Environmental Scholarships

Each year, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County offers a scholarship of $2,000 for up to three outstanding high school seniors planning to pursue college studies related to the fields of environment, conservation and sustainability.

The following criteria will be used to choose the winner of the scholarship:

  • A resident of McHenry County
  • Volunteer work in the areas of environment/conservation and related organizations/sponsors
  • Two letters of recommendation, with one being from a high school teacher
  • Recent high school transcript
  • A formatted essay on student’s goals and aspirations in regard to the environment and plans for future study

Applicants cannot be a relative of an Environmental Defenders’ board member or staff.

A completed application packet—application form, transcript, essay, and two letters of recommendation— must be received at the Environmental Defenders’ office, 110 S. Johnson Street, Suite 106, Woodstock, IL 60098.

Our summer interns work with a Defenders’ Action Team that connects nicely with their interests.  Many interns enjoy work with our Water & Natural Resources Protection Action Team as it relates to the fields of ecological restoration, biology and more.  For those interested in the green energy and transportation sector, our Transportation Action Team would be a nice fit, and both the Waste Reduction Action Team (food waste and plastic waste reduction) as well as our Recycling Action Team are great fits for just about anyone interested in environmental protection.  Our Education Action Team is a great place for organizing outreach and programs for the public. For those interested in helping to build and diversify our membership base and programming our Membership Action Team would work well.  For bilingual, Spanish speaking interns, our Latino Outreach Program is a great place to be as we build toward a more diverse audience of members and volunteers.

Defenders’ Internships are generally flexible and vary in hours and in nature depending on the chosen Team’s projects.  Basecamp is The Defenders’ office at 110 S. Johnson Street in Woodstock, but time will be spent out in the field depending on the projects.  The Intern will work closely with the Chair-person/s of the designated Team as well as office staff.  Compensation is $1,500 for this part-time summer experience.