Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us for the 2025 Jackson Wild Summit in Grand Teton National Park! We are seeking enthusiastic team members who are self-motivated, committed, and passionate about conservation and wildlife. As a volunteer, you will be an integral part of our team and play a vital role in the success of the Summit. This year's volunteer roles include: 

• Registration
• Hospitality
• Tech Team
• Floater
• Transportation

For more information on each role, please click here.

You will have the chance to work alongside industry professionals, gain valuable experience, and make meaningful connections with other like-minded individuals. If you're interested in this opportunity, please complete the form below to submit your application. To learn more about each role, please visit: https://www.jacksonwild.org/volunteer

2025 Important Dates

• Application Opens: March 31
• Application Deadline: May 12 at 11:59 pm MST
• Applicants notified by: May 23
• 2025 Volunteer Dates: September 27 to October 3

Lodging

Volunteer-provided lodging will be split between the Jackson Lake Lodge and the Hatchet Resort (about 20 minutes from the Lodge). Volunteer assigned lodging will be selected at random. Transportation options for volunteers staying at the Hatchet will be available to/from The Lodge. Volunteer lodging begins on Saturday, September 27, and ends on Friday, October 3. Please note that volunteer-provided lodging is not mandatory. If you have other accommodation plans, there is a section to note in your application.

Volunteer Lodging Statement

The volunteer program will look slightly different this year, as Jackson Wild-provided lodging for first-time volunteers will be offered at a 50% discount. We understand that this is a significant change and may impact some volunteers’ ability to participate. Please know that this decision was not an easy one to make. As many in the community know, Jackson Wild is a non-profit organization. With limited resources, we decided on this shift to best support the organization and the 2025 Summit. Many similar festivals do not offer volunteer-provided accommodation, and while we have long gone against this industry standard, we had to reassess what’s feasible for us moving forward. We are currently looking for a sponsor for the volunteer program, and if that effort is successful, this is the first area we will look at, providing a higher discount or fully discounted lodging. Thank you for understanding, and we appreciate your support as we strive to create a meaningful volunteer experience.

In an effort to contribute to filmmaker pathways and to develop environmental filmmaking talent, Amberjack Films and Schoolyard Films, in partnership with Jackson Wild, have created a program of funded scholarship films, where early-stage filmmakers are sponsored to make a short 10 to 20 minute film on a nature or environmental story wherever they come from in the world. 

The ambition is to support young filmmakers and give them the basic financial support to direct and produce a film, mentor them through the editorial process, and encourage them to distribute their film to best effect, both to maximize audience and to create local impact through screenings and school access to their films. These films will amplify the voices of young filmmakers around the world, spreading talent and skills while showcasing authentic voices irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or disability.

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit: https://www.jacksonwild.org/my-world-film-grant

Deadline: Friday, June 20 at 11:59 pm MDT

The Jackson Wild Media Lab (JWML) is a competitive, fully funded, and intensive nine-day filmmaking workshop created for emerging filmmakers and science communicators. The workshop brings together early-career media makers, conservationists, and scientists to collaborate on science and conservation media projects under the guidance of world-class mentors and instructors.

This year, we are focusing on a North American (USA, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean) applicant pool. If you’re located outside of North America, we encourage you to explore other Partner Labs and join The Collective for the latest updates on additional global opportunities.

Applicants should expect to lift equipment (cameras, tripods, lighting gear, etc) and walk up to 2km or more, but accommodations can be made if necessary. Let the Jackson Wild Media Lab team know of any concerns or limitations during the application process.

APPLICATIONS OPEN: Early April

DEADLINE: MAY 26, 2025

NOTIFIED BY: JULY 7, 2025

Please email medialab@jacksonwild.org with any questions.

Please complete the application form to apply to serve as a preliminary judge for the 2025 Jackson Wild Media Awards. 

First round judging assignments will run from May 22nd to mid-June with the opportunity to extend through July for our second round judging. Preliminary judging assignments are reviewed on the Submittable platform. The greatest need is for judges willing to review 20 hours of films over the course of approximately 4 weeks throughout the months of May & June. If you have any questions about judging please contact: Scarlett@jacksonwild.org. 

Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Jackson Wild Media Awards. Considered the highest bar of achievement in natural history filmmaking, the Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling.
 

Film Submission Guidelines:

Any film completed after June 1st, 2024 prominently featuring science, wildlife or nature conservation is eligible to enter. Submissions in all languages are welcomed, although programs in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for presentation to the judges. For more information please review the 2025 JWMA Submission Guidelines.
 

Important Dates:

• Regular Deadline May 15th
• Late Entry deadline June 1st (Late fees apply)
• Finalists will be announced in August
• Winners will be announced at the Media Awards Gala on October 2nd 2025 in Jackson, Wyoming.