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.

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Planned event dates for 2026: June 14 - June 19

The Resource Conservation Workshop is designed to accommodate up to 90 students.  High school 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.  

  • 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
    • Winners are selected based on engagement and projects prepared at RCW
    • Preference will be given to a student who is related to a district employee
  • Billy and Regina Kilpatrick Scholarship:  $1,000 college scholarship
    • The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a student who attends a college or university to study a field tied to conservation or agriculture.  The scholarship is designed to perpetuate future careers in fields connect to protecting the resources needed to further a sustainable agricultural economy.
    • 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 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
  • 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
    • Winners are selected based on engagement and projects prepared at 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 based on engagement and projects prepared at 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

Get Your Hands Dirty & Your Mind Blown at the Resource Conservation Workshop!
Ready to swap screen time for stream time? The Resource Conservation Workshop is a weeklong deep dive into the world of conservation, where you’ll explore natural resources, tackle real-world environmental challenges, and get hands-on with soil, water, forestry, and wildlife. This isn’t just sitting in a classroom—think field studies, outdoor adventures, and behind-the-scenes tours of conservation hotspots. Plus, evening sessions help you navigate college and career choices (because, let’s be real, adulting is coming). Oh, and did we mention scholarships and awards are up for grabs?

You'll be living the college life at NC State, staying in dorms, meeting awesome people, and learning at places like Williams Hall, Lake Wheeler Soils Field Lab, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, and Clemmons State Educational Forest. It’s the perfect mix of hands-on science, outdoor exploration, and future-planning.

Applications are open between January 15 and March 31.  Obtain an application from and submit to your local Soil and Water Conservation Office.  Find your RCW contact here (Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District) to submit your application by the March 31 deadline. 🌿💧🌎

Applications are open January 15 - March 31, 2026. Program participants are selected through their local Soil and Water Conservation District. To find your RCW contact in your County, visit here. 

Suggestions for selecting and supporting students:

  1. Decide if the district intends to sponsor one or more students - cost for 2026 event is $650 registration fee, per student
  2. Promote the event and application process opening January 15, 2026
  3. Districts close applications end of day March 31, 2026
  4. District get board approval month of April; if your district would like to send more than one student, we may be able to accommodate - contact elise.mclaughlin@ncagr.gov with the request as soon as possible
  5. As soon as your board has made a decision, contact your student delegate(s) and secure their commitment to attend the workshop; inform delegate(s) of May 15 deadline to register with NCSU
  6. Once the student delegate confirms intention to attend, the district completes the student registration Google form by May 1, 2026 (web link provided in RCW Toolkit distributed by email January 15; Google form submittal will auto-generate an email to the student to complete NCSU Reporter registration)
  7. District to send payment for student(s) to NCASWCD after Google form submittal.  Cost is $650 per student, mailed to NCASWCD at P.O. Box 27943, Raleigh NC 27611.  Payments for multiple students can be combined in a single check.  Include student name(s) on memo line.
  8. Families finish Reporter registration through NCSU by May 15, 2026
  9. Arrange transportation for your student to and from Raleigh
  10. Arrange for local publicity in your district
  11. Ask your student to attend your district's board meeting both before and after the workshop to learn about the workshop and report on their workshop experience

Interested in serving as a Counselor and supporting this life-changing experience for students?  

Please complete the RCW Counselor Application - Google Form by April 1, 2026.  If you have served as an RCW counselor before, simply email elise.mclaughlin@ncagr.gov stating your interest in serving again this year (no need to complete the application again), and we will be in touch.

 

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