The Southeastern US (SEUS), a global biodiversity hotspot, boasts >1500 species of vascular plants, 79% of freshwater fish, and 91% of the mussel species in the US. Undergraduate students in the SEUS interested in ecology and conservation have unique opportunities to learn about aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity in this globally recognized region. Yet, opportunities for experience-based learning about SEUS ecosystems may be limited for many students as a result of 1) the lack of accessible public lands (>90% of land in the SEUS is private); 2) limited physical infrastructure to teach ecosystem-scale research; and 3) insufficient field and classroom training opportunities, including working with Big Data. The Woods to Water (W2W) project will address these challenges by training post-baccalaureates in ecological field techniques and data sciences that link water availability to carbon and nutrient fluxes among ecosystems focused on the forests and streams of the SEUS. Our W2W program aims to increase expertise in field ecology by providing an immersive experience leveraging training with NSF’s National Ecological Observatory Network sites in the SEUS (Domains 3 and 8); research scientists at The Jones Center at Ichauway; and ongoing NSF projects at The University of Alabama. W2W will provide the opportunity for participants to transition into ecological fields, which will enhance the strength of the US scientific workforce and support the growing need to understand ecosystems in the face of a changing world.