Environmental Education Fellow

Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC) builds the capacity of campuses and their community partners to create change that leads to increased energy efficiency and improvements for at-risk ecosystems by implementing local solutions for underserved households and communities.

CCAC is a nationwide AmeriCorps program through Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. A projected 100 AmeriCorps members will be leveraged by higher education institutions and their community partners to support the CCAC program areas of Energy Efficiency, Ecosystem Health, and Education & Public Awareness.

Colby-Sawyer College has joined forces with Campus Climate Action Corps and AmeriCorps for the 2024-2025 service year. The College is a dynamic and innovative liberal arts and sciences college located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. We are currently seeking 1 Minimum-time (300-hour) AmeriCorps member to join our CCAC team as Climate Action Energizer.

The Climate Action Leader will work closely with CCAC staff, their host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Leader will serve as the team lead at their campus host site, which may include providing guidance to part-time CCAC AmeriCorps members. The Climate Action Plan will support CCAC’s community-focused program activities and may also support campus-based projects. The Climate Action Leader will be responsible for developing new and existing campus and community partnerships and coordinating program activities that aim to increase energy efficiency and improve at-risk ecosystems for underserved households and communities.

Service Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 17 years old
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Must pass a National Service Criminal History Check
• High school diploma or equivalent is required
• Must be located in or willing to relocate to a host site area
• Valid driver’s license and car, and/or dependable transportation
• Personal commitment to climate action and environmental stewardship
• Motivated team player with exceptional organizational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and comfortable with public speaking

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience engaging community partners and/or college students
• Experience with outreach, volunteer recruitment & management, or event planning
• Experience in environmental education, environmental stewardship, sustainability, or home energy efficiency

Term of Service: The Minimum-Time AmeriCorps member must complete at least 300 hours during the service term, which will run from January 21, 2025 through July 31, 2025.

Service Location:

Colby Sawyer College at 541 Main St, New London, NH 03257

CCAC Benefits:

As a Minimum-Time AmeriCorps member, the Climate Action Energizer will receive:

• A $250 stipend from CCAC
• A $1,565.08 Segal Education Award. This award is contingent upon the successful completion of the program, is good for 7 years, and can be used to pay for college or technical school or to pay back qualified public student loans.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for qualifying members
• Professional development and an enhanced professional network

Essential Functions:

General Responsibilities:

• Collaborate effectively with the host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan
• Develop community partnerships and leverage volunteers to support CCAC program activities

Energy Efficiency:

• Conduct basic home energy assessments with low-income households in the local community
• Provide households with energy conservation strategies and resources to reduce carbon emissions and increase cost savings
• Implement low-tech interventions to reduce energy use and increase cost savings for underserved households (e.g. weatherization, LED light bulbs, window-insulation inserts)
• Serve as a home energy navigator, educating low-income households on government programs and assisting households to apply for rebate and subsidy programs

Ecosystem Health:

• Partner with Lasell Village Green Team and Holway Early Childhood Centers to support the campus community garden
• Collaborate effectively with the Facilities & Sustainability Management (FSM) department to support campus ecosystem health initiatives
• Plan and execute campus Earth Day event
• Plan and execute campus Arbor Day event
• Identify and Initiate contact with community organizations in target cities (Boston, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown) to introduce CCAC program, develop rapport, and explore potential areas of partnership
• Plan and execute a community-driven project that improves a local at-risk ecosystem (e.g. removal of invasive species, tree planting, installation of rain gardens)
• Collaborate with Lasell Village and Holway Early Childhood Centers to develop pathways for intergenerational engagement with community focused ecosystem health projects

Education and Public Awareness:

• Support CCAC’s national public awareness campaign on the local level on campus and in the community
• Identify and collaborate with campus departments to develop and implement an event focused on helping the Lasell community learn about sustainability and opportunities to lead projects that will have an impact towards institutional sustainability goals
• Rebuild the Eco-Reps Sustainability Club and recruit and engage students in climate action initiatives
• Increase awareness on Sustainability social media accounts through implementing content and engagement strategies
• Coordinate and facilitate education events in underserved communities to increase awareness about climate change, environmental/financial impacts of energy usage, and strategies for reducing personal energy use
• Increase awareness on Sustainability social media accounts through implementing content and engagement strategies

Evaluation & Reporting Requirements:

• Complete and submit accurate and timely biweekly timesheets and monthly data reports
• Develop a Sustainability Guide that ensures the long-term viability of projects
• Member performance will be assessed through a mid-term evaluation and end-of-term evaluation

Training Requirements:

• Attend a week-long virtual orientation at the beginning of the service term
• Engage in ongoing training sessions to support green career pathways, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Attend weekly virtual All Corps Meetings, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Participate in Life After AmeriCorps training workshops and career action planning activities in June, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Participate in an AmeriCorps Day of Service

The responsibilities above are essential position functions and are subject to reasonable accommodations.

Non-Essential Functions:

The Member may be required to perform other position-related instructions within the scope of their normal service activities as requested by their site supervisor and/or AmeriCorps program staff in alignment with the grant and not unallowable or prohibited activities.

AmeriCorps Disaster Requirements:

In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps Members may be asked on a volunteer basis or be required by AmeriCorps to activate to assist in disaster response and recovery activities within their communities. This may involve virtual service opportunities or in-person service opportunities. This may include service opportunities outside of the Member’s standard service hours or in place of their standard service duties. In the event of a large-scale, high needs local, state, or federal disaster, AmeriCorps Members may voluntarily or be required by AmeriCorps to deploy to an area outside of their service area to assist in disaster response and recovery activities.

For more information about CCAC: please email Glennys Navarrete at . The application priority deadline is November 29, 2024. Applications are received on a rolling basis after that.

About AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is the federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is an AmeriCorps National Program.

About Campus Compact: Campus Compact is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education and an intermediary sponsor for an AmeriCorps VISTA program. We support our member institutions—helping them build the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed to enable a just, equitable, and sustainable future.

Campus Compact does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Types: Part-time, Contract, Temporary, Internship

Pay: $250.00 per year

Expected hours: No more than 22 per week

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $250