Answer the Call to Serve
Written by Emily Post, Central Conservation’s Director of Administration & AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps Members serve their communities by tackling our nation’s most pressing challenges.
Since 2018, WisCorps has been awarded an AmeriCorps Grant through Wisconsin’s State Commission, Serve Wisconsin. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that funds organizations to make positive impact in communities by enrolling more than 200,000 individuals every year.
AmeriCorps focuses on six key areas to make an impact:
- Education
- Economic Opportunity
- Disaster Services
- Environmental Stewardship
- Healthy Futures
- Veterans & Military Families
AmeriCorps Members at WisCorps are focused on the key area of Environmental Stewardship. AmeriCorps’ Mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.
All Crew Leaders and Crew Members, and Individual Placement Members at WisCorps are AmeriCorps Members. They are responsible for completing high-priority conservation projects like trail building and maintenance, invasive species removal, plant establishment, debris removal, stream remediation, energy efficiency projects, and environmental education. Pictured above is a WisCorps crew who performed trail restoration on a section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin. Pictured below is Julia Tuttle, an Individual Placement Member who created public-facing dashboards that will be used to collect solar production data for Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change.
Julia Tuttle, an Individual Placement Member who created public-facing dashboards that will be used to collect solar production data for Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change
AmeriCorps Members have direct access to professional networking opportunities, mentorship, and experiences to help grow their skills and career. AmeriCorps Members also receive special benefits, such as a living stipend, a health insurance option for year-long term Members, and an Education Award upon successful completion of their service term to help pay for future schooling or student loans. For more information, visit AmeriCorps.gov!
Relevant News and Blog Posts
“This Is My Swamp”: A Day in the Field With Our Upham Woods Individual Placement
During a wetland field trip at Upham Woods, WisCorps’ Individual Placement guided students through pond sampling, species identification, and conversations about conservation. This immersive environmental education experience helped young learners understand wetland health, biodiversity, and the impact of community science.
Environmental Educator
The Ridges Sanctuary is seeking a motivated individual to join its education team. Responsibilities include developing and leading educational programs, leading guided hikes for adults and families, and assisting visitors at the Nature Center and on the trails. Additional duties include conducting ecological research and land management activities, as well as completing a personal project of interest.
Stream to Stream: A Reflection on Restoration
Previous Crew Leader Silas Patten reflects on his time with WisCorps and how the projects he worked inspired him into the work he’s doing today.