About The National Conservation Training Center


NCTC Image

Sustainable Summer runs the Sc3 program in partnership with the Green Schools Alliance and The National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). In this blog post, we’ll talk a bit about NCTC. NCTC is a unique training facility located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The center is operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and serves as a hub for training and education related to conservation and natural resource management.

History of the National Conservation Training Center

The National Conservation Training Center was established in 1997 with the mission of providing high-quality training and education programs for USFWS employees and partners. The center was built on 538 acres of land that was donated to the USFWS by the Conservation Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting America’s natural resources.

The NCTC has since become a center of excellence for conservation training, offering a range of courses and programs designed to improve the skills and knowledge of natural resource professionals. The center has also become a popular destination for visitors who want to learn more about conservation and wildlife management.

Facilities at the National Conservation Training Center

The NCTC has state-of-the-art facilities that are designed to support a range of training and educational programs. The center includes several classroom buildings, a library, a computer lab, and a distance learning center. There is also an auditorium that can seat up to 400 people, as well as a cafeteria and a bookstore.

The center has a number of outdoor facilities as well, including several miles of hiking trails, a wetlands boardwalk, and a birding trail. The center’s campus also features several demonstration gardens and wildlife habitats, which are used to teach visitors about native plants and wildlife.

Training and Educational Programs at the National Conservation Training Center

The NCTC offers a wide range of training and educational programs for natural resource professionals. These programs are designed to improve the skills and knowledge of employees from the USFWS and other federal agencies, as well as state and local conservation organizations and tribal governments.

Some of the courses offered at the NCTC for professionals include:

  • Wildlife biology and management
  • Fisheries management
  • Environmental law and policy
  • Natural resource interpretation
  • Leadership development
  • Climate change adaptation

In addition to these courses, the NCTC also offers online training programs and webinars, as well as customized training programs for specific organizations.

Conclusion

The National Conservation Training Center is a vital resource for conservation and natural resource professionals in the United States. The center’s state-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive training programs make it an essential hub for training and education related to conservation and wildlife management. Sc3 is designed specifically for high school students, so the scope of focus of what students learn is certainly different from the training natural resource professionals receive, but the program leverages the expertise of NCTC to deliver an incredible learning experience.