Nature Rock's & Virtual Programming AmeriCorps Assistant

This position is with the North Carolina Zoo, located in Asheboro, NC. The Zoo’s mission is to protect wildlife and wild places and inspires people to join us in conserving the natural world. We do this through our four pillars of animal welfare, conservation, education, and guest engagement. The AmeriCorps member will be helping us achieve our mission through our conservation and education initiatives. 

The 2022-2023 AmeriCorps positions will have a start date (for new full-time 11 month members) of September 1st 2022 and an end date of July 31st 2023.

**Please make sure you upload all of the required documents -  Resume, Cover Letter, State or Federal ID, College Transcripts, Birth Certificate (if US Passport not uploaded).** If required documents are not uploaded at time of application, any offer for employment will be withheld until they are provided. All AmeriCorps Members must submit to having a National Sex Offender, State of Residence (if state is different than NC), State of NC, and Federal FBI Background check conducted. Any applicant denying to submit to these checks will be automatically disqualified as per federal regulations.

For the 2022-2023 service year, Resilience Corps NC offers a living stipend of $19,859 for 11 months, health insurance reimbursement for premiums, childcare assistance, and professional development opportunities (individual trainings, enrollment in NC Environmental Education Certificate Program, and conferences in conjunction with the NC Commission on Volunteerism). Members are also eligible to sign up for SNAP benefits. Participants who complete the program will receive a Segal Education Award of $6,495 from the National Service Trust. 

CTNC is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or familial status.

CTNC seeks to engage applicants from underrepresented communities, particularly of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native American background, in conservation careers. Connecting more diverse applicants to an employment pathway has led to greater equity, diversity and inclusion of all people in conservation.

Purpose of the Position

The purpose of the position is to help the North Carolina Zoo expand our climate and conservation education into local underserved and virtual communities. The AmeriCorps member will find out what these communities need, their environmental concerns, and wants in the way of climate focused education (including in-person and virtual opportunities to connect) and create outreach programs that focuses on what we learn from the community needs assessment. This position will create at least three educational opportunities for each partner group that aligns with what was found in the focus groups/ surveys. Some of these opportunities will be designed to align with the Zoo conservation efforts when possible. This position will also create at least three opportunities designed for the target population to experience recreational opportunities in natural areas (e.g., hiking, birding, camping, paddling). In addition, they will work with local partners to create an afterschool program/club for the youth in the communities.

In addition, this position will help us reach virtual audiences with our conservation, climate, and STEM education programs across the state through our digital platforms (e.g., Facebook Group, YouTube, and Instagram) and live virtual programs. Our goal is to target underserved audiences that we currently aren’t reaching in a variety of ways.

In return the AmeriCorps member will learn more about programming needs in relation to DEAI, gaining valuable evaluation/assessment skills, learning to work with local partners, gain skills in social media, graphics and video design, and becoming a strong interpreter/educator.

Position Responsibilities and Duties

• Community Outreach – This position will reach out to targeted underserved communities to learn more about their needs, concerns, and wants in relation to climate education and spending time in nature. This will be done through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. As part of this they will better understand the Nature Rock’s model and how it might need to be modified for these new communities the AmeriCorps member would assist with all Nature Rock’s programs throughout the year of their service.
• Environmental Education – The AmeriCorps member will then design programs and outreach materials for these communities. They will create and host at minimum 6 environmental education/outreach programs for each of the identified communities each year and work with both the community and partner organizations to build a foundation for the future of the program including the afterschool program/club that would grow to additional communities in years two and three.
• Virtual Programming – The AmeriCorps member will reach new (DEAI audiences) and existing audiences through virtual programming. CES section of the Zoo maintains our own Facebook Group Adventures in EdZOOcation and hosts Ask An Expert on Instagram. This member will make more inclusive content (e.g., videos, activities, graphics) for these weekly virtual offerings as well as host quarterly live programming targeting our underserved communities. This member will also use these platforms to help further strengthen the connection with our Nature Rock’s communities.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor degree in education, environmental studies, communications, natural sciences, or early childhood education is preferred. 
• Or high school diploma/GED and at least three years of education experience working with a variety of audiences in a role such as: camp counselor, schoolteacher, or non-formal educator (e.g. Zoo, Aquarium, Museum, Park, or Nature Center).
• Effective oral and written communication skills are required. Spanish language is preferred but not required for the position.

Essential Functions / Physical Demands

Participants should be able to walk and hike in a variety of different terrains, be able and willing to lift 25 lbs., and be able and willing to actively participate in outdoor environmental education activities and programs in all weather conditions. 

Preferred Schedule

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday including holidays. Weekends will be scheduled periodically with appropriate weekdays off to maintain 38 hours a week. Some after hours and evenings will be scheduled with plenty of advance notice and appropriate time off to compensate for the hours worked.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a bridge builder, a force multiplier, a way to connect individuals and organizations to support their communities in tackling challenges. AmeriCorps programs across the country address a variety of community needs like education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, disaster response, and veteran & military family services.

What does Resilience Corps NC do?

CTNC’s AmeriCorps program, Resilience Corps NC, seeks to address our state’s changing climate by expanding access to environmental education, increasing eco-literacy, promoting disaster resiliency, and utilizing communities to identify and address climate-related issues.

Who should apply for a position with Resilience Corps NC?

Our program is a great opportunity for:

• Recent graduates looking to build experience and a strong professional network
• Established professionals seeking a career change
• Passionate conservationists wanting to give back to their community
• What benefits do Resilience Corps members receive?
• Living stipend, paid twice monthly
• Education award (upon completion of service)
• Healthcare premium reimbursement
• Childcare assistance
• SNAP eligibility

JOB CODE: NC Zoo 2

How to apply:

Apply online.