CAC AmeriCorps

We have a 46 week term - we start on August 15, 2011 and end on June 30, 2012. Most AmeriCorps Programs are 50 or 52 weeks. By ending before July 1st, our successful members can enroll in grad school, law school, med school or undergrad with enough time to get their ed awards and settle into their new situation.

Our program has been in operation since 1994. I am an AmeriCorps Alum with this program. We have great service sites that are facilitating awesome environmental education and service in low wealth communities in Knoxville. Our service sites have sponsored AmeriCorps members since 1995 and we have great supervisors that will develop you for your term of service and your life after AmeriCorps.

You must be able to start on August 15, 2011. We have 7 days of pre-service orientation and training. This is a fun and interactive period with many training sessions that will be important to your service. Our training includes: AmeriCorps 101, Leadership Development, Volunteer Management, Communication, Diversity Training, Red Cross First Aid and CPR, Defensive Driver Training, and a team building ropes course.

Here are the benefit basics:

$11,800 per 46 weeks

$4,725 (pending approval $5,550) educational award at end of service term to use for school or student loans

Health insurance and site-specific training provided

These positions are available for the 2011-2012 year. We will be adding more positions as they come available.

Water Quality Team (7 positions): Members serve with the Water Quality Forum Adopt-A-Watershed Program (AAW) to teach students how to protect their local watershed. They facilitate teacher AAW teams, teach hands-on science activities (chemical and biological sampling and analysis, water pollution, land use, and other related topics) in the classroom. They organize stream monitoring field events (water sample collections and monitoring, fish collection, stream physical assessment). They provide technical assistance and support to students and teachers in the planning and implementation of AAW projects.

EarthFlag Team (2 positions): Each team member individually works with elementary or middle schools to increase their overall school sustainability. They teach students about solid waste issues in the classroom, facilitate the set-up and operation of school-wide composting and recycling programs, be a resource providing opportunity for hands-on learning. They also encourage students to recycle at home. They work with teachers and students to implement sustainable living practices (school gardens, nature trails, arboretums, etc).

Ijams Naturalist (2 positions): Team member will facilitate Environmental Education (EE) activities for 5000 pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students visiting Ijams Nature Center on GO! Hikes. Facilitate School Yard Field Trips at area schools for Elementary students. Member assists in development, promotion and facilitation of the new Research in the Park programming. Member assists in curriculum development for new EE programming for pre-kindergarten-8th grade and special needs students. Member leads presentations of non-releasable wild animals for GO! Hike students. Member assists in volunteer field guide recruitment and retention.

Air Quality Team (4 positions): This team facilitates environmental outreach and education within the community through a variety of mediums, including the Young Biodiesel Leaders Program, workshops, community events and festivals. Team members also serve with students, schools, administrators, teachers, community members, businesses, stakeholders, and government agencies to communicate, plan, develop and implement clean air related projects in order to attain regional environmental goals of the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. In 2010, 2 members may be working with UT Biofuels initiative to help make 500,000 gallons of biodiesel from local restaurant excess old vegetable oil.

CAC Weatherization Team (3 positions): Two members will conduct energy audits, evaluations, and follow-up services for 150 low income homeowners in Knox County, Tennessee.

Urban Agriculture Team (3 positions): Members maintain a 1-acre urban community farm and the surrounding park area. They grow and distribute over 6,000 pounds of produce to volunteers, local food pantries and kitchens. They promote principles of gardening, composting, seed starting, and nutrition to 100 elementary students in 4 local schools. They increase community awareness of Beardsley Community Farm by planning festivals and special seasonal events.

Litter Prevention Team (2 positions): The Litter Prevention Team serves with Keep Knoxville Beautiful and Keep Blount Beautiful, providing litter-prevention and introductory environmental education to 10 neighborhood/community associations, and 10 school groups as well as individuals to clean and maintain some of our region's most littered areas.

Knoxville Recycling Coalition Team (1 position): This team member organizes events with the Knoxville Recycling Coalition, such as America Recycles Day, to create awareness and educate youth and adults about the importance of recycling.

Knox County Recycling Team (4 positions): This team members will organize recycling events with the Knox County Solid Waste Department to create awareness and educate adults about the importance of solid waste reduction techniques, recycling and litter abatement.

Sustainability Team (2 positions): Two members will serve with Tribe One and S.E.E.E.D. to promote green jobs for low income people and mobilze commnuity service events for youth.

CAC AmeriCorps - Knoxville, Tennessee

Thursday, December 30, 2010

2003 Class-- only 12 members

Brief descriptions of 2011-12 Teams... more to come

Service descriptions are in google docs...

Accepting Applications on January 2, 2011

Welcome to our Recruiting Blog for 2011-2012

Thursday, December 2, 2010

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