Soul Trak connects people to the outdoors through hands-on programs that inspire leadership and exploration. The Soul Trak Leaders Fellowship empowers adults to deepen their outdoor skills and embrace new adventures, while the College Ambassador Cohort prepares students to lead, share, and create meaningful outdoor experiences.
Join us, step outside, grow as a leader, and be part of our mission to transform lives through the power of nature.
Jahmal Clemons
Jahmal's love for the outdoors is contagious! Having recently moved to the DMV from Houston, Texas, he is excited to connect with, support, and create a community with other nature lovers. His deep connection to nature was established early on through his involvement in the Boy Scouts, where he spent his childhood camping, hiking, caving, and rock climbing. As an advanced yoga teacher and practitioner, he maintains a reverence for nature and an outlook on the unity of all beings. Ever the servant leader, he has served as a cooking instructor for a food bank, a community garden volunteer for multiple elementary schools, and a camping leader for inner-city high school students. You'll often find him on outdoor adventures with his partner, Darryl, and their dog, Mars.
Dede Lawal
Dede is passionate about the outdoors, community-driven projects, and actionable science. She’s a Houston, TX native but has lived in Maryland for the past couple of years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, kayaking, baking, and flying trapeze. She’s excited to be a part of the Outdoor Leaders Fellowship.
Ayanna Lynch
Ayanna's soul is in the soil. Across her travels, from the East Coast to West and back, she keeps herself grounded by gardening. This began in her mom and grandma’s backyards in Georgia and continued to her college days in Los Angeles where she tended to houseplants in her dorm and spent time with chickens in the campus garden. Now in DC, she cultivates her community garden plot from season to season, experimenting with new crops like peanuts and chickpeas, and hopes to turn her plot into an herbal medicine cabinet. Having studied chemistry in college, she now wants to further her studies in agriculture and soil science. In her free time, she enjoys painting, hikes with her dog, and trying out new recipes and restaurants. Soul Trak for her is a way to extend her passion for land stewardship to people. Here, she hopes to cultivate a strong community interwoven with the land, through outdoor experiences.
2026 Environmental Leaders Fellowship Application
Apply by December 14th, 2025
Fellowship Overview
The Environmental Leaders Fellowship is a year-long, paid professional development program for residents of Wards 7 and 8 who are passionate about environmental justice, outdoor education, and community leadership.
Fellows commit to about 20 hours per month and support Soul Trak through program facilitation, community engagement, and nonprofit operations. Throughout the year, fellows take an active role in planning and coordinating Soul Trak programs that reflect community needs and advance our mission.
This fellowship is ideal for emerging leaders seeking hands-on experience in the environmental and outdoor sectors.
What Fellows Do
A typical monthly schedule includes:
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2 in-person programs
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1 monthly leaders meeting
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Program planning meetings (virtual or in-person)
Key Responsibilities
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Support the coordination and planning of year-round programs, including seasonal outdoor activities and workshops
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Assist with outdoor program facilitation (hikes, paddles, service projects, etc.)
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Help manage logistics, communications, and participant coordination
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Represent Soul Trak at outreach events, community gatherings, and partner meetings
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Create monthly deliverables such as social media content, outreach materials, or partnership support
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Participate in leadership development sessions and team meetings
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Complete a capstone project or end-of-year reflection
Qualifications
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Must be a resident of Ward 7 or 8
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Passion for environmental justice, outdoor recreation, and community service
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Strong communication and interpersonal skills
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Organized and able to support program planning and logistics
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Ability to collaborate with a diverse team
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Reliable, with strong time-management skills
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Outdoor experience (recreation, education, or leadership) is a plus but not required
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Weekend availability and some weekday availability
Fellowship Commitment & Compensation
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Hours: ~20 hours/month
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Duration: 12 months
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Compensation: $20/hour (programming + planning)
Fellowship Benefits
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Scholarships for outdoor industry certifications and trainings
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Professional mentorship and leadership development
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Hands-on experience in outdoor facilitation and nonprofit operations
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Access to outdoor gear and Soul Trak programs
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Eligibility to join Soul Trak’s Leaders Adventure Week in Moab (August 2026)
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Connection to a network of environmental leaders, local partners, and outdoor brands
How to Apply
The form will collect your contact information and include four short-answer questions (150–300 words each):
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What inspires you to apply for the Soul Trak Environmental Leaders Fellowship?
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Describe your connection to the outdoors and/or environmental issues. How do these experiences shape your leadership goals?
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What skills or experiences would you like to gain through this fellowship?
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What is your vision for environmental and outdoor programming in your community?
After submitting your application, we will reach out to schedule an interview in November or December.
Timeline
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Applications Open: November 10 – December 14
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Rolling Review: Applicants will be notified of their status by December 31, 2025
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Mandatory Orientation Retreat: January 17–19, 2026
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Saturday 1/17: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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Sunday 1/18: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
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Monday 1/19: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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College Ambassador Cohort
The College Ambassador Cohort is an outdoor leadership development program for college students that exposes budding leaders to new outdoor experiences, empowers students to share outdoor experiences with their peers on campus, and provides practical leadership opportunities for students. BIPOC students currently enrolled in college are eligible to apply.
Over the course of the semester, students will work closely with the Soul Trak team to facilitate local outdoor programming, participate in local outdoor excursions, and plan and execute a campus initiative for their student peers. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to work closely with our program partners, including local environmental or youth non profits, outdoor industry companies, and recreational service providers. Ambassadors are also encouraged to participate in Soul Trak’s Leaders Service Week in the US Virgin Islands in March, and Adventure Week in Moab, Utah in August. The cohort will meet all together monthly, with additional meetings and programs to be scheduled in coordination with ambassadors’ schedules and Soul Trak programs. Each Ambassador will be involved with one program per month during the semester (4 programs over the course of the semester).
Dates:
Jan Meeting: Wednesday January 29, 2025
Feb Meeting: Wednesday February 26, 2025
USVI Leaders Service Week: March 2-9, 2025
Mar Meeting: Wednesday March 26, 2025
Apr Meeting: Wednesday April 23, 2025
Leaders Adventure Week Moab: August 21-25, 2025
Skills:
Program Coordination: managing partner relations, sponsorships, participant outreach, and event management
Program Facilitation: learn to lead group activities confidently and effectively
Outdoor skills including: paddling, climbing, camping, hiking, and more!
Benefits:
Ambassadors will earn a stipend for 10 hours per month dedicated to developing leadership experience through Soul Trak programming.
There are further opportunities outside of the semester to be more involved with larger Soul Trak initiatives and be connected with our partners for career development.
Leadership Skills
Soul Trak student leaders will:
Organize
Organize small gatherings and events on campus for other students of color with interest in outdoor engagement.
Implement
Implement initiatives on campus that they've initially planned during Student Leadership retreat with the help of Soul Trak Staff.
Lead
Lead small outings in local parks and trails. Work with other Student Ambassador and Soul Trak Staff for off campus outings and initiatives
Collaborate
Collaborate with outdoor organizations and student groups for different outing opportunities for Soul Trak members.
SOUL TRAK
Join Soul Trak Outdoors on the journey to develop and empower broader pools of outdoor leaders across the nation.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
Join Soul Trak Outdoors on the journey to develop and empower broader pools of outdoor leaders across the nation. Make a donation today and help us continue the work we are doing.
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