Environmental Leadership Initiative
About the LEAF Initiative
The Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) Initiative at Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a multi-term, interdisciplinary experience that prepares WPI students to become environmentally literate leaders. Rooted in professional mentorship, hands-on engagement, and opportunities to earn additional credentials, the program is designed for students who want to connect their technical and academic skills to real-world environmental and social challenges.
​​
The LEAF Initiative is more than a course, it’s a pathway for students to explore their environmental identity, build professional networks, and develop tangible leadership experience across multiple terms.
Students may enroll in the Environmental Leadership seminar during B and C Terms (Wednesdays) and continue into D Term to complete the full program. Each term carries 1/6 credit, but participation in the full program unlocks broader benefits and experiences, including earning an Environmental Leadership Certificate from WPI's Office of Sustainability.
LEAF Initiative Structure
Students who complete the LEAF Initiative engage in:
A seminar occurring across three terms (B, C, and D)
Opportunities to earn environmental certifications
Mentorship opportunities with environmental professionals
Collaboration with community partners on real-world projects
Experiential nature-based learning and reflection
Development of an individualized environmental leadership plan
This combination of academic structure and real-world engagement allows students to apply what they learn across diverse contexts, from sustainability and conservation to environmental justice and Indigenous knowledge systems.
LEAF Initiative Timeline
The Environmental Leadership Initiative spans three terms (B-D), with short nature immersions interspersed within and between terms.
Between A & B terms
Nature immersion and leadership experiences in the White Mountain National Forest, NH
Throughout the Program
Field trips to local sites for education, nature, & community
B & C terms
1 day/week class consisting of leadership workshops, environmental literacy education, & development of your Individualized Environmental Leadership Plan (IELP)
Throughout
Share your leadership skills & environmental knowledge via publications and conference presentations.
D term
Apply your skills in projects, & earn badges/certifications
Seminar Topics
Seminars will be organized around four topics:
Leadership
&
Professional Development
Environmental Literacy &
(Inter)national Policy
Community Engagement &
Science Practice
Ethics, Storytelling
&
the Politics of Action
Learn about:
mentorship
leadership styles
leading through conflict
Learn about:
environmental legislation
public decision-making
knowledge systems
Learn about:
ecological systems
community science
environmental justice
Learn about:
environmental ethics
inclusive storytelling
personal connections
Individualized Environmental Leadership Plan (IELP)
Each student will develop an IELP. This plan will empower LEAF Fellows to thoughtfully craft their academic and extracurricular environmental leadership journey. Components of an IELP may include goals and areas for leadership development, networking, certifications, and environmental knowledge, skills, and competencies to be developed.
LEAF Initiative Learning Objectives
​
O1) Strengthen student connection to nature
O2) Expand students' environmental literacy in their personal and professional lives,
O3) Connect students with mentors and explore career pathways in a variety of environmental fields
O4) Empower students and facilitate leadership in environmental sustainability, conservation, justice, and Indigenous areas (using United Nations Sustainable Development Goals)
O5) Develop and implement an individualized environmental leadership plan (IELP)
