Available Scholarships

The Practicing Foresters Institute (PFI), charitable arm of the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF), established the CooperTen National Scholarship Program to introduce university forestry students to the length and breadth of consulting forestry. Recipients travel to and work for ACF member firms across different regions of the country, gaining hands-on experience and building a professional network along the way. Now in its third year, the scholarship is awarded to one or more students for the Summer 2027 term. Each placement lasts two to six weeks, and recipients commit to a minimum of eight weeks over the program period. These are paid internships, and scholarship funds are meant to offset the recipient’s lodging and travel expenses while working for and traveling between firms.

Attendance to the ACF National Conference in June 2027 is highly encouraged as part of the program. A separate scholarship is available to offset registration and lodging expense, while the CooperTen funds can be used for conference travel.

PFI seeks applicants with a genuine interest in consulting forestry who are self-motivated, reliable, adventurous, and enthusiastic about carrying this program forward. Awarded applicants have made personal and professional connections that will serve them well throughout their professional career.

Recipients choose their own placements. Each applicant is expected to develop a summer work plan outlining the type of work they would like to do, firms they would like to work for, and a proposed schedule and budget for each leg of the journey. The PFI Scholarship Coordinator will support each recipient before, during, and after the internship to help ensure a successful experience.

Recipient expecations:

• Work full-time for two to five consulting forestry firms in two or more ACF Regions during Summer 2027, recipients are expected to intern for a minimum of eight weeks
• Attend and present biographic and internship experience to at least one local ACF chapter meeting
• Submit two one-page reports to the PFI Board of Trustees summarizing the internship experience
• Attend the 2027 ACF National Conference (strongly encouraged)

Eligibility:

• Full-time undergraduate or graduate student who will have completed at least two years of undergraduate study by Summer 2027
• Studying Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or a related field
• A minimum 2.75 GPA
• Reliable vehicle transportation, since interns travel between firms and job sites

Participating ACF Firms and Descriptions

The PFI Scholarship committee has solicited ACF member firms willing to participate in the CooperTen National Scholarship program for the 2027 summer period. Applicants are expected to review the list of participating firms, thoroughly research firms of interest, and choose at least two and up to five from the list that they would like to intern with.

The recipient will be responsible for securing placement with the selected firms and coordinating logistics and lodging with support of the PFI Scholarship Coordinator, Taylor Wilson.

Application Details

The online application requires the applicant to:

1. Select at least two (up to five) firms you’d like to intern with.
2. Submit a Statement of Intent, 300 words max, describing:
   1. Your reason for applying for the scholarship
   2. Your professional interests
   3. Specific work experience you would like to acquire through this opportunity
   4. Explain why you selected your preferred list of firms and how they align with your professional interests and goals
3. Submit a Work Plan Proposal, no more than two pages in length, describing:
   1. Your proposed summer itinerary, including preferred internship dates, preferred firms and locations, and estimated travel times
   2. Estimated budget for travel and lodging
   3. Your professional interests
4. Submit a digital copy of your unofficial college/university transcript.

Apply Now! This application closes Monday, November 2nd.

Student Scholarships

Every year the PFI Board awards a certain number of forestry students a scholarship to attend the annual ACF National Conference and Regional Conference. Attending the ACF National or Regional Conference provides the selected students with the opportunity to learn more about the consulting forestry profession, to meet forestry students from other forestry schools and to interact with practicing consulting foresters and potential employers. Included in the scholarship is a complimentary conference registration and support for travel, including complimentary hotel accommodations.

Student scholarships for the upcoming 2027 ACF Regional Conference cover:

– Conference Attendee Registration (Sunday Afternoon Technical Sessions, Sunday Welcome Reception, Monday Technical Session, Monday Breakfast, Breaks, Lunch, and Dinner)
– Sunday (1/31) and Monday (2/1) night accommodations at the conference hotel (double occupancy).

Apply now! This application closes on December 18th.

Emerging Professionals Scholarships

The Practicing Foresters Institute (PFI) Emerging Professional Scholarship awards scholarships to emerging professionals covering registration fees for the ACF National Conference and Regional Conference. The selected emerging professionals will have the opportunity to learn more about the consulting forestry profession and meet and interact with practicing consulting foresters and potential employers. All are eligible to apply, regardless of membership status in ACF. There are no defined age or experience level requirements although preference will be given to those in the early stages of their career or new to the consulting forestry or related profession and demonstrate financial need.

Emerging Professionals scholarships for the upcoming 2027 ACF Regional Conference cover:

– Conference Attendee Registration (Sunday Afternoon Technical Sessions, Sunday Welcome Reception, Monday Technical Session, Monday Breakfast, Breaks, Lunch, and Dinner)
– Registration for either the Sunday Workshop the Tuesday Field Tour

Apply Now! This application closes on December 18th.