Meet Smith College’s Newest FAO Schwarz Fellow

Julia Beyer ’26 sees education as key to combatting the negative impacts of climate change and promoting conservation.

In particular, Beyer—one of seven recipients of a 2026–28 FAO Schwarz Fellowship—believes outdoor education is a powerful tool for fostering a sense of connection to the environment.

“Being able to name a plant, feel comfortable holding a bug, forming fond memories with others while spending time outdoors creates a deeper sense of belonging in nature and a stronger desire to protect and conserve it,” she says.

“I’ve witnessed this, both on a personal level and with the many youth I’ve interacted with,” adds Beyer, whose strategic impact project is with The Trustees of Reservations’ Outdoor Ambassadors teen leadership program in Boston. “That’s why working to provide equitable access to outdoor and environmental education is so important.”

The FAO Schwarz Fellowship is a selective national program for recent college graduates who are interested in social impact careers. The program supports fellows with paid two-year positions working at nonprofit organizations in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. In addition to compensation and benefits, fellows receive professional development, mentoring, and cohort experiences. 

Beyer, who earned her Smith degree in environmental science and policy and Latin American and Latino/a studies, is the third Smithie, along with Caroline Smith ’11 and Debora Camacho ’25 to be awarded an FAO Schwarz Fellowship. 

Priscilla Cohen, executive director of the FAO Schwarz Family Foundation, said the organization is “thrilled to have Julia as part of the program.”

“Throughout the interview process, it became clear to the trustees that her passion, engagement, and experience made her an ideal fit for their fellowship role,” Cohen says. “We can’t wait to see all that she accomplishes and the impact she makes over the course of her two-year fellowship.”

Here’s what Beyer had to say about her time at Smith and her current work as an outdoor educator.

Have you always been interested in the environment?
“I was born in Poland, and grew up spending a lot of time outdoors. My grandfather was a dendrochronologist who studied the impact of climate change on tree health by looking at tree rings. I spent a lot of time with him as a child, and I credit him with instilling in me a lot of my passion for the outdoors and the environment. Throughout high school, I loved the classes I took in biology and botany, but also my studies in Spanish and languages. I knew I wanted to attend a small liberal arts college because of the opportunity it would give me to pursue my interests in an interdisciplinary way. I ended up choosing Smith for the learning environment—and also to pursue collegiate rowing.”

Tell us about your fellowship project in Boston.
“I’m working with the Outdoor Ambassadors Program at The Trustees of Reservations. It’s a youth employment opportunity for Boston public high schoolers, where they learn stewardship and conservation skills while also being exposed to career pathways in environmental conservation. It’s about welcoming and connecting people to nature. I’m also working on a strategic expansion of the program. This year we ran a [summer] program with a group of eight students. Next year, we’re hoping to have two teams of 12 youth, and we’re restructuring the curriculum to fit that.”

What’s it been like, leading an outdoor education program for teens?
“It’s been really exciting and fulfilling to see them grow as learners and as people. We went camping this summer at a big trustees’ property [Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts] and none of them had ever been camping before. It was really hot and buggy, and we were right on the beach. I was proud of them for stepping out of their comfort zones and persevering through the elements—and for having a good time!

The most exciting moment was their final research presentations. They focused on a broad array of climate-related topics of their choosing. I was most proud of their ability to present their research findings to a large group of program partners, trustees staff, and friends and family. It was really great to witness how much they grew, and inspiring to see them caring about pressing climate issues in their local communities.”

What do you see as the impact of outdoor education?
“I believe outdoor education plays a critical role in fostering care for the environment. The more hands-on, place-based education someone has access to in their local green or blue spaces, the more connected and comfortable they feel in their community and the environment more broadly. It’s especially important in communities that have been historically marginalized, as they often experience climate injustice. Inclusive and equitable outdoor education is deeply connected to the health and resilience of individuals and communities—and all of our shared futures.”

Did you have a favorite outdoor spot at Smith?
“I have two: the Mill River Trail around Paradise Pond and, although this one is technically off campus, the Smith rowing boathouse overlooking the Connecticut River in Hadley.”

What helped you in successfully applying for an FAO Schwarz Fellowship?
“I did a Praxis internship in Plymouth, Massachusetts, doing outdoor education with a conservation nonprofit, Manomet Conservation Sciences. I also worked with their summer youth employment program, and I loved doing that! Being in a mentorship role as captain of the Smith rowing team was also formative. All of these experiences led me to seek out an opportunity to work in environmental education in a nonprofit conservation setting. Smith gave me a lot of preparation and support for this fellowship. I worked with the awesome folks at the Lazarus Center for Career Development and the Smith fellowship advisers to prepare my application. And I did some networking—attending the Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference at the University of Massachusetts, where I met the trustees staff involved with my fellowship.”

How does your fellowship experience connect to your future plans?
“The fellowship is giving me a lot of tools for the future and the time to discern if I want to go to graduate school or pursue an outdoor education degree. This work also gives me access to so many professionals who have gone through different pathways. I know I’m going to walk away feeling fulfilled and having learned a lot.”