AmeriCorps Environmental Educator

Purpose of the Position

The AmeriCorps service member will help to expand Cape Fear River Watch’s educational and outdoor learning opportunities, with a focus on serving, engaging with, and strengthening connections with local underserved communities in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. This includes low-income communities, at-risk youth, Title I public school students, and Spanish-speaking families. Service may also include outreach to rural communities in Pender, Bladen, and Columbus counties through use of the Lock & Dam #1 Environmental Education Center in Riegelwood, NC for field trips and community events. 

A majority of public elementary and middle schools located within five miles of CFRW in downtown Wilmington are Title I schools, with a high percentage of low-income students qualifying for free or reduced lunches. BIPOC students make up 75% or more of the total enrollment at many of these schools. The CFRW AmeriCorps member will serve these schools and provide opportunities for environmental education and outdoor learning. This includes field trips, field days, after-school opportunities, out-of-school time programming, and community outreach events. 

They will also work with other community-based partner organizations that serve these schools and environmental justice organizations in the area. The AmeriCorps member will aid and expand CFRW’s work surrounding environmental education related to environmental justice issues and will be able to utilize existing relationships between CFRW and organizations such as the New Hanover/Brunswick County NAACP, NC Black Alliance, the Rural Empowerment for Community Help (REACH), and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network.

Position Responsibilities and Duties

The AmeriCorps service member will:

• Develop, coordinate, and lead culturally relevant environmental education programming related to water quality, water resources, and local wildlife for underserved K-12 students at schools, local parks, and community centers in New Hanover & Brunswick Counties
• Conduct Enviroscape Presentations for 8th-grade science classes in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties
• Recruit volunteers for and participate in CFRW Storm Drain Marking program to teach about stormwater pollution and ecosystem health
• Help organize and participate in community education & outreach events
• Help curate culturally relevant content for our social media platforms and bi-weekly email newsletter
• Plan, recruit volunteers for, and participate in community litter clean-ups and community science water quality monitoring projects, with a focus on engaging communities that have historically been under-served by CFRW; this will help increase CFRW's capacity to clean stream banks, monitor watersheds, and improve local watershed health in New Hanover and Brunswick counties
• Recruit and train volunteers to work at the Greenfield Lake boathouse that CFRW manages to assist with paddle boat, kayak, and canoe rentals

Qualifications 

• Associate’s Degree (minimum) – Bachelor’s Degree preferred, or equivalent certifications or experience
• Experience working with the public in an educational capacity
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience preferred
• Ability to work with a diverse team and engage diverse, multigenerational audiences 
• Excellent communication skills with the public, coworkers, and supervisors
• Growth mindset and curiosity
• Ability to be self-directed and detail-oriented
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Computer proficiency with knowledge of MS Office and Google applications

Essential Functions / Physical Demands

Physical work outdoors in various weather conditions is required
Must possess a valid Driver’s License, be able to lift 40 lbs., and pass a background check

Preferred Schedule

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm with occasional service occurring on weekends, evenings, and holidays

How to apply:

Apply Online at https://americorps.hiringthing.com/job/416185/americorps-environmental-educator

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

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.

**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