We are no longer accepting applications for the 2018-2019 service term. Thank you for your interest and please come back in February for next year's application.
Members serve at host sites around the state.
Environmental Careers and Opportunities (ECO) AmeriCorps partners with local municipalities, conservation districts, and non-profits on current efforts to monitor water quality, implement projects, and plan future interventions. Potential projects include: building green infrastructure, restoring ecosystems, managing stormwater, stabilizing streams, educating farmers and landowners about strategies they can use at their properties, and project planning and mapping.
Each term begins in September and continues through August.
Our Mission: Water Quality and Waste Minimization are our top priorities!
New guidelines around excessive phosphorus and other nutrient levels in the Lake Champlain Basin and other bodies of water will mean careful vigilance and employed best practices to reduce nutrient pollution at the source. Lake Champlain is a major economic driver for tourism and recreation and provides drinking water for 200,000 people living near it. Nutrients entering Lake Champlain via streams and rivers result in ecosystem degradation, drinking water threats, and recreational impacts. Heightening awareness and concentrating efforts to mitigate the run-off will meet the ultimate goal of improving and maintaining water quality in Lake Champlain and continue the high quality of life all Vermonters value.
The Universal Recycling Law is anticipated to reduce waste disposal into Vermont landfills by more than half, extending the life of those landfills and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The increased capture of recyclable materials and a variety of meaningful alternatives for uneaten food and food scraps find value in materials previously considered waste, conserving resources and saving energy. Assisting solid waste facilities and haulers to increase their capacity for collection of recyclables and organic materials, and educating residents on the law are vital steps towards successful implementation of Universal Recycling in Vermont.
What is the time commitment?
Service terms begin in September and continue through to following August. Members are required to serve a minimum of 1,700 hours during this time - about 40 hours per week.
What benefits do members receive?
Benefits include AmeriCorps gear, a biweekly living stipend, health insurance, child care assistance, professional training, networking, and an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award.
What might you be able to do?
Potential projects include:
- building green infrastructure
- restoring ecosystems
- outreach and education to farmers and other Vermonters
- project planning
- digital mapping
- outreach and education to residents, businesses, facilities and haulers about Universal Recycling requirements and how to recycle right, save money by not wasting food, donate quality food for people in need, and how to compost
- data collection and surveys
Have more questions?
Hop over to our FAQ page!
Check out our Member Recruitment Brochure!
Please email us!
Dustin Bowman Program Coordinator dustin.bowman@vermont.gov
Carey Hengstenberg Program Director carey.hengstenberg@vermont.gov
Bonnie Woodford Program Assistant bonnie.woodford@vermont.gov