A $10,000 annual membership fee (Fiscal year, July to June). Pillar Schools are a highly engaged group of the Consortium that receive additional benefits through sponsorship. Pillar Schools receive a number of member services including but not limited to:

TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

Priority enrollment for experiential learning travel opportunities, including the opportunity to purchase a cabin on a Lindblad Expeditions trip in 2024 to join Planet Forward and Storyfest winners. Past trips have included learning about regenerative agriculture at McGinley Ranch in Nebraska and reporting on the impacts of climate change in Alaska. As they arise, other experiential learning travel invitations will be extended to Pillar Schools.

SUMMIT

Exclusive Pillar School status at the Planet Forward Summit with special side events including an invitation to kickoff reception and networking opportunities for your students and faculty.

Strategic and impactful faculty/leadership role on stage at Planet Forward panels and/or leading breakout sessions at the Summit.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING AND EVENTS

Be ensured one seat for a student at the Summer Seminar in Science and Sustainability Communication and have early access to registration. Meet with our Planet Forward Senior Editor through a virtual class visit or faculty consultation. Have the opportunity to produce a cobranded virtual event with Planet Forward. Be invited to participate in two unique Pillar School only educational events designed to supplement your focus on sustainability and storytelling.

STUDENT AND INSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION

Nominate at least three students to apply to be their institution’s Correspondent, where they will work one-on-one with Planet Forward’s experienced journalists to gain experience in reporting and communicating topics to broad audiences.

Have the opportunity to promote special programs of undergraduate or graduate study to an interested and engaged audience on PlanetForward.org, in our newsletter, and on our social media platforms.

The Planet Forward Consortium is a member-based network of colleges and universities that focuses on community building, advancement, and support of environmental and science communication to tell the stories of invention and innovation that can move our planet forward.

We bring those engaged in environmental storytelling together to learn from each other and partner on improving and advancing storytelling, media, and education.

The Pillar Schools invest in the project through sponsorship and receive benefits for students, faculty, and the institution.

Undergraduate and graduate students in higher education can contribute stories to Planet Forward. Student Correspondents apply in a competitive process to produce regular content during an academic year. Student Contributors occasionally submit content to be published on Planet Forward.

Correspondents and contributors to PlanetForward.org receive editorial support from our multimedia team, who guide students through fact-checking, editing, and revisions before publishing. Contributors may also enter our annual Storyfest competition, which rewards the best student environmental storytelling each academic year.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Planet Forward Consortium member schools serve as thought leaders and innovators, and their top-tier students from a range of academic backgrounds work with us remotely from across the U.S. Key benefits of membership in this network includes editorial mentoring, an avenue to publish with us on the Planet Forward, and idea exchange with other members.

Members directly benefit from working with the media practitioners on our team to improve their storytelling and environmental communication while joining a rich and diverse national network.

Exclusive opportunities for faculty and students include highlighting knowledge-sharing and advancing leading-edge solutions.