Americorps Volunteer: Mercer Slough WetLab Academy Project
Posted by: Pacific Science Center
Description
Position Start Date: September 1, 2012
Opportunity: Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is an extraordinary collaboration between Pacific Science Center and the City of Bellevue, Washington. Located in a 320 acre Nature Park, MSEEC delivers experiential education programs. The new WetLab Academy program, laboratory and equipment enables MSEEC to serve local teens and families in an innovative and interactive manner.
MSEEC seeks an Americorps Volunteer to work on the WetLab Academy Project. The Americorps
Volunteer will inspire stewardship, career exploration and skill development for teens through the new WetLab Academy at MSEEC. Design programs for teens and families regarding watershed science, chemistry and environmental monitoring. Partner with key organizations to assist program development. Design evaluation tools for WetLab Academy programs and coordinate volunteer opportunities for program support. Mentor teens in citizen science and public presentation skills. Process paperwork, respond effectively to participants concerns, and communicate in a clear manner with supervisors, peers and program participants. Ensure professional manner in delivery of programs by arriving on time for program work and adhering to program schedule and daily cleaning and upkeep of program materials. Assist in curriculum development and improvement by adapting existing curriculum, developing new curriculum, taking on service related projects as assigned. Support increased awareness and stewardship with participating teens and families via water quality testing, environmental chemistry, field study and analysis, and demonstrate scientific testing techniques. This is a stipend position with an education award at the completion of the service term.
Organization: Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center (MSEEC) is an extraordinary and rich educational resource and LEED Gold certified facility and collaboration between Pacific Science Center and the City of Bellevue, Washington. The facility with visitor center, community room, office space, classrooms and laboratories is located within the Mercer Slough Nature Park, a 320 acre freshwater wetland preserve. The mission of MSEEC is to inspire lifelong awareness, understanding, appreciation, and a sense of stewardship for the natural world. As an outdoor laboratory, Mercer Slough is ecologically diverse and the largest remaining wetland contiguous to Lake Washington. Mercer Slough's location in an urban environment is an excellent example of how urbanization and nature can co-exist and be easily accessible to youth and families. The MSEEC capitalizes on this unique opportunity to engage citizens in experiential education focusing on environmental stewardship, wetland ecology and nature awareness.
Major Challenges/Special Conditions:
Car Recommended
Uniforms provided and required
Education Requirements:
Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in field related to natural resources and/or environmental education. Experience teaching and working with teens preferred.
Skill/Experience Requirements:
Education
Teaching/Tutoring
Other: Environmental Science
AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements
Selected member(s) should demonstrate the skills and commitment required to successfully serve in the position, serve 40 hours a week and meet the 1700 minimum hour requirement for a full-time term of service. At a minimum, the following criteria required by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) must be met:
- Be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident (must submit proof as defined by CNCS regulation)
- Be 18-25 years of age at the start date of their service
- Pass required criminal background checks
- Not be listed on the National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR)
- Living stipend of $1,125 per month provided by Washington Service Corps (before taxes)
- Training and experience
- Subsidized childcare provided by GAP Solutions Inc. (if qualified)
- Health Insurance (member only)
- Student loan forbearance (on qualifying loans)
- $5,550 Education Award provided by National Service Trust (upon successful completion of service term)
