In memory of Craig Tufts, National Wildlife Federation’s Chief Naturalist, The Craig Tufts Educational Fund was established to send one youth between the ages of 8-18 and an accompanying parent/guardian to attend the Family Nature Summit. The scholarship provides travel, room and board, and program fees.

The scholarship is funded through donations. We appreciate any amount you can send.

Click here or scroll down to see past scholarship recipients.

Application Details

Who May Apply: Anyone in the continental U.S. between the ages of 8 and 18

Deadline to Apply: March 14, 2025

How to Apply: Applicant will submit an original essay that addresses the following:

1. What are your favorite outdoor or nature-related activities?

2. Describe a memorable nature-related experience and the impact it had on you.

3. Describe any other experience or experiences you may have had learning about or protecting wildlife or the environment.

4. What do you hope to gain from attending the Family Nature Summit near New River Gorge in West Virginia?

5. How do you plan to have a future impact on the environment, either right where you live or anywhere in the world?

6. Add anything else you think would help the judges better understand your interests in nature and the environment.

Each essay MUST …

• Be accompanied by application.
• Be written by the applicant (not a parent or guardian)
• Be no more than three pages, double-spaced (about 750 words)
• Be typed in a 12-point font or legibly handwritten
• Include page number and applicant’s name on each page

Applications may be submitted via

Email: tuftsaward@nwf.org

Information

NWF Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Page
National Wildlife Federation Home Page

Past Scholarship Recipients

2020 Scholarship Recipient

Sidney Rice

Sidney got a surprise Zoom call on Earth Day 2020 to find out she had won the scholarship contest to attend the Summit in the coastal redwood forests of northern California. “Unfortunately,” she says, “I was not able to go. The 2020 Summit had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Instead, Sidney will attend the 2021 Summit in the Adirondacks of New York, along with the 2021 scholarship winner. “I get to be excited all over again,” she exclaims.
“Nature has always been a very big part of my life,” Sidney says. “For as long as I can remember, I have been exploring bugs, butterflies, and birds in my yard and in parks across the country.” Here she is, holding a huge caterpillar called a hickory horned devil, which will someday turn into a regal moth.

2019 Scholarship Recipient

Jonathan Wright-Goodison

Jonathan Wright-Goodison is an 11-year-old nature enthusiast from the suburban section West Hartford, Connecticut. When he’s not in his boring suburban neighborhood and in the wilderness, he likes to hike, sketch animals and plants, and birdwatch. In his grade at his school, he is known for his art, and his love for nature. He has loved animals for pretty much his whole life, and he has been a member of his local Audubon group, he’s a current member of WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), and a member of Boy Scout Troop 163. He’s had many special experiences including animals throughout his life so far thanks to his amazing parents. His parents know that he loves nature, so through his cross country adventures with his family, He’s seen a herd of mule deer through the bushes of Mesa Verde National Park, observed a tarantula hawk drink water from a small puddle at the edge of a river in Taos Pueblo, watched trout jump out of the water in a brook at Yellowstone, and been face to face with prairie dogs in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Jonathan was very excited to go to 2019’s Family Nature Summit because he knew the experience would deepen his understanding in the natural world around him and give him a more in-depth appreciation for flora and fauna. He wants to thank the people at the Craig Tufts scholarship fund so much for this amazing opportunity.
Jonathan attended the summit with his mother, Joy Wright.

2018 Scholarship Recipient

Christian Ebel

The White Mountains region of Maine was very different from Christian’s flat prairie homeland in Texas. In Maine, Christian got to try rock-climbing. “It was scary at first,” he says, “but I loved it.” He used his senses to describe his experiences: “I was taken away into another world, where I SAW lots of creatures in the breathtaking woods. While swimming in a river, I HEARD running waterfalls and splashing kids. I FELT cold water drip on me and stones crunch beneath my feet as I explored an old gem cave. And during a day of canoeing, I SMELLED the fresh, cool water.”

To the next scholarship winner, Christian says, “I KNOW it’s going to be great–and exciting! Maybe I’ll even see you there!”

2017 Scholarship Recipient

Melani Sleder

“At the Summit, my favorite activities were the early-morning birding hikes every day and the whole-day birding at Washoe Lake. I found many new birds there that I could never see at home, including an American white pelican, a broad-tailed hummingbird, and a young white-faced ibis. Other than birding, my favorite activity was flying high on a zip line. At first it was scary. But I got used to it. Then it was really fun! I liked being with my junior naturalist group, the “River Otters.” We hiked a volcano and saw Lake Tahoe from the top. It was very beautiful. We also went kayaking and swimming. Peggy and Liz, our teachers, were very nice.  I found new friends, both grownups and children, and I hope to see all of them again next year.”

2016 Scholarship Recipient

Maya Fenyk

“I had an amazing trip to New Mexico at the Family Nature Summit! I went to New Mexico expecting to learn a lot about the ecology of the desert, but I learned a lot of cool things about the geography, paleontology, history and culture of the area too. One of the most interesting things was how the ancient Native Americans treasured the natural resources of the area and integrated stories about the local ecology into art. Many of the ancient petroglyphs that I saw in some way depicted water or arroyos. And the story of the area’s ecology was also told through images of plants and animals (my favorite was of a four-legged animal playing the flute).

I had a lot of fun hiking, tagging and releasing birds, horseback riding with my Mom, and especially staying up to watch falling stars and look at the Milky Way.

Thank you to Ranger Rick, the Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship, and the Family Nature Summits for this wonderful experience!”

Craig was everyone’s favorite naturalist. From the moment you met him, you liked what he was thinking and wanted to know more! He was excited about everything living and understood a tremendous amount about the natural world around him, no matter where he was. He could look at an insect under a log and tell you what its name was or what family it was in and what it was related to, what it probably ate for dinner and where it was going to lay its eggs…. It didn’t matter if you were near his home in Northern Virginia or on a mountainside in Colorado, somehow Craig knew and remembered all these details! Being with Craig on a walk was like having a talking field guide beside you, with the words just pouring out. Craig was always happy to point things out to anyone, and was just as excited to see something for the fiftieth time as he was to see it for the first time! Craig worked for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for 33 years as Chief Naturalist.

What is the Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund?

The Craig Tufts Educational Scholarship Fund is intended to continue Craig’s legacy and to replicate the spark that he provided for so many because of his extensive knowledge of and appreciation for the natural world. The Fund will finance an annual award that recognizes an individual between the ages of 8 and 18 who displays an interest in the natural world. The award aims to foster that interest and encourage a lifelong path of environmental study. It is our hope that the Fund would provide an opportunity for a young person to experience, in a personally meaningful way, NWF’s mission of inspiring individuals of all ages to care about and ultimately act to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat.

How can I contribute to this fund?

If you wish to make a memorial contribution, please consider this fund as a way of carrying on Craig’s legacy. Please make your donation online.