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Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.
- David Polis

AmeriCorps Position
Winnemucca, NV

The Nevada Outdoor School AmeriCorps Program is a community development program that provides: human resources to worthy non-profits; professional and life-skills training and development for community members; and collaborations for best practices which in turn increases the overall outreach of the non-profits and enables citizens to live more meaningful and independent lives.

 

Nevada Outdoor School's AmeriCorps* State program hosts 10 full-time AmeriCorps members and two half-time members at worthy organizations throughout rural northern Nevada. The host sites where members serve include the Friends of the Black Rock/High Rock, Nevada Outdoor School, the American Red Cross, the Humboldt Volunteer Hospice, Job Opportunities In Nevada, and Safe Haven Rescue Zoo. These members are individuals who are dedicating a year of their lives to serving others in the community by being environmental stewards, educators, mentors, and caregivers. As Gandhi said “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and these members truly are bettering their world and themselves.

 

Benefits of Full-Time AmeriCorps Member:

  • Living stipend of $950/month
  • A $4,725 Educational Award at the end of your service
  • Health Insurance
  • 2 weeks of vacation time, and sick-leave
  • Member development and training from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
  • On-the-job Training specific to your interest and position
  • Loan Forbearance and payment for accrued interest on education loans
  • Child Care (if eligible)

 

 

American Red Cross: The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The American Red Cross will host two full-time AmeriCorps members, one in Winnemucca and in Elko, Nevada.

Community Outreach Specialist: The Community Outreach Specialist will promote, market, present and evaluate Red Cross Community Education programs with children, teens, adults and seniors at schools, businesses or community organizations to enhance their knowledge of health, safety and emergency preparedness facts. Through this outreach, the specialist will teach all American Red Cross courses including but not limited to First Aid/CPR, Babysitting, Tommy the Safety Cat, Scrubby Bear, and Disaster Preparedness as well as lead volunteer youth groups for all ages.  

 

 

Friends of the Black Rock High Rock: The Friends of Black Rock High Rock is a 501 (c)(3) organization which helps manage the resources of the Black Rock Desert region and educates the public to foster stewardship and preserve its unique character. The Black Rock Desert / High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area is a sensitive, multi-use area and visitors should enter the area informed. Friends of the Black Rock will host one full-time member in Gerlach, Nevada.

Communication Director: The Communication Director will promote the mission of Friends of Black Rock High Rock (environmental stewardship) through various media, outreach, publicity, advertising, website, and multi-media presentations. The Communication Director will also assist with volunteer event logistics.   

 

 

Nevada Outdoor School Positions: Nevada Outdoor School is a 501(c)(3) organization that fosters knowledge and respect for all living and non-living things, increases scientific literacy, and promotes ecological stewardship in rural Nevada and beyond. This year Nevada Outdoor School will host 5 AmeriCorps members to serve as environmental educators in rural northern Nevada through the base organization in Winnemucca, Nevada.

Docent Program Coordinator: As the Docent Program Coordinator, the member will teach lessons, recruit and manage volunteers and coordinator programs for the Water Canyon Recreation Area and the Lovelock Cave area. The member will study and teach the ecology and history of the areas and then coordinate regular tours of both the Water Canyon and Lovelock Cave areas by and then utilizing and scheduling volunteers for each program.

Naturalist: The two Naturalists will plan, coordinate, and teach all of the educational programs of Nevada Outdoor School including in-classroom lessons, summer camps, special events, volunteer events, and field trips. On average the Naturalists will teach 2 classes/day and reach 1,500 students each month. Naturalists will also develop kindergarten through 6th grade lesson plans that align with the Nevada State standards as well as the North American Association for Environmental Excellence guidelines.

Rural Outreach and Outdoor Ethics Coordinator: As the Rural Outreach Program Coordinator, the member will teach all Nevada Outdoor School lessons to all rural schools in the Humboldt County School District. As the Leave No Trace/Tread Lightly Program Coordinator the member will teach lessons/trainings on Leave No Trace wilderness ethics and Tread Lightly ethics which are geared toward motorized vehicle users. The member will also develop a comprehensive Tread Lightly/LNT Program for the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (Winnemucca and Reno area).

Service-Learning Coordinator: The Service-Learning Coordinator will lead an environmental, service-learning based after school program with the students of Winnemucca Junior High School.  Service-learning programs are volunteer projects which are created, researched, implemented, and reflected upon by the students themselves and supplemented with academic standards. These programs increase the youths’ self-confidence, engage students in academia in hands-on memorable ways, and promote civic engagement.  In addition to running the Outdoor Club, the member will lead the Sterile Feral program. Sterile Feral traps/spays or neuters/ and releases feral cats in the Winnemucca community in order to minimize the negative effects of these wild cats. Additionally, the member must continue to meet with the youth (in Junior High and High School) who began the program to host fundraisers. The member must also do all necessary to make Sterile Feral sustainable into the future by gaining community volunteers and city support.

 

 

Safe Haven Rescue Zoo: Safe Haven Rescue Zoo’s mission is to provides lifelong care for as many animals as we can accommodate, decreasing the number that are euthanized in the U.S. each year simply because there is insufficient space in sanctuaries such as ours; rescues and rehabilitate indigenous wildlife; provide education and outreach services to youth groups, adult groups, and schools in underserved communities; and develop a "green" solar-powered facility that makes environmentally-responsible use of energy and other resources. Safe Haven will host one full-time AmeriCorps member this year who will serve on-site in Unionville, Nevada.

Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Research Director: The Wildlife Director will work with staff toward the Safe Haven Rescue Zoo mission to provide rescue and rehabilitative services. The Wildlife Director will care for the permanently housed wildlife daily through feeding, cleaning and providing enrichment activities for the animals. The permanently housed wildlife includes a Siberian tiger, a bobcat, 3 foxes, and 4 cougars. In addition, the member will help to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife, including black bear cubs for re-entry into the Tahoe area. Finally, the member will construct wildlife enclosures and aid in the building of a green facility.

 

 

Humboldt Volunteer Hospice: Humboldt Volunteer Hospice, a non-profit organization, will honor and support individuals in our community who are suffering from a chronic, debilitating, or terminal illness.  We will be there for families in the comfort of their own home, to make their journey through this difficult time with the most possible ease. The Humboldt Volunteer Hospice will host two half-time AmeriCorps members this year who will serve in Winnemucca, Nevada. As a half-time AmeriCorps member, the participant will serve 20 hours/week for a total of 900 hours of service for which they will receive a $475/month living stipend and a $2,362 education award. The member will not have health insurance.

Patient Quality Controller: The Patient Quality Controller will be responsible for visiting each patient on a scheduled basis and report to the Volunteer Coordinator with feedback to supplement and improve the care being provided.  This same position will work directly with the Grief Counselor to assist and facilitate grief support groups as needed.  

 

 

Job Opportunities In Nevada : The goal of Job Opportunities In Nevada (JOIN) is to be the premier workforce provider in northern Nevada by enhancing the capacity, employability, self-sufficiency and viability of the individuals, families and communities we serve by involving all our partners in the products and process of delivering integrated, quality workforce development services. JOIN focuses on the GED program and occupation-specific training that is offered in the communities we serve. Programs have been provided in all of the thirteen northern Nevada counties. One full-time member will serve at the JOIN office in Winnemucca this year.

GED Teaching Assistant: The GED Teaching Assistant will be responsible for tutoring JOIN students in all GED subjects; correcting students’ assignments; supporting the 3 teachers at JOIN with their weekly schedule and classes; and promoting the GED program. The AmeriCorps member will also assist the office in necessary administrative tasks.