Soil & Water - Resource Conservation Workshop

The Resource Conservation Workshop is a weeklong workshop and involves study and hands on participation in a wide range of conservation topics.  Students are housed at NC State University campus dormitories under the guidance of live-in counselors.  In order to achieve success, students should come prepared to meet the primary objective of the workshop; learning about natural resources and their management in today's global environment.  Awards and scholarships can be won and are presented to students under several awards programs.

For an insider's look at activities during the Resource Conservation Workshop, please see a promotional video prepared by the Durham Soil & Water Conservation District.

Tab/Accordion Items

Planned event dates for 2024: June 16 - June 21

Sample RCW agenda

The Resource Conservation Workshop is designed to accommodate up to 104 students.  Students who have demonstrated an interest in natural resource conservation and are nominated by a local soil and water conservation district are eligible.  High school graduates are not eligible to attend.  The districts should give priority to rising juniors and seniors.  Students may participate only one time in this workshop.  Student slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, as registrations with specific student's names are received.

  • Conservation District Employees Association Award:  $1,000 college scholarship
    • Student interested in subject matter, not only respecting and responding to teachers but also participating in activities
    • Student planning for higher education in field of Natural Resources, Environmental Science, or other related subject
    • Student must achieve 75% or higher on the final examination administered at the RCW
    • Preference will be given to a student who is related to a district employee
    • Student may have financial need
  • S. Grady Lane Award:  $100 cash and $500 college scholarship
    • Student must be interested in soil and water conservation and have intent to pursue a course of study in discipline pertaining to soil and water conservation
    • Student must achieve 75% or higher on the final examination administered at the RCW
    • Student must demonstrate interest, cooperation, a positive attitude, and excellent behavior throughout the RCW
    • Preference will be given to a student whose family is currently active in a soil and water conservation district
    • Student must have financial need
  • Five other RCW Awards:
    • Winners are selected using academic scores from the final examination administered at the RCW
      • 1st Place:  $100 cash and $500 college scholarship
      • 2nd Place:  $100 cash and $275 college scholarship
      • 3rd Place:  $100 cash
      • 4th Place:  $75 cash
      • 5th Place:  $50 cash

Students, the RCW is an excellent opportunity for you to spend a week in the field learning about our natural resources and their management in today's environment, meet and receive guidance from natural resource professionals, win cash awards and scholarship money, and so much more!

Please take a moment to fill out an application form, and return it to your local soil and water conservation district office.  Local soil and water conservation district boards will select a student to sponsor for this workshop and will contact you to let you know their selection.  Good luck and we'll look forward to seeing you at NCSU in June!

Suggestions for selecting and supporting students:

  1. Decide if the district intends to sponsor one or more students
  2. Appoint a committee to interview candidates; your committee could be made up of district supervisors, Cooperative Extension Service personnel, vo-ag teachers or other agency personnel
  3. Secure names of students from high school counselors, vo-ag teachers, scout leaders, Envirothon advisors, Extension 4-H leaders, or other professionals in natural resource areas
  4. Choose a student delegate and one alternate
  5. Contact your student delegate and secure their commitment to attend the workshop
  6. Complete the online application form and return, along with enrollment fee made payable to "NCASWCD", no later than June 1
  7. Arrange transportation for your student to and from Raleigh
  8. Arrange for local publicity in your district
  9. Ask your student to attend your district's board meeting both before and after the workshop to learn workshop objectives and report on their workshop experience

Selected Student Registration:

Online registration for selected students is now open at https://fs3.formsite.com/ncdswc/bkeqxvl9gs/index. 

Please note this is a two step process with districts submitting student names (by May 28), and parents/guardians submitting information and completing required forms (by May 31).  Instructions for district payment will be included in an auto-generated email when the above formsite form is completed.  Instructions for parents/guardians will also be included in a separate auto-generated email.

If you need additional information about the workshop, please contact Bryan Evans at 252.814.4404.