AmeriCorps NWF Environmental Stewards

Northwest Florida State College improves lives. We deliver outstanding educational programs that are relevant, accessible, and engaging for students of all ages and provide exceptional cultural, athletic, and economic development activities for the communities served. We commit to excellence, creativity, integrity, and service.

The AmeriCorps NWF Environmental Stewards program is a component of the National Service Network through Volunteer Florda and, The Corporation for National and Community Service Its goal is to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to help meet communities' critical education, public safety, environmental, and other human needs. AmeriCorps is often referred to as the "Domestic Peace Corps."

AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It's a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.

NWF Environmental Stewards AmeriCorps program is a competitive state funded grant through Volunteer Florida (the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service), whom receives funding support from the Corporation for National & Community Service. Volunteer Florida leads initiatives throughout Florida that use volunteerism as a strategy to meet community needs. Administration of national service programs is a top priority of the Commission. National service programs like AmeriCorps offer Floridians the opportunity to engage in intensive service to their community while increasing capacity for nonprofits and other service organizations. Volunteer Florida provides necessary oversight and accountability of these grants through its Commission and staff.

When you join AmeriCorps, you use your energy, ideas and talents to help others. Plus you'll earn money for education, learn to be a leader, and gain real job skills. Read More

• About Us
  AmeriCorps NWF Environmental Stewards grantee is Northwest Florida State College. The college has hosted AmeriCorps programs since 1996 in an array of different focus areas ranging from tutoring struggling learners in K-12 to the current grant which is environmental stewardship
• Our Impact
  This year long program will serve Okaloosa and Walton Counties. It will partner with Okaloosa and Walton County schools and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA). The program focus is environmental stewardship with an educational component of an environmental STEM curriculum. The focus is twofold: 1.the implementation of the Grasses in Classes STEM curriculum and 2. restoration, beautification, maintenance and the development. In the first component members will implement a Grasses in Classes environmental STEM curriculum in contracted Okaloosa and Walton County elementary schools targeting third and fifth grade students. In the second component members will addressing projects including shoreline erosion, invasive plant removal, planting native plants, coastal dune projects, trail development and oyster restoration projects. The program will focus efforts on engaging community involvement through service learning activities conducted at parks and public lands within the Choctawhatchee watershed district. Through these educational opportunities the program will educate and engage citizens in service projects to encourage environmental stewardship.
  
  13 full-time members will work collaboratively with CBA within each of the participating schools to implement the contextual STEM environmental curriculum - Grasses in Classes. Members will also partner with CBA in the field completing environmental projects in our communities (as identified above). All members will work to help engage the partnering schools and the public by providing hands-on educational opportunities to teach families and children the importance of caring about their environment and to encourage environmental stewardship.