River Restoration Northwest offers limited Professional Stipends to help defray symposium costs.
Please return to this page in the fall for 2022 Symposium Stipend information.
Professional Stipend DescriptionQualified OrganizationsAmountApplicant EligibilityTimelinesImportant InformationEvaluation and SelectionApplicationFAQs
The RRNW Professional Stipend is intended to financially support attendance at the RRNW annual restoration symposium by stream restoration practitioners who work for a qualified organization.
For the purpose of RRNW Professional Stipend eligibility, individuals from the following types of entities are considered eligible to receive assistance:
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a Lead Entities and FEGs are formal organizations created by the Washington State legislature
b must be federally-recognized
Amount
Each stipend provides a $625 credit toward one 3-day Symposium (Tuesday through Thursday) registration.
Each stipend provides a $625 credit toward one 3-day Symposium (Tuesday through Thursday) registration.
Awardees will receive a registration code that activates their stipend for online Symposium registration.
Applicant Eligibility
- The applicant shall be currently involved in stream restoration work.
- The applicant shall be an employee of or volunteer for a qualified organization as identified (see "Qualified Organization").
- Employment may be full- or part-time.
- The applicant's employer shall have the purpose of ecological enhancements for stream, riparian, and watershed systems.
- The applicant may be either "experienced" or a "novice" regarding stream restoration activities.
- The applicant should be currently involved in stream restoration work.
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Note: Students are not eligible unless they meet the eligibility criteria (e.g. working as paid or volunteer staff of a qualified organization).
Date | Milestone |
10/21/19 | Stipend application period opens |
11/15/19 | Completed applications due by 11:59PM PST |
11/16/19 - 11/21/19 | Applications compiled by Coordinator, screened for eligibility, reviewed by Stipend Committee, reviews compiled by Coordinator |
11/22/19 | Stipend awardees notified by email |
12/16/19 | Stipend awardees must complete symposium registration a |
a failure to register by the specified date will result in cancellation of the award
Important Information
Registration includes all conference materials and meals, as follows:
Registration includes all conference materials and meals, as follows:
- Coffee/tea refreshments from Tuesday AM to Thursday PM
- Expanded continental breakfasts Tuesday through Thursday before sessions start.
- Group lunches Tuesday through Thursday as part of the program.
- Group dinners Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the program.
Short course (Monday) and field trip (Friday) registration fees are not covered by Professional Stipends.
Recipients must register by close of business on the day indicated under timelines or forfeit their stipend.
Individuals or their affiliated organization are responsible for paying their own lodging and travel expenses. Lodging information for Skamania Lodge and other nearby locations can be found here.
Evaluation and Selection
Stipend applications are ranked by a multidisciplinary committee. The committee attempts to distribute stipends geographically and among technical disciplines (biology, geomorphology, engineering, etc) and employers (watershed councils, conservation districts, etc). Part-time applicants are eligible to apply, though priority is given to full-time applicants. Awardees will be notified by email and receive a registration code that will be active for two weeks. Awardees failing to register by the December 7 forfeit their stipend. Forfeited stipends are re-awarded to candidates on a standby list based on the review committee's composite score.
Stipend applications are ranked by a multidisciplinary committee. The committee attempts to distribute stipends geographically and among technical disciplines (biology, geomorphology, engineering, etc) and employers (watershed councils, conservation districts, etc). Part-time applicants are eligible to apply, though priority is given to full-time applicants. Awardees will be notified by email and receive a registration code that will be active for two weeks. Awardees failing to register by the December 7 forfeit their stipend. Forfeited stipends are re-awarded to candidates on a standby list based on the review committee's composite score.
Application
The 2020 application form is not available at this time. The application link will be available on our website on October 21st.
The 2020 application form is not available at this time. The application link will be available on our website on October 21st.
- Upon submission of the application form, you will receive an email confirming receipt of application.
- You will be able to access your application by using the link in the email to change/made edits until the November 15, 2019 deadline.
Summary
RRNW Professional Stipend
| Employment Status | Employee or volunteer, full- or part-time |
| Job Activity | Involved in restoration / enhancements of stream, riparian, and/or watershed systems. |
| Eligible Organizations | Watershed councils, watershed groups, environmental education organizations, Fisheries Enhancement Groups, Lead Entities, salmon recovery regional organizations, conservation districts, federally-recognized Native American tribes or First Nations and non-profit organizations. |
| Students Eligible? | No (unless otherwise meeting employment, activity, and organization status) |
| Geographic Limitation | None |
| Award Amount | $625 towards symposium registration |
| Application Materials | Applications are no longer being accepted at this time. |
| Short Course Included? | No |
| Field Trip Included? | No |
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM PST, November 15, 2019 |
| Awardee Match | None |
| Lodging Included? | No |
| 3-Day Symposium Registration included? | Yes |
FAQs
No. Stipends offered for the current Symposium are funded by RRNW and are not limited by geographic area. Previous state-specific funding has been eliminated by state budget-cuts.
