Youth Volunteers for Conservation (YV4C) Photography & Conservation Storytelling

Are you a young adult ages 15-21 who enjoys the outdoors? Join the Youth Volunteers for Conservation (YV4C) program to explore Dane County Parks while building real-world conservation skills. Participants will contribute to habitat restoration efforts and gain exposure to career pathways in natural resources across southern Wisconsin.

In this session, you will learn how powerful images can tell conservation stories. The Dane County Parks Staff Photographer will guide participants through the basics of lighting, framing, and visual storytelling.

Youth are invited to practice their new skills at the Dane County Parks Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 22. The top photo from the Earth Day event will win Dane County Parks swag and may be featured on our website and social media.

Can’t attend on April 22? No problem. Youth may submit nature- or conservation-themed photos taken independently between April 19–27 at a Dane County Park or natural area. More details and submission guidelines will be shared at the April 19 workshop.

Sign up is Required - All sign ups for the program are through our MyImpact Volunteer Portal. 

• For youth over the age of 18, fill out a wavier, please click here. 
• For youth under the age of 18, o request a youth account and fill out the wavier, please click here. 
• After you've created an account, you can sign up for a shift here! 

What to Bring:

• Please dress for the weather.
• Bring a water bottle. Snacks will be provided.
• Please bring your phone or a personal camera if you have one. If you need access to a camera, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help.

Ages: 15 - 21
Cost: Free

Accessibility and Language Access:
Our department is committed to providing meaningful access to our programs and resources to all individuals, regardless of primary language or ability. If you need language assistance services or an accessibility modification for this program, please submit this request form a minimum of 10 business days before the program to make the request. Please note, it is not possible for all programs to be modified.