A Service-Based Volunteer Network
Purpose
AmeriCorps is a component of the National Service Network. Its goal is to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to help meet communities’ critical education, public safety, environmental, and other human needs. AmeriCorps is often referred to as the “Domestic Peace Corps.”
Make a Difference
AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.
When you join AmeriCorps, you use your energy, ideas and talents to help others. Plus you’ll earn money for education, learn to be a leader, and gain real job skills.
Volunteer Florida
NWF Environmental Stewards AmeriCorps program is a competitive, state-funded grant through Volunteer Florida (the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service), whom receives funding support from the Corporation for National & Community Service. Volunteer Florida leads initiatives throughout Florida that use volunteerism as a strategy to meet community needs. Administration of national service programs is a top priority of the Commission. National service programs like AmeriCorps offer Floridians the opportunity to engage in intensive service to their community while increasing capacity for nonprofits and other service organizations. Volunteer Florida provides necessary oversight and accountability of these grants through its Commission and staff.
Learn more about Volunteer Florida
Current Program Openings
NWF State College AmeriCorps is looking for members to serve in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The program will include environmental conservation and academic support programs in elementary schools. Members also participate in community service. If you meet the eligibility requirements and are willing to give a year of your time, apply today!
AmeriCorps NWF Environmental Stewards is Accepting Applications for Full-Time Positions
AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It is a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.
When you join AmeriCorps, you use your energy, ideas and talents to help others, and you will earn money for education, learn to be a leader, and gain real job skills.
2021 – 2022 NWF Environmental Stewards Program
Program Focus
12 full-time members will work collaboratively with participating schools to implement the contextual STEM environmental curriculum – Grasses in Classes. Members have many opportunities to engage in service learning in the area of environmental education and stewardship. Members will work out in the field completing environmental projects in our communities. All members will work to help engage the partnering schools and the public by providing hands-on educational opportunities to teach families and children the importance of caring about their environment and to encourage environmental stewardship. Environmental stewardship projects complimentary to the Grasses in Classes program will address the health of the watershed. Within the schools members are trained in curriculum development and implementation. Members have a heighten awareness of the need to maintain and reclaim a healthy ecosystem through restoration and re-nourishment projects.
Program Details
This year long program will serve Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The program focus is environmental stewardship with an educational component of an environmental STEM curriculum and restoration. The program has 3 primary focus areas: 1.the implementation of the Grasses in Classes STEM curriculum, 2. restoration, beautification, maintenance and the development in our unique coastal dune lakes and 3. Environmental Field support to restore habitat for threatened and endangered species. In the first component members will implement a Grasses in Classes environmental STEM curriculum in contracted Okaloosa and Walton County elementary schools targeting third and fifth grade students. In the second component members will addressing projects including shoreline erosion, invasive plant removal, planting native plants, coastal dune lakes projects and oyster restoration projects. The program will focus efforts on engaging community involvement through service learning activities conducted at parks and public lands within the Choctawhatchee watershed district. Through these educational opportunities the program will educate and engage citizens in service projects to encourage environmental stewardship. 12 full-time members will work collaboratively within each of the participating schools to implement the contextual STEM environmental curriculum – Grasses in Classes. Members will also participate in the field completing environmental projects in our communities (as identified above). All members will work to help engage the partnering schools and the public by providing hands-on educational opportunities to teach families and children the importance of caring about their environment and to encourage environmental stewardship.
Member Duties
Twelve full-time members will work collaboratively with CBA within each of the participating schools to implement the contextual STEM environmental curriculum – Grasses in Classes. Members will also partner with CBA in the field completing environmental projects in our communities (as identified above). All members will work to help engage the partnering schools and the public by providing hands-on educational opportunities to teach families and children the importance of caring about their environment and to encourage environmental stewardship.
Member Responsibilities
- Provide contextual environmental curriculum activities
- Participate in accomplishment of program goals through identified program projects (shoreline erosion, invasive plant removal, planting native plants, coastal dune projects, trail development and oyster restoration projects of shoreline, trails in Okaloosa and Walton Counties)
- Attend all trainings/meetings
- Complete necessary program paperwork
- Participate in community based service opportunities (some weekends)
- Reliable transportation
This grant will host a total of 12 full-time members.
Contact Information
Laurie Von Kaenel
AmeriCorps Program Director
NWF State College, South Walton Center
109 Greenway Trail
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32549-5415
(850) 729-6037
vonkaenl@nwfsc.edu
