Entrepreneurship and environment: CNR degree merges business with the outdoors

The College of Natural Resources’ Natural Resources Enterprise Management (NREM) degree is a new four-year Bachelor of Science that combines entrepreneurial skills and coursework from the College of Business and Economics with CNR’s expertise in natural resource conservation and management. There are two emphases areas that students can choose from: stewardship and development, and business and entrepreneurship.

The degree is tailored to those who are interested in land management and natural resource business operations, like Ben Alabiso, a senior in the program set to graduate in 2026. Alabiso was drawn to NREM because of his passion for land management and building relationships with landowners. His goal is to manage Idaho’s private and public lands while informing the public about these fantastic resources.

“With recreation, the ultimate goal is no matter what public agency — be it federal or state — is allowing people to experience the outdoors,” Alabiso said.

He claims that you’re not just managing the land, but also the people who interact with it.

NREM differs from the existing CNR degrees in a few ways. Not only does it cater to interest within natural resources, but it prepares students for stewardship and entrepreneurial careers by integrating authentic and relevant experiences with industry professionals. Led by instructor Nathan Moody and Assistant Professor Chris Zajchowski, NREM allows students to work with natural resource industries, like guides and outfitters or nonprofit organizations, during the school year.

One example of this is when Zajchowski’s Introduction to Conservation and Natural Resources course traveled to Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve and met with professionals from Palouse Land Trust to learn about conservation easements. Another is when Moody brought his students to the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) to meet with industry professionals from private and nonprofit organizations, such as Salmon Raft, the Redside Foundation and the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation.

Both Zajchowski and Moody state that one of NREM’s goals is to expose students to a variety of state and national workforce demands related to the business of the outdoors, while also establishing connections and hands-on experience with professionals before they even graduate.

“By the time they graduate, they know as much as they possibly could to be effective in their roles,” Zajchowski said.

The senior capstone project is an additional tool that gives students the opportunity to work in their field of choice and get a head start toward a successful career, be it stewardship or business focused. For Alabiso, he hopes to work with either Palouse Land Trust or Moscow Area Mountain Bike Association (MAMBA) to manage private and public land in the Moscow area. His interests lie in being a liaison between the interests of private and public landowners; he hopes to foster collaboration and establish a solid relationship between the two. Alabiso states that the NREM program has given him meaningful skills and hands-on experience unlike any other degree.

“It’s prepared me in a way that I think few other schools have because University of Idaho’s Natural Resources and Society department is so interesting in the way that unlike other public college programs, they very much focus on the people side of things,” Alabiso said.

Zajchowski and Moody take pride in watching their students excel during and after the program, especially throughout the capstone. The capstone structure is inspired from University of Idaho’s Career Service’s Co-op model, which connects students with industries that are partnered with U of I to then work with them for an entire semester before graduating.

“The capstone is a really unique and innovative way to provide them that experience which gets them job-ready but also leverages the strength of the university,” Zajchowski said.

Industry professionals also attest to the degree’s importance. Executive Director of Palouse Land Trust Lovina Englund speaks to the strength and effectiveness of NREM’s strategic structure and learning style.

“A degree in Natural Resources from U of I’s College of Natural Resources offers a strong foundation — scientifically and socially. I especially value the hands-on fieldwork, service learning, and communication training,” Englund said.

Not only is NREM important for U of I, but even more so for Idaho citizens. Alabiso recalls the great wealth of public lands that Idaho has to offer, and also how someone with extensive knowledge of natural resources and stellar communications skills needs to manage it.

“The importance of our degree is being able to communicate that information — conservation, public land nuances, etc. — to the people who may not have as great of an understanding of it,” Alabiso said.

Whether a student’s interests lean toward business or stewardship, the NREM program is one step closer to a successful career in natural resource management, while serving Idaho’s beautiful landscape.