Course Overview

Funding Your Research is a hands-on, step-by-step workshop designed to demystify the grant-seeking process and strengthen proposal writing skills for early-stage researchers. The course moves systematically from idea generation to final submission, emphasizing clarity of thought, methodological rigor, and funder alignment.

The workshop is tailored for undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD scholars, conservation practitioners, and early-career researchers in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation science, and environmental studies. In addition to proposal writing, the course introduces participants to strategic thinking around funding pathways, reviewer expectations, and long-term research planning.

Participants will work through real examples, templates, and checklists that can be reused for future grant applications.

350+

15

Nature Guide Trainings

Participants

Provide a general summary of the services you provide, highlighting key features and benefits for potential clients.

Module 1: Understanding the Funding Landscape

Finding the right grant for the right idea

• Overview of research and conservation funding ecosystems

• Types of grants: project, pilot/seed, travel, fellowships, and conservation action grants

• Identifying credible funding sources and avoiding predatory calls

• Interpreting calls for proposals, priorities, and evaluation criteria

• Matching your research idea to funder objectives

Module 2: From Research Idea to Fundable Concept

Strengthening the scientific core

• Refining research ideas into fundable concepts

• Writing clear objectives, hypotheses, and research questions

• Aligning questions with feasible and robust methodologies

• Scope management: what to include and what to exclude

• Ethical considerations, permits, and approvals in ecological research

• Standard components of competitive proposals

• Writing a compelling background and problem statement

• Linking objectives, methods, outputs, and outcomes

• Common structural weaknesses and how to avoid them

• Using figures, tables, and flow diagrams effectively

Module 3: Proposal Architecture & Logical Flow

Building a proposal that reviewers can follow

Course Structure & Modules

Module 6: Expert Grant Writing Clinics

Learning from experience

• Interactive sessions with experienced grant writers

• Walk-through of successful and unsuccessful proposals

• Understanding reviewer perspectives and scoring frameworks

• Open discussion on participant ideas and challenges

• Long-term grant strategy for PhD and early-career researchers

Module 5: Writing for Reviewers & Strengthening Proposals

Clarity, persuasion, and refinement

• Writing with clarity, precision, and reviewer empathy

• Common reasons proposals fail—and how to avoid them

• Internal review, peer feedback, and revision strategies

• Checklists for final proposal readiness

• Using reviewer comments to improve future submissions

Module 4: Budgeting, Timelines & Impact Planning

Making your project realistic and credible

• Principles of realistic budgeting and cost justification

• Developing timelines, milestones, and deliverables

• Planning outreach, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement

• Defining measurable outcomes and conservation or policy impact

• Aligning budgets and timelines with funder expectations

Outcomes

1. Strong foundational knowledge of local ecology and biodiversity

2. Practical species identification and field observation skills

3. Confidence in interpretation, communication, and visitor engagement

4. Understanding of ethical, safe, and conservation-oriented guiding practices

FAQs

Who should attend?

This course is ideal for aspiring nature guides, practicing guides, eco-tourism professionals, students of wildlife and environmental sciences, and nature enthusiasts who wish to build or strengthen their guiding skills. It is particularly suited for individuals seeking practical, field-based ecological training rather than purely classroom learning.

What is covered?

The training covers core aspects of natural history, including ecosystems, habitats, and species interactions. Participants learn basic identification of flora and fauna, principles of ecology, animal behavior, and seasonal patterns. Equal emphasis is placed on interpretive storytelling—how to communicate ecological concepts clearly and engagingly to different audiences while promoting conservation awareness.

How long is the course?

The course is conducted over three full days. Each day blends classroom discussions with outdoor field sessions, ensuring a balance between theoretical understanding and hands-on experience in natural settings.

There are no formal educational or professional prerequisites for enrolling in this course. Participants are not expected to have prior technical knowledge. However, enthusiasm for nature, openness to field conditions, and a willingness to observe, learn, and engage actively are essential.

Are there prerequisites?

Is certification provided?

Yes. Participants who attend all sessions and successfully complete the course requirements receive a certificate of completion. This certificate acknowledges their training in nature guiding and can support future opportunities in eco-tourism, environmental education, and conservation-related work.

Gallery

Snapshots from our immersive nature guide training.