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Stories in Iowa

Trailblazers Academy

This immersive training program helps women build expertise, forge connections and advance as leaders in fire management.

2026 Trailblazers participants pose for a group photo.
2026 Trailblazers Academy More than 40 participants completed a week of training for the Trailblazers Academy. © Route 3 Films

For one week each year, Iowa's Broken Kettle Grasslands becomes a hub for learning, mentorship and leadership in prescribed fire. Set in the sweeping Loess Hills of Plymouth County, Trailblazers Academy brings together women from across the country to gain hands-on experience in fire management while building the confidence and leadership skills needed to advance in the field.

Trailblazers Academy (4:42) Trailblazers Academy is a week-long prescribed fire training program designed to support and empower women in the field. Through hands-on learning, leadership development and mentorship, participants gain the skills and confidence needed to grow as leaders on the fire line.

While the program is open to all applicants, its primary focus is empowering women in a profession where they remain underrepresented. Women make up roughly 30% of natural resources professionals in the United States, and fewer than 20% hold leadership positions. Through mentorship, training and hands-on experience, Trailblazers is helping change that landscape.

Participants arrive with a wide range of backgrounds and experience levels. Some are firefighters and land managers, while others are students, conservation professionals or private landowners interested in using prescribed fire as a tool for stewardship. Regardless of their starting point, each participant shares a common goal: developing the skills needed to safely and effectively plan, implement and lead prescribed burns.

It is inspiring to witness women from diverse backgrounds and professions coming together to support and learn from one another. We aim to foster a community where women can confidently thrive and excel.
Amy Crouch, Little Sioux Project Director

Throughout the week, experienced instructors guide participants through essential fire management techniques, including ignition methods, suppression tactics, radio communication and crew coordination. Classroom learning is paired with real-world field experience, allowing participants to apply their training during controlled burns and gain confidence working on the fireline.

Women stand with fire tools while an ATV drives away.
Trailblazers Participants in Trailblazers Academy learn essential fire management techniques, including fire ignition, suppression and radio communication. © TNC
Two women wearing hard hats carry a drip torch while standing in front of a burning landscape.
Trailblazers Promoting a variety of perspectives and voices is a key part of TNC’s work to advance the use of controlled fire. © TNC
Trailblazers Participants in Trailblazers Academy learn essential fire management techniques, including fire ignition, suppression and radio communication. © TNC
Trailblazers Promoting a variety of perspectives and voices is a key part of TNC’s work to advance the use of controlled fire. © TNC

Trailblazers Academy is about more than technical skills. It is also about fostering leadership, building professional networks and creating opportunities for women to grow within the fire community. Participants work alongside accomplished fire professionals, learn from one another's experiences and build relationships that often continue long after the workshop ends.

Since its launch in 2023, more than 150 women have attended Trailblazers Academy, reflecting the program's growing reputation and impact. As demand for prescribed fire expertise continues to grow, the academy is helping ensure that more women are prepared not only to participate in this important work, but to lead it.

The program is free for participants, eliminating financial barriers for those eager to gain hands-on fire experience. By providing a dedicated space to train and grow, Trailblazers Academy is helping to cultivate a new generation of leaders who will shape the future of conservation and fire management.

A woman holds a trip torch while monitoring a prescribed fire.
Monitoring a burn A 2026 Trailblazer participant montiors a controlled burn. © Route 3 Films

Trailblazers 2026 Ignites Change in Loess Hills

More than 40 participants gathered in Iowa’s Loess Hills in June 2026 for the fourth annual Trailblazers Academy. The event began with a full day of hands-on training in fire safety, ignition techniques, radio communication and burn planning.

Over the course of the week, participants divided into crews and deployed across Plymouth County to conduct controlled burns on prairie, oak savanna and wetland habitats. The program not only provided technical experience but also fostered leadership and mentorship in a field where women are underrepresented. 

