Wildfire Community Outreach Educator

Member Schedule & Location:

The Wildfire Community Outreach Educator will report to Galena Creek Visitor Center. Member schedules will vary based on project needs and outreach opportunities. All schedules are subject to change due to unpredictable circumstances.

Member Position Summary

The Great Basin Institute (GBI) and the Humboldt Toiyabe Forest will host AmeriCorps Community Outreach Educator to support the Fire Prevention Education Project, a collaborative effort to provide expanded public education and outreach to reduce risk and potential impact of wildfire. The Institute and USFS will train and deploy Community Outreach Educators to support targeted outreach to the general public, including property owners, visitors, and students. Educators will be trained to expand classroom education programs to include wildfire prevention messaging to schools in Washoe County. In doing so, this project strives to meet benchmarks set for Fire Adapted Communities by unifying implementation measures with educational outreach, and increasing the effectiveness of wildfire prevention strategies and improves community wildfire resilience.

Outreach is strategically Specific content for delivery is predicated upon informational resources provided by USFS and ensures targeted outreach is informed by current best practices. This collaborative effort unites USFS Conservation Education and Fire Prevention programmatic goals in a more consolidated and robust manner. Project goals to reduce the risk of wildfire to owners of structures in the WUI are as follows:

• To increase the general public’s understanding of fire in the forest ecosystem; 
• To directly educate communities, especially low-income communities, by communicating wildfire risk through public outreach and education;
• To improve public health and safety by providing additional patrol support to existing Fire Prevention and Visitor Services programs;
• To prevent and reduce total number of wildland fire and acres burned in the at-risk communities in the WUI;
• To coordinate with existing land management agencies and partnerships to implement wildfire prevention outreach and education to maximize awareness of residents, property owners, and visitors’ in anticipation of future severe wildfire seasons.

Educational activities will target residents, property owners, visitors, teachers, and students.  General public outreach includes patrol education at recreation sites and developed campgrounds.  Educators swill deliver informal and formal presentations, lessons, and programs. Improved signage at these sites, including fire danger adjective ratings, will reinforce the presence of fire threat and need for preparedness.

Additional outreach and education for homeowner responsibility of defensible space will occur through direct engagement in neighborhoods, at community events and with presentations at service club organizations such as Rotaries, Kiwanis clubs, and other resource and support groups.  All general outreach will be done in collaboration with environmental education agencies.

• With training from LWF, must be able to become knowledgeable about wildfire, Nevada ecology, and high school science education practices.
• With training from LWF, must be able to support teachers delivering lessons and share expertise on the above wildfire and ecological concepts. 
• Must be able to communicate effectively and professionally with teachers and students.
• Be a US citizen
• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards). 
• All position offers are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check.

Additional requirements:

• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse public.
• Possess good organizational skills.
• Physical exertion requirement: exerting up to 30 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 15 lbs. of force frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Requires walking or standing to a significant degree and pushing and/or pulling. Be able to supervise and mentor students collecting scientific data in an outdoor setting
• This position requires seeing, hearing and communicating through speech.

Required Academic and Experience Qualifications

• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship, or U.S. national or legal resident alien status, (2) at least 18 years of age (3) High School Diploma or GED certificate (4) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (5) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks.

Living Allowance and Benefits:

• Living Allowance: $694.74 Biweekly before taxes
• Shared Housing is Provided

Segal Education Award:

After successfully completing an AmeriCorps term of service members are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. $3,697.50 for a 900 hour service term You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

Student Loan Forbearance:

If you are currently paying on any federal student loans you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, that will allow you to cease payments while serving.

Interest Accrual Repayment:

As an AmeriCorps alum, you are eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible to have accrued interest paid: The loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility:

AmeriCorps Volunteers qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Insurance:

Health, Dental, Vision insurance, and $25,000 Life/AD&D policy premium paid 100% by GBI. Eligible to enroll first day of month following first day of service

The Great Basin Institute (GBI): 

Founded in 1998 at the University of Nevada, the Great Basin Institute is a leading interdisciplinary field studies organization, fostering environmental research, education, and service throughout the West. GBI specializes in applied research to support science-based management of public lands and is fervently committed to the promotion of scientific understanding through its field studies, conservation efforts, and public outreach. GBI is home to numerous influential programs, including the Nevada Conservation Corps, International Conservation Volunteer Exchange, Research Associate Program, Cultural Resource Program, Basin & Range Forestry, NEPA Services, Ecological Monitoring Program, and oversees visitor centers at Taylor Creek, Galena Creek, and the Tallac Historic Site, thereby expanding its reach and impact in safeguarding the region's natural and cultural heritage.

Disclaimer: Although the Company has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, the Company reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the Company, at any time, with or without advance notice.