Center for Environmental Leadership
Earlham’s Center for Environmental Leadership (CEL) provides ways for all students to explore the interconnectedness of social and environmental systems. Through academic study and a variety of hands-on programs, students are empowered to lead in developing creative and just solutions to problems within these systems. In addition, individual courses and projects are opportunities to enjoy nature, connect with peers and learn new skills.
Current students
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Connect. Lead. Change.
The Center for Environmental Leadership can help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to be a catalyst for change.
Connect with your local environment
Get to know our campus and the Richmond community through exploration, recreation and service. Hike back campus, bike the Cardinal Greenway, participate in the farmer’s market or work with local government to address environmental issues.
Become a leader for better living
Develop your leadership skills by leading a course, trip or project in collaboration with CEL staff. Teach rock climbing, lead a canoeing expedition, plan a climate strike, or manage part of Miller Farm, such as high tunnel growth, water catchment, mechanics, beekeeping, grain farming or food forestry.
Influence systems for positive change
Make an impact on others and on the local environment through collaborations with campus and community partners, from waste management in our cafeteria to energy production for our campus to improving accessibility in Richmond’s public parks.
Related major/minor
Related applied minors
Outdoor Education
Whether you’re pursuing professional outdoor leadership training or just want to enjoy nature, Earlham’s Outdoor Education Program serves the adventurous spirit.
Miller Farm
Miller Farm is a cross-cultural and engaging community with a focus on sustainable agriculture. Earlham College has a long history of using agriculture as a means of experiential education and of sustainable learning for students.
Sustainability
At Earlham, sustainability is integrated across campus in operations, academics and student life. Become aware of what’s happening—and what you can do!
Student Sustainability Corps
Many of the sustainability initiatives are coordinated by members of the Student Sustainability Corps.
Stories of success
Earlham maintains a silver ranking for sustainability with STARS and offers up to 30 paid student positions and 12 student-led courses annually in sustainability. Find out how our current students and alumni are making a difference.
Get involved
Students can get involved with environmental leadership at Earlham in lots of ways, from paid positions with the climbing wall to living in the sustainable agriculture house to volunteering at the Free Store.
Incoming first-year and transfer students can transition to Earlham through a pre-orientation wilderness expedition, backpacking in some of the most beautiful locations in the US. Led by juniors, seniors and faculty, August Wilderness is an experiential, field-based course where you can earn credit, get to know faculty and form lasting bonds with other incoming students. Apply today!
Look for outdoor education and climbing courses within the athletics, wellness and physical education program and agriculture and environmentally focused courses within the environmental sustainability major.
Check out CEL student employment opportunities in our job posting platform, Handshake.
Interested in living with others who share a passion for sustainable living? Sign up for the sustainability living-learning community for first-year students. Also, second-, third- or fourth-year students should check out Fry House, the sustainable agriculture theme house.
Join our efforts to balance the environmental, economic and social impacts of campus operations. From recycling to energy conservation to the use of safer cleaning products, these efforts reflect collaboration among many different areas of campus to achieve Earlham’s sustainability goals.
CEL Staff and Faculty
Get to know the faculty and staff that set Earlham students up for success.
Get to know our team ⟶