The Minnesota Widlife Federations Conservation Leadership Academy (CLA) is an exciting and engaging hands on experience that introduces participants to hunting, fishing, and other outdoor opportunities.
Participants in the program are college students who have an interest in a natural resources major or career but have not had the chance to take part in fishing or hunting activities. Taking part in the CLA provides them with new experiences and information that will help to broaden their understanding of conservation and its connection to those who fish, hunt, and trap.
We strive to create a program that is welcoming and understanding of the backgrounds and values or our participants.
MWF is excited to announce our upcoming 2026 CLA program!
Anyone interested in the program is welcome to submit an application before our official application window opens in September.
The CLA program offers three engaging in-person programs to introduce conservationists to hunting, fishing, and advocacy. These are welcoming and inclusive programs
Do you have an interest in trying hunting and fishing but haven’t had an opportunity to experience a day afield?
Are you interested in hearing from conservation professionals about ways to make a difference for conservation?
Are you curious about legislative advocacy and processes at the state capitol as it pertains to conservation?
This program is for you!
For the 2026 program year we are seeking college students to join us! Any student interested in conservation issues and/or careers is invited to apply. No specific major or area of study is required. Applicants will be selected based on the information provided on their application. Students who have no or very little previous hunting or fishing experience are encouraged to apply.
Costs associated with the program are covered for participants. Some travel costs may be incurred. Equipment is provided for all participants. Weekends include overnight lodging and meals for participants.
Visit: www.mnwildlife.org to learn more and see pictures of previous programs.
Reach out to Brad Gausman, MWF Executive Director, with any questions or concerns. [email protected] cell: 651-492-9399
2024-25 Conservation Leadership Academy
The 2024-25 MNCF Conservation Leadership Academy assembled a cohort of students from Bemidji State University, The University of Minnesota Duluth, Northwest Technical College, and The University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Eleven Students were chosen to participate who were all excited to get outdoors together and advance their conservation career goals.
Program 1: Hunting
The first of three programs for the 24-25 Conservation Leadership Academy provided an introduction to hunting and shooting sports. Students gathered on the shores of Ten Mile Lake near Fergus Falls Minnesota to spend the weekend together experiencing new activities together.
Conservation mentors Mercedes Akinsey, an MNCF board member, and Kelsi Lasharr, the MN DNR Elk Program Coordinator, spoke the group about their work in conservation and the importance of hunting and outdoor recreation in their lives and careers. An afternoon at a local shotgun range got everyone comfortable handling firearms safely and effectively. All participants hit clay targets by the end of the day!
A morning goose hunt was a great opportunity to continue the conversation and relationship building while spending time in a goose blind. Local Guide Brennan Schuette had a large decoy spread out to attract geese to the field and helped to call and identify birds for the group.
Program 2: Ice Fishing
The winter of 2025 presented a great time for the CLA program to get out on the frozen waters of lakes in the Brainerd area.
A program was held on the shores of North Long Lake that focused on conservation careers connected to work around sustainable agriculture. Holly Hattlewich, Director of the Renville County Soil and Water Conservation District, told to group about the role of SWCD’s at the local level and the impact that their work has on conservation across the state.
The fish were biting and a day spent ice fishing yielded positive results for all involved! All participants fished alongside program mentors and learned strategies to find fish and techniques to get them to bite. An overview of equipment and electronics was given so that the students could continue on with their success in the future.
Program 3: Conservation Advocacy at the State Capitol
Conservation work doesn’t just happen in the great outdoors.
Fortunately for Minnesotans the state capitol building provides some great indoors to work towards conservation successes.
CLC participants spent a day at the state capitol to learn about conservation advocacy though the legislative process.
Thank you to lobbyists and government relations staff from The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Minnesota, Park Street Public and Scott Government Relations for speaking about their work at capitol and legislature.
The group also heard from Tyler Winter, an MNCF board member and founder of Native Fish 4 Tomorrow, and Tim Clemmons, The Ironwood Forager, about the great work that has been done to highlight issues surrounding Minnesotas native rough fish and the foraging of wild foods on public lands across the state.
The day ended with a wonderful meeting with that staff from MN Senator Hauschilds office that spoke about the role of the Legislative Assistant and how best to communicate with elected officials.
2022-23 CLA
A new group of CLA gathered in October to begin their CLA journey. These future conservation leaders came hailed from point across Minnesota and are currently attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, UM Duluth, and Bemidji State.
Program 1: Hunting
The Fergus Falls area was the destination for the first CLA program of 2023.
