities are geared toward addresses real issues centered around recruiting and maintaining participants in outdoor activities, creating and managing fish and wildlife and their habitat, protecting threatened and endangered species, and supporting conservation of ecosystems.
The Cabela’s Apprenticeship program provides financial support for students to work with professionals in a wide array of natural resource areas. Applications are being sought for three predominant themes listed below, but other topics will be considered.
1) Recruiting Outdoor Enthusiasts – More social support is needed to recruit and retain participants in outdoor activities. There are several current initiatives moving forward with which apprentices could be involved to become leaders of these programs (e.g., Hunter Education, Trout in the Classroom and Master Naturalist. Additionally, we are particularly interested in innovative approaches to create positive attention to outdoor sports.
2) Land Management and Stewardship – Apprentices would be actively engaged in managing lands and landscapes in support of fish and wildlife habitat. Examples in this area might be working with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on grassland and fire management at Nine Mile Prairie, or with NGPC, Pheasants Forever, or Audubon on land stewardship projects.
3) Research and Management - Providing hands-on experience in support of skills needed to collect data that help manage fish, wildlife, lands, and people to ensure useable outdoor spaces are critical to ensure skilled staff in the future. These project might be independent research by a student or a portion of a larger graduate student or faculty project.
Who may apply?
Faculty, staff, students and stakeholders may submit applications, but funds will go only to eligible students. Apprenticeships outside of Nebraska will also be considered.
Eligibility
Funding is available to approved apprentices that meet the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled (or will be enrolled at time of apprenticeship) as a full-time, degree-seeking student in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln focused on: fisheries and wildlife management; habitat management; land stewardship; landscape management; or outdoor education and recruitment
- Demonstrates excellent academic achievement with a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Will have completed at least 30 credit hours of undergraduate work by start of apprenticeship
- Will commit to at least 10 hours of research per week (Academic Year applicants) or at least 20 hours of research per week (Summer only applicants)
To Apply
There is not a specific format for applying. However, applicants should include a one page or less description of the proposed apprenticeship activities. This summary should include details of with whom the apprentice will work (e.g., faculty, agency, etc.); where; general activities, including the goal of apprenticeship; a general timeline; and funding needs.
Funding for apprentices typically ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 per apprentice, but other levels of funding will be considered if justified in the application.
Application deadline
Applications are due by 5 p.m. April 7, 2017, and can be submitted via email to Mark Pegg (mpegg2@unl.edu).