Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation

The first two days of our high school Field Skills course are officially in the books! 🌿🏘️

These 20 students have been busy getting to know one another, exploring campus on a walking tour, and enjoying the iconic sunset from around the campfire on top of Race Track Hill. And yes—there were s’mores. 🍫✨

New friends, new skills, and lots of fresh air. Follow along to see what the rest of the week has in store!

🚨 SCHOLARSHIP ALERT 🚨

If you're attending one of our semester-away programs this fall, you may be eligible for:

💰 James W. Hazel Scholarship
💰 G.T. Halpin Family Endowment Scholarship

Apply through AcademicWorks by July 1.

Many students qualify but never apply. Don't be that person.

Spend a semester away without falling behind at Mason. 🌿

Students in our undergraduate semester-away programs can apply credits toward a wide range of degree requirements, including Mason Core, and majors such as Environmental Science, Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Biology, Global Affairs, and Integrative Studies. In some programs, all semester-away credits can count directly toward concentration requirements. Plus, completing any SMSC semester program can fulfill the requirements for the Conservation Studies minor!

Talk to your advisor. Explore how a semester at SMSC can fit into your degree plan and advance your graduation goals while you gain hands-on conservation experience!

🐾🌳🌍
School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
Global Affairs at George Mason University
GMU Department of Biology

Not every wildlife photo is destined for National Geographic.

When using camera traps, we don't always get majestic portraits. Sometimes science means identifying an animal from one blurry ear, a mysterious forehead, or some other small fraction of its body.

During our recent Field Skills in Ecology course, students used camera traps to practice identifying species from partial clues like hoof shape, fur color, body size, movement, and habitat context—the same kinds of imperfect evidence conservation scientists work with in real monitoring projects every day.

Data are messy, but every goofy photo still tells part of the story. 📸

A warm welcome to our inaugural National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) cohort! 🌿

This summer, these 10 undergraduates from across the country will spend 10 weeks conducting hands-on conservation research, building professional skills, and working alongside mentors dedicated to protecting endangered species and habitats.

We kicked off the program with a hike to Compton Peak in Shenandoah National Park—the perfect introduction to the local landscapes and ecosystems that inspire conservation science every day. From Appalachian Trail views to the park’s famous columnar jointing rock formations, the hike offered community building and a memorable start to the summer.

We’re excited to see what this cohort accomplishes this summer. Welcome to SMSC! 🐾⛰️

🚨 Last chance to register! 🚨

Interested in insects, biodiversity, and conservation? Our online Insect Biology course (CONS 332) starts Monday, June 8! Learn insect anatomy, evolution, identification, ecology, and life history from conservation entomologist Jim McNeil.

Add the optional hands-on field lab (CONS 333) here at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in July!

CONS 332:
🐞 Online, asynchronous
🎓 3 credits
📅 June 8–July 28

CONS 333:
🐞 In-person, residential
🎓 1 credit (must be concurrently enrolled in CONS 332)
📅 July 20–24

Don't wait—online course starts Monday! Register in Patriot Web.

Alumnus Stephen Bredin is helping save salamanders one rainy night at a time.

As founder and president of the Tompkins County Amphibian Patrol (TCAMP), Stephen leads volunteers who venture out on cold, rainy spring evenings to help migrating amphibians safely cross roads on their way to breeding pools. The effort also generates valuable data that supports amphibian conservation and research.

We're always excited to see our alumni putting their ecological knowledge to work and making a positive impact for wildlife and their communities.

Read more about Stephen and TCAMP's work in this article!

Volunteers brave dark, rainy nights to save migrating amphibians On dark, rainy nights, volunteers patrol the roadways for some of the region’s smallest and most vulnerable travelers.

Undergrads in the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation's exciting summer field skills course recently visited Leopold's Preserve to explore connections between forests, wetlands, and watersheds through hands-on fieldwork.

Students investigated the impacts of deer browsing by comparing vegetation inside and outside a deer exclosure, visited a rare upland depression swamp, and joined Park Manager Nick Davis for a tour of an active beaver wetland.

A trip highlight was seeing the beavers' engineering up close. The site features three levels of ponds, where it's possible to look up from one pond to view a dam holding back water in the pond above. From lodges to dams, students thoroughly enjoyed this firsthand look at how beavers shape the landscape around them.

Applications for our Fall 2026 Residential Semester-Away Programs are open—but the deadline is approaching fast. Apply by July 15!

As an SMSC student, you'll:
✅ Earn 16 undergraduate credits
✅ Gain hands-on field and lab experience
✅ Learn alongside leading conservation scientists
✅ Live and study at a world-renowned research center
✅ Build skills for your future career

Open to current undergraduates and recent graduates from any major.

Don't miss your chance to spend a semester making a difference. Apply on our website under the Programs tab.

🧐 Sometimes the best way to interact with wildlife is simply to observe.

Our Field Ecology and Conservation students were excited to admire this non-venomous snake from a respectful distance during a recent field activity. Unlike last week's box turtle photo, this encounter called for a 'look, don't touch' moment. 🐍