.svg)
Offered in Miami, Florida November 8-14, 2026
The Hawai‘i-based National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is accepting applications for its Environmental Journalism Program offered this year in Miami, Florida on November 8–14. Designed for professional journalists (staff or freelance) working in broadcast, print, online, and other media, the immersive program provides a background in tropical botany, ecology, and biocultural conservation with a progressive approach that honors Indigenous legacies and cultural values.
The program is structured to enhance reporting on environmental issues with a focus on tropical natural systems and the importance of plant science, conservation, and biodiversity.
In November, selected participants will meet at The Kampong, NTBG’s Florida garden located in Coconut Grove (south Miami). Since its inception in 1999, the program has been held 20 times in Hawai‘i. The introduction of Miami represents an expansion of the program.
The Kampong is the former home of botanist and explorer David Fairchild who built his garden in the first half of the 20th century, introducing hundreds of palms, fruit bearing trees, and other tropical plants that make the site an urban oasis.
The Kampong provides richly varied indoor and outdoor spaces in which to study and experience critical concepts of tropical botany and horticulture, biocultural conservation, habitat restoration, tropical agriculture, and the plants of South Florida and the Caribbean bioregion.
The Environmental Journalism Program at The Kampong will introduce NTBG’s extensive living collections, cultural and historical resources, as well as off-site visits to the International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and Montgomery Botanical Center. Additional day trips will feature ecologically and historically important sites on Biscayne Bay, a south Miami organic regenerative farm, and a day in the Everglades experiencing the culture, history, and environmental work of the Miccosukee Indian tribe.
NTBG Environmental Journalism Program speakers and presenters will include NTBG staff and non-staff scientists, educators from Florida International University, and other experts in botany, horticulture, taxonomy, coastal ecology, climate science, and related fields.
Participating journalists can expect to gain a greater understanding of the above topics with the goal of contributing to quality, impactful journalism. The program is not expressly intended to provide source material for prospective news stories, although NTBG staff and other speakers may be available for interviews outside program hours.
All program participants will be housed in free (no cost) on-site shared dormitory housing (with shared kitchen and bath). Transportation for program activities and excursions will be provided by NTBG.
Participants are responsible for the cost of their own transportation to/from Miami and ground transfer from Miami International Airport to/from The Kampong in Coconut Grove as well as meals, incidentals, and any additional expenses.
Apply from: Thursday, July 30, 2026 (7 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings Time)
Deadline to apply: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Savings Time)
Notice of acceptance by: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Dates of program: Sunday, November 8 – Saturday, November 14, 2026
*All participants will check into Kampong housing on Sun. November 8 and check out by 12 noon on Sat. November 14
Required to Apply: Complete Environmental Journalism Program online application and provide TWO samples of recent work in print, audio, video, or online reporting (URL links only please).
Apply at: https://ntbg.wufoo.com/forms/q1ivokj51g2p6ry/
Website: https://ntbg.org/education/professional
Email: education@ntbg.org
Established in 1964 by a Congressional Charter, NTBG is a leader in rare and endangered tropical plant discovery, collection, and biocultural conservation in Florida, Hawai‘i, the Pacific, and beyond.
