NCHS Conservation Grants
We are proud to offer grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to students conducting conservation projects focused on California native reptiles and amphibians.
Our goal is to support and encourage the next generation of herpetologists and conservationists by providing funding for innovative and impactful projects. Our grants are open to students at all levels, from elementary school to graduate school, who are conducting research or conservation efforts related to native reptile and amphibian species in California.
Applications for our conservation grants are due on Steve Irwin Day, November 15.
This date serves as a reminder of the late Steve Irwin's passion for wildlife conservation and the important work that still needs to be done to protect our planet's biodiversity.
To apply for a conservation grant, please visit our website and fill out the online application form (2024 Season Opening Soon!). Our grants committee will review all applications and select the most promising projects based on their potential impact and feasibility.
We look forward to supporting your efforts to conserve California's amazing reptile and amphibian species!
The prize structure is as follows:
K-12: $100 - $250
Undergraduate: $250 - $500
Graduate/ Professional: $500 - $1,000
There will be up to (2) grants per age-group awarded
Our goal is to support and encourage the next generation of herpetologists and conservationists by providing funding for innovative and impactful projects. Our grants are open to students at all levels, from elementary school to graduate school, who are conducting research or conservation efforts related to native reptile and amphibian species in California.
Applications for our conservation grants are due on Steve Irwin Day, November 15.
This date serves as a reminder of the late Steve Irwin's passion for wildlife conservation and the important work that still needs to be done to protect our planet's biodiversity.
To apply for a conservation grant, please visit our website and fill out the online application form (2024 Season Opening Soon!). Our grants committee will review all applications and select the most promising projects based on their potential impact and feasibility.
We look forward to supporting your efforts to conserve California's amazing reptile and amphibian species!
The prize structure is as follows:
K-12: $100 - $250
Undergraduate: $250 - $500
Graduate/ Professional: $500 - $1,000
There will be up to (2) grants per age-group awarded
Applications for our conservation grants are due on the birthday of Harriet, one of Steve Irwin's favorite animals. Harriet was a tortoise from the Galapagos Islands who lived to be 175!
Photo courtesy of the Australia Zoo
Please keep applications under (4) pages
- Include a detailed narrative of what the project is, the importance of the project, and how it will positively impact herpetoculture in CA
- Include a detailed chart of how the funds will be used
- Include a timeline of how the project will be executed (project must occur in 2024)
- Proiects must be located in California
- Applications are due by 11:59 PM on November, 15th 2023
- Awards will be announced by December 15th, 2023
- Awards will be dispersed by December 31, 2023
2024 NCHS Conservation Grants
The 2023 NCHS Conservation Grant recipients will be posted soon!
2023 NCHS Conservation Grants
Expanding the Tools of Conservation: A Reference Genome Assembly of the Threatened Giant Gartersnake
Anna Jordan
$1,000
Seeking Snakes- Radiotelemetry of Problem Rattlesnakes at Yosemite National Park
Michael Starkey
$1,000
Analysis of Diet Competition Between Southwestern Pond Turtles and Invasive Red-Eared Sliders
Nellie Covert
$500
Pacific Chorus Frogs as Reservoirs for Disease: How Sympatric Species Influence Amphibian Disease Dynamics
Kira Miller
$500
Artificial Light Preference in a Wide-Spread Invasive Species (Hemidactylus turcicus)
Samuel Wilson
$500
Putah Creek Herpetofauna Survey
Chung-Chih Luo, Meirun Zhang
$500
Anna Jordan
$1,000
Seeking Snakes- Radiotelemetry of Problem Rattlesnakes at Yosemite National Park
Michael Starkey
$1,000
Analysis of Diet Competition Between Southwestern Pond Turtles and Invasive Red-Eared Sliders
Nellie Covert
$500
Pacific Chorus Frogs as Reservoirs for Disease: How Sympatric Species Influence Amphibian Disease Dynamics
Kira Miller
$500
Artificial Light Preference in a Wide-Spread Invasive Species (Hemidactylus turcicus)
Samuel Wilson
$500
Putah Creek Herpetofauna Survey
Chung-Chih Luo, Meirun Zhang
$500
2022 NCHS Conservation Grants
Assessing the prevalence of two amphibian pathogens in southern torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton variegatus) of Northern California
Marilyn S.
