Welcome
Natural Resources Public Interest Leadership Development Program
Human demands on the world's natural resources are increasing exponentially. With each passing year, or even month, there are more people demanding more from the world's forests, ranges, waterways, and other ecosystems than ever before. Moreover, these demands are increasing not only in volume, but also in complexity and variety. In the western United States, for instance, urbanites fleeing the increasingly crowded cities of other regions are moving to the Rocky Mountains for the open and rural lifestyle of the inland west's mountains and wide valleys, bringing with them "urbanized" values and expectations that often clash with those of the "local" communities.
Regardless of whether an area is rural or urban, however, it is certainly clear that natural resource management today is more about people management than at any other time in our history. As such, a significant aspect of leadership involves developing not only technical and cognitive skills but also one's emotional intelligence. Central to our leadership program is our belief that leadership is in essence a way of viewing the world that can be learned and internalized into behaviors by anyone with the desire to spend the energy to learn the principles and skills.
Our program is a joint effort between the Universities of Montana and Idaho, in conjunction with the United States Forest Service. Intended to create better leadership and leadership development opportunities, our program has been in existence for five years, graduating 150 mid-level Forest Service employees, many of whom have moved into higher leadership positions within the agency.
Our leadership development courses will assist the participants in developing insights into their own personal strengths and areas of needed improvement. Moreover, we emphasize developing one's personal understanding of leadership styles and how they effect organizations. Ultimately our courses enhance the student-participant's understanding of organizational and leadership development both within their organization, and in relation to world outside of the organization, with a focus on working in the public interest. Concepts regarding team leadership, organizational culture and group dynamics are explored and basic foundations established for further individual study and learning.
For more detailed information on our courses you can click on the "Courses Offered" link on the left side of the screen.
