Youth Education Coordinator (AmeriCorps)

Save the earth with a local environmental nonprofit in Reno-Tahoe, where the Sierra Nevada Mountains meet the Great Basin Desert!

KTMB practices the sustainability we preach. We rally volunteers to remove tons of litter from our public spaces, empower our community to stop the spread of invasive weeds, teach kids to protect our watershed, and much more! Our close-knit staff supports AmeriCorps in both fulfilling our shared mission and pursuing their own passion projects (as well as sporting Hawaiian shirts on Fridays).

Two Youth Education Coordinators serving with AmeriCorps will work in tandem to help implement KTMB’s Youth Education program, which is designed to inspire environmental stewardship amongst local youth through KTMB’s “Environmental Warriors” lessons.  KTMB’s Waste Warriors, Weed Warriors, and Watershed Warriors lessons engage students in hands-on, place-based, culturally-relevant learning activities with the goal of empowering students to spring to action as environmentally conscious citizens.  KTMB’s lessons promote sustainability through literacy and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math).

Job Overview

The Youth Education Coordinators will be essential members of KTMB’s team. These AmeriCorps Members will primarily teach “Environmental Warriors” lessons to K-5 students, as well as some middle and high school students, throughout Washoe County in school classrooms, after-school clubs, day camps, and other youth programs. The Youth Education Coordinators will maintain relationships with the educators who schedule Warriors lessons, obtain and upload data from each lesson, and prepare and refill supplies for each lesson. These AmeriCorps Members will also help lead field trips for elementary school students to KTMB’s Sensory Garden at Idlewild Park.  The Youth Education Coordinators will also assist the Youth Education Manager with enhancing and expanding lesson modules, outreach, and meeting with KTMB’s Youth Education Committee.  Finally, the Youth Education Coordinators will assist the AmeriCorps Members of KTMB’s Sustainability Education Program and Beautification and Clean-Up Program as needed, represent KTMB at community events, and fulfill other duties as assigned. Some weekend work is required, but Team KTMB is encouraged to use comp time for a healthy work-life balance.

KTMB is committed to fostering a safe and supportive work environment for AmeriCorps Members to gain relevant experience, learn desired skills, and pursue their passion projects.

Service Location: Reno, NV: “Biggest Little City in the World”, gateway to scenic Lake Tahoe and Burning Man HQ nestled in the Truckee Meadows, which straddle the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin Desert.

Timeline for Service: September 5th, 2023 through August 9th, 2024

Primary Responsibilities

• Implement KTMB’s Youth Education program by teaching “Environmental Warriors” lessons; 
• Schedule lessons with teachers;
• Track quantifiable data from lessons;
• Inventory supplies for lessons;
• Assist the Youth Education Manager with improving existing lessons and designing new curricula in alignment with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Nevada Academic Content Standards (NVACS);
• Host field trips for elementary school students to KTMB’s Sensory Garden at Idlewild Park;
• Occasionally assist the AmeriCorps Sustainability Coordinator and AmeriCorps Beautification and Clean-Up Coordinator;
• Represent KTMB at community events;
• Fulfill other duties as assigned

Special Benefits

AmeriCorps 

KTMB’s Youth Education Coordinator positions are funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service and will serve with AmeriCorps. Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, a separate nonprofit, is the AmeriCorps consortium responsible for onboarding AmeriCorps Members for KTMB and other local nonprofits.

AmeriCorps is your chance to be the greater good!  Each AmeriCorps Member makes a year-long, full-time commitment to serve at a nonprofit organization or public agency.  AmeriCorps service is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and grow while honing new skills, gaining new networks, and enriching your life by volunteering in the community without giving up income or healthcare.

AmeriCorps service is both a humbling opportunity to make a positive impact in the community and a distinguished launching pad for a career.  AmeriCorps is the origin story of many successful career launches and transitions, including some of our very own staff members at KTMB.  AmeriCorps Members serving with KTMB have the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest to support their own professional paths, such as curriculum design, grant writing, social media, or other areas of interest to deepen their knowledge and gain extensive hands-on experience.

To learn more about AmeriCorps visit americorps.gov.

Compensation

In return for their service, AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance and are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of their terms. For the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps term, the living allowance is $20,000 and the education award is $6,895.

AmeriCorps members are eligible for federal student loan deferment, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance during their service.  After their service, AmeriCorps members are entitled to non-competitive eligibility for hiring with federal agencies.  AmeriCorps Members are eligible to adjust income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans to $0 during service, and service counts toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). 

Housing

KTMB does not provide housing, but AmeriCorps members are networked to seek housing arrangements together, should they so choose. KTMB can work with AmeriCorps members to locate housing in the Truckee Meadows for their year-long term of service.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

KTMB serves a rich diversity of people and neighborhoods and is committed to treating individuals with respect and dignity. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion touches on all aspects of our work, including our volunteer beautification and clean-up events and the neighborhoods they serve, educational programs, Board of Directors, and various Committees.

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications

• Passion for the environment and enthusiasm for working with kids;
• Support for KTMB’s mission and the Youth Education Program’s vision;
• Comprehensive knowledge of environmental science and/or environmental justice;
• At least one year of experience working with youth in a formal setting, such as school classroom, after-school program, and/or summer camp;
• Strong communication and public speaking skills;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Strong writing skills;
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment;
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental science, or a related field;
• Preferred: reading, writing, and speaking competency in Spanish language
• Required: high degree of initiative, spirit of service, and a sense of humor

To Apply

We especially encourage you to apply if you have lived experience as a member of (or extensive experience working with people from) any communities that are impacted by environmental injustices and other historic and current systems of oppression that have limited access to environmental education, or the outdoors in general.

Send a resume to Caitlin Aitchison ([email protected]).

Applications are also accepted through my.americorps.gov.

For more information, visit ktmb.org or contact Caitlin at [email protected] or (775) 851-5185.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and close August 15, 2023 or when the positions are filled, whichever comes first.