$1,000
Population Distribution and Habitat Pathogen Assessment for the California State and Federally Threatened Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) and the California State Species of Conservation Concern Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) within the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
Stephen G.
$1,000
Monitoring Effects of Fire Disturbance on Northwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) Nesting in Sacramento Riparian Wetland Restoration Site: A Pre- and Post- Fire Analysis
Kathleen A.
$250
Return From the Burn; Documenting Reptile and Amphibian Post-Wildfire Recovery At Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve
Callan H.
$250
Identifying and learning about reptiles and amphibians particularly Pacific Tree Frogs located in Maidu Park area
Paarth G.
$250
Marilyn S.
$1,000
Population Distribution and Habitat Pathogen Assessment for the California State and Federally Threatened Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas) and the California State Species of Conservation Concern Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) within the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.
Stephen G.
$1,000
Monitoring Effects of Fire Disturbance on Northwestern Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) Nesting in Sacramento Riparian Wetland Restoration Site: A Pre- and Post- Fire Analysis
Kathleen A.
$250
Return From the Burn; Documenting Reptile and Amphibian Post-Wildfire Recovery At Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve
Callan H.
$250
Identifying and learning about reptiles and amphibians particularly Pacific Tree Frogs located in Maidu Park area
Paarth G.
$250
2021 NCHS Conservation Grants
Initiating an E-DNA Sampling Program to Detect and Monitor Endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frogs (Rana sierrae) on Tahoe National Forest
Carrie Johnson
$1,000
Ectoplasm from a Ghost: Using eDNA to Determine Northern Leopard Frog Presence in Eastern California
Eric Stitt
$1,000
Identification of Genetic Markers of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Inhibition in Bacteria
Alison White
$500
Monitoring Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys pallida) in the Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve
Stuart & Callan Halewood
$230
Carrie Johnson
$1,000
Ectoplasm from a Ghost: Using eDNA to Determine Northern Leopard Frog Presence in Eastern California
Eric Stitt
$1,000
Identification of Genetic Markers of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Inhibition in Bacteria
Alison White
$500
Monitoring Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys pallida) in the Arroyo Hondo Nature Preserve
Stuart & Callan Halewood
$230
2020 NCHS Conservation Grants
Protection and conservation of the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) at a popular Pacific Crest Trail stream crossing and E-DNA testing for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog presence in Five Lakes area, Tahoe National Forest
Carrie Johnson
$1,000
Exploring western pond turtle conservation in cities and vineyards
Max Lambert
$1,000
Carrie Johnson
$1,000
Exploring western pond turtle conservation in cities and vineyards
Max Lambert
$1,000
2019 NCHS Conservation Grants
Protection and conservation of the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae) at a popular Pacific Crest Trail stream crossing and E-DNA testing for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog presence in Five Lakes area, Tahoe National Forest
Carrie Johnson
$500
Automated Auditory Monitoring for Western Spadefoot in Placer County - A Pilot Study
Eric Stitt
$500
Monitoring Amphibian & Reptile Communities on a Passively Restored Golf Course along the Carmel River
Rachel Anderson
$500
Coloration Selection in Ensatinas at Fort Ord UC Reserve
Caitlyn Rich
$250
Metacommunity Structure of the Skin Microbiomes of San Francisco Bay Area Salamanders and Implications for Disease Susceptibility
Shannon Buttimer
$250
Carrie Johnson
$500
Automated Auditory Monitoring for Western Spadefoot in Placer County - A Pilot Study
Eric Stitt
$500
Monitoring Amphibian & Reptile Communities on a Passively Restored Golf Course along the Carmel River
Rachel Anderson
$500
Coloration Selection in Ensatinas at Fort Ord UC Reserve
Caitlyn Rich
$250
Metacommunity Structure of the Skin Microbiomes of San Francisco Bay Area Salamanders and Implications for Disease Susceptibility
Shannon Buttimer
$250