From controlled burns to leadership drills, every moment was a step toward a stronger, more inclusive fire community. We’re incredibly proud to be part of this movement and can’t wait to see how this year’s Trailblazers carry their momentum forward.

Trailblazers in Action

We captured highlights from the 2026 Trailblazers Academy in photos.

A person dressed in yellow clothing and a hard hat stands among tall grasses next to controlled burn.
A group of people dressed in yellow clothing sit in a grassy area to read materials and meet.
Smoke from a prescribed fire drifts over a green field.
A group of women sit at tables and take notes during a class.
A woman holds a drip torch with smoke in the background.
A close up imate features a drip torch in action.
Three people dressed in yellow and wearing hardhats meet in a green, grassy field.
Three women dressed in yellow clothing and wearing hardhats talk to each other. in a wooded area
A woman dressed in yellow and wearing a hardhat stands in a field.
A preserve sign for Broken Kettle Grasslands.
A person dressed in yellow clothing and a hard hat stands among tall grasses next to controlled burn.

Prescribed Fire: Prescribed fire plays an important role in maintaining healthy lands. © Route 3 Films

A group of people dressed in yellow clothing sit in a grassy area to read materials and meet.

Trailblazers: Trailblazers Academy brings together women from all across the country. © Route 3 Films

Smoke from a prescribed fire drifts over a green field.

Prescribed Fire: A prescribed fire burns in the Loess Hills. © Route 3 Films

A group of women sit at tables and take notes during a class.

Classroom Learning: Trailblazers participants learn about basic medical aid, fire hand tools, ignition techniques, operating the radio and writing burn plans. © Route 3 Films

A woman holds a drip torch with smoke in the background.

Drip Torch: 2026 Trailblazers participants use a drip torch to start a controlled burn. © Route 3 Films

A close up imate features a drip torch in action.

Drip Torch: Burn crews use drip torches, canisters filled with a mixture of diesel and gasoline, to ignite vegetation for a prescribed fire. © Route 3 Flims

Three people dressed in yellow and wearing hardhats meet in a green, grassy field.

Observing a Burn: A burn crew observes and communicates about a fire's behavior. © Route 3 FIlms

Three women dressed in yellow clothing and wearing hardhats talk to each other. in a wooded area

Burn Plan: Participants go over a burn plan prior to a prescribed burn. © Route 3 Films

A woman dressed in yellow and wearing a hardhat stands in a field.

Healthy Grasslands: Prescribed burns are a conservation tool that helps restore native grasslands, improves habitat for wildlife and reduces the buildup of invasive species. © Route 3 Films

A preserve sign for Broken Kettle Grasslands.

Broken Kettle Grasslands: A sign marks the Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve in northwest Iowa. © Route 3 Films

Baptism by Fire

Freelance writer Bethany Kaylor immersed herself in the 2025 Trailblazers Academy and turned the journey into a story worth reading.

Read the Full Story
Fire Helmet
Fire Helmet Proper fire equipment is key in every prescribed burn. © Taryn Samuels

Applications Closed

Applications for the 2026 Trailblazers Academy have closed. Please check back next year for 2027 applications.

  • Applications for the 2026 Trailblazers Academy have closed.

    Please check back next year for 2027 applications.

  • All participants must:

    • At a minimum, be certified as Wildland Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) under NWCG standards before May 31, 2026.
    • Have completed a Work Capacity Test (pack test) at either the Moderate or Arduous level between June 5, 2025 and May 31, 2026.

    If your organization has an MOU or cooperative agreement with The Nature Conservancy, equivalent training may be accepted. If you have any questions about training requirements, please review the Fire Training Resources below.

    Physical Preparation: Building stamina is highly recommended for your safety and enjoyment.

  • Fire Training Resources: required training details, including online and in-person opportunities

    Physical Preparation: tips to increase safety, stamina and enjoyment

    Logistics: general info on event dates, location and travel info

    Gear Checklist: personal and fire-related items participants will need

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