Conservation mentors for the weekend included Mercedes Akinseye, a member of the MNCF board, and Kelsi LaSharr, a wildlife health specialist with the DNR, and Brad Gausman, Executive Director of MNCF.
Students attending the program learn about the connection between waterfowl hunting and conservation, hear about how to get involved in conservation careers, get an introduction to shotgun shooting, and engage in a hunting opportunity.
Getting in some shotgun practice.
The full 22-23 cohort.
Getting comfortable in the pit blind.
Early morning light
Guide Brennan Schutte talks with the students about the geese they harvested.
Students and Conservation Mentors after a successful morning hunt.
Program 2: Trapping
The Brainerd Lakes area provided a great meeting point for CLA participants and mentors to learn about trapping from experienced mentors. Discussions on trapping techniques, equipment, and the conservation ethic that trapping participants bring with them into the field were covered in presentations to the group.
CLA program mentors Kelly Straka from the MN DNR and Ellen Candler presented to the students on their work and the enjoyment that participating in hunting and fishing recreation brings to them and is integrated into their passion for conservation.
Kelly Straka from the MN DNR talks about her journey to a career in wildlife management.
A walk in the woods with an experienced trapper showcases their ability to identify a variety of tracks in the snow.
A demonstration of skinning and dressing a beaver yields fur and yes, some parts are edible.
Program 3: Ice Fishing
The group made its way to the ice of Lake Winnibigoshish for a weekend of ice fishing. Ice houses complete with bunk and fishing holes in the floor were rented. CLA participants slept on the ice and awoke to catch fish as they bit rattle wheels throughout the evening. Program mentors fished with student participants throughout the weekend introducing them to ice fishing techniques and equipment.
A late night Burbot joins the party.
Spreading out to find fish.
A perch trips the flag on a tip up.
2021-22 CLC
CLC participants got outside and into the field to hunt, fish, and trap over the course of three CLC programs. Conservation mentors were on hand to let the students know more about the work they do to ensure the health and viability of the woods, waters, and wildlife that are critical to the residents of Minnesota, human and otherwise. This year students from across Minnesota participated. The University of MN Twin Cities, U of M Duluth, U of M Crookston, Bemidji State, and Vermillion CC were all represented in the 21-22 CLC class.
Three programs were held over the 21-22 year.
- October 2021: Goose hunting near Rochester MN.
- December 2021: Beaver trapping near Brainerd MN.
- May 2022: Fishing on Lake Traverse on the MN/SD border.
The group gathers after a morning in the goose blind.
Firearm safety refresher and target practice on the shotgun range before the hunt activity.
Local CO Annette Kyllo talks about the role of the Conservation Officer and the path she took to her position with the DNR.
The group gathered on a sunny day in the Brainerd area and found success on the trap line.
Trapper Todd explains trap placement and the beavers aquatic environment to the students.
A skinning demonstration and discussion of the various parts of a beaver to be harvested is given after time in the field.
Lake Travers in Western Minnesota was a great spot to find some fish.
The wind kept us off the water but not off the fish!
Walleye, Crappie, Pike, and Smallmouth bass were all caught off the dock!
2020-21 CLC
With the onset of Covid it was clear that our 2020-21 CLC program would not look like our past sessions. Modifications were made to our leaning environments and our patient participants needed to wait until the spring until we could gather together.
Our adventures were worth the wait!
In April 2021 5 new turkey hunters took to the field alongside mentors to experience a turkey hunt near Lake City Minnesota. The weekend included an information session on turkey hunting from MN Conservation Officer Brittany Hauser, time spent patterning shoguns at a local farm, and a morning in the turkey woods. The turkeys had an active morning and everyone experienced gobbling birds and most hunters did see turkeys.
In May 2021 we took a kayak trip on the Mississippi River. The trip started at Bohemian Flats park in Minneapolis MN. We traveled through the only deep gorge on the entire river, paddled through a lock and damn, continued past the confluence with the Minnesota River and ended our day near downtown St. Paul.
CLC hunters and mentors.
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Participants gathered to target shoot.
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CLC student Emma patterning a shotgun before the hunt.
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Starting our river journey.
Leaving the lock and damn.
A perfect blue sky day for a paddle.
2019-20 CLC
Gathering after a successful morning goose hunt.
Checking a beaver trap north of Brainerd MN.
Enjoying time spent on a frozen Lake Mil Lacs.
Ten students took part in the 2019-20 CLC program. They gained new experiences in the field and shared time together with new friends.
Here is a bit of what they have to say about the program.