AmeriCorps Members

The 2017 TerraCorps program will support thirty-six full-time AmeriCorps members, serving in one of four positions:

• Land Stewardship Coordinator (LSC)
• Regional Conservation Coordinator (RCC)
• Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC)
• Youth Education Coordinator (YEC)

Responsibilities

The positions differ in their focus on community engagement and organization, land access, conservation and stewardship, and youth or adult education.

• All members will carry out capacity building projects;
• Educate or train individuals;
• Recruit, train, manage, and support community volunteers engaged in land-based activities; and
• Identify new individuals and groups to participate in land access and conservation opportunities.

Note: The specific responsibilities and goals of members differ by position as well as host site organization.

Specific Position Descriptions: 

• Land Stewardship Coordinators build the long-term capacity of their host sites by creating networks of volunteers to support hands-on stewardship of community lands. They organize, train, and collaborate with municipal boards, neighborhood and civic associations, community members, youth groups, and schools to care for, improve access to, and support the long-term resiliency and sustainable use of community lands.
• Community Engagement Coordinators build the long-term capacity of their host sites by developing culturally inclusive systems, programing, partnerships, and events. By collaborating with community groups, CECs demonstrate how the sustainable use and conservation of land can help address community needs related to education, public health, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and cultural decline.
• Regional Conservation Coordinators build the long-term capacity of their host sites by assessing community needs related to land conservation and land access and then organizing collaborative community projects to help meet these needs. They convene and coordinate community organizations to build regional networks, and organize collaborative cross-sector working groups to initiate new projects around community needs.
• Youth Education Coordinators build the long-term capacity of their host site by engaging youth in service learning, experiential education, and inquiry-based science and nature learning projects. They collaborate with schools, libraries, and youth groups on projects that connect young people to the natural world, improve science literacy, and encourage healthy lifestyles.

These are full-time AmeriCorps positions requiring a minimum of 1,700 hours of service over 11 months. The 2017-18 TerraCorps program will run from August 28, 2017 - July 27, 2018. Members receive a living allowance ($12,530), education award ($5,815), as well as additional AmeriCorps benefits.

Nineteen organizations, located across the state, will host TerraCorps members this year:

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Backyard Growers, Buzzards Bay Coalition and Wareham Land Trust, GreenRoots, Groundwork Lawrence, Groundwork Somerville, Groundwork Southcoast, Grow Food Northampton, Growing Places, Healthy Chelsea, Hilltown Land Trust, Just Roots, Kestrel Land Trust, Mill City Grows, North County Land Trust, South Eastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens Alliance, Sudbury Valley Trustees, and Wildlands Trust.