Yes. As long as your organization meets the eligibility criteria stated above, you may apply. Stipend reviewers tend to prioritize applications from organizations that have not received past RRNW assistance. For those that have received assistance, time elapsed since the last award is considered.
Each awardee will receive an email from RRNW with an agreement form attachment. Once the form is completed, signed, and returned to RRNW, awardee will receive instructions on how to complete their registration or lodging.
Qualified Organization: For the purpose of RRNW Professional Stipend eligibility, individuals from the following types of entities are considered eligible to receive assistance:
Make a good faith effort to find out from other employees. RRNW keeps a database of past awards and can cross-check applications if necessary.
Be sure to check spam folders and/or other filters in your email account.
Only if meeting the employment conditions described above. The RRNW Professional Stipend program targets volunteers and professionals working in the field of stream restoration.
Each year, we recruit up to four student interns to assist with operations during the Symposium. In return for their service, student interns receive a reduced registration rate and shared lodging. For more information on the RRNW Student Intern program, please go to the Student Intern Page of the RRNW website and/or email volunteer@rrnw.org.
No. We are unable to provide stipend assistance for these individuals at this time.
Each year RRNW receives 3 to 5 times as many applications as we have stipends to award. Space at the Lodge is filled by December and the Symposium usually fills by mid-January. An early-December registration deadline for stipend recipients provides an adequate planning horizon for RRNW volunteers and Skamania Lodge. It also provides a margin to re-award the stipend to someone on the waiting list in the event of a cancellation.
As stated in the instructions (above) and on the application, all registrations must be completed by the specified date. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to meet the conditions of the award.
You can send us an e-mail at stipends@rrnw.org.
In the past, some stipends (scholarships) offered by RRNW have had state residency criteria. I didn't see that this year. Are there residency-based eligibility requirements?
No. Stipends offered for the current Symposium are funded by RRNW and are not limited by geographic area. Previous state-specific funding has been eliminated by state budget-cuts.
Will I receive an email confirming receipt of my application?
- Yes! Upon submission of the application form, you will receive an email confirming receipt of application.
- You will be able to access your application by using the link in this email to change/make edits until the listed deadline.
Employees of my organization have received stipends or scholarships to attend RRNW in the past. Are we eligible to apply again?
Yes. As long as your organization meets the eligibility criteria stated above, you may apply. Stipend reviewers tend to prioritize applications from organizations that have not received past RRNW assistance. For those that have received assistance, time elapsed since the last award is considered.
I received notification I have been awarded an RRNW Professional Stipend, now what?
Each awardee will receive an email from RRNW with an agreement form attachment. Once the form is completed, signed, and returned to RRNW, awardee will receive instructions on how to complete their registration or lodging.
Is my organization eligible?
Qualified Organization: For the purpose of RRNW Professional Stipend eligibility, individuals from the following types of entities are considered eligible to receive assistance:
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a Lead Entities and FEGs are formal organizations created by the Washington State legislature
b must be federally-recognized
I was recently hired and don't know if anyone from my organization has received RRNW stipend or scholarship assistance in the past. What do I do?
Make a good faith effort to find out from other employees. RRNW keeps a database of past awards and can cross-check applications if necessary.
The award notification date has passed and I haven't heard anything. What does that mean?
Be sure to check spam folders and/or other filters in your email account.
Are students eligible for RRNW Professional Stipends?
Only if meeting the employment conditions described above. The RRNW Professional Stipend program targets volunteers and professionals working in the field of stream restoration.
What opportunities exist for students that don't meet RRNW Professional Stipend employment criteria?
Each year, we recruit up to four student interns to assist with operations during the Symposium. In return for their service, student interns receive a reduced registration rate and shared lodging. For more information on the RRNW Student Intern program, please go to the Student Intern Page of the RRNW website and/or email volunteer@rrnw.org.
Are employees of municipal, state, or federal agencies eligible?
No. We are unable to provide stipend assistance for these individuals at this time.
The symposium isn't until February, but you require recipients to register in December or lose their stipend. What gives?
Each year RRNW receives 3 to 5 times as many applications as we have stipends to award. Space at the Lodge is filled by December and the Symposium usually fills by mid-January. An early-December registration deadline for stipend recipients provides an adequate planning horizon for RRNW volunteers and Skamania Lodge. It also provides a margin to re-award the stipend to someone on the waiting list in the event of a cancellation.
How is the RRNW Professional Stipend Program funded?
Funding for the stipend is generated by proceeds from donors, short-courses, sponsors, and the Symposium. Individual donations to the stipend fund help to support participation in the Symposium by those who would otherwise not be able to attend.
I forwarded my award notification to my administrative support staff and they failed to complete my registration on-time. What now?
As stated in the instructions (above) and on the application, all registrations must be completed by the specified date. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to meet the conditions of the award.
Whom should I contact if I have more questions?
You can send us an e-mail at stipends@rrnw.org.