Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Western Slope Conservation Center -AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: Western Slope Conservation Center
City, State or Full Address: 204 Poplar Ave, Paonia, CO 81428
Terms of Service:
Start Date: September 8, 2026
End Date: September 7, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)
Purpose:
The Western Slope Conservation Center, an AmeriCorps Program, is dedicated to protecting the lands, air, water, and wildlife of western Colorado through conservation, education, and community engagement. Serving the rural communities of the North Fork Valley and surrounding region, the program supports environmental stewardship while strengthening local economies and quality of life rooted in the area’s agricultural, mining, and cultural heritage. Guided by values of stewardship, collaboration, sustainability, and community responsibility, the program seeks to build resilient communities and foster long-term environmental and economic well-being.
This AmeriCorps Position focuses on building organizational capacity by supporting environmental initiatives, developing grant and fundraising strategies, expanding community partnerships, and strengthening volunteer systems. The member will create tools and resources that enhance outreach, education, and engagement with conservation efforts and skill-building opportunities. Through this service, the member contributes to advancing the organization’s mission by improving systems that support lasting community impact and environmental stewardship.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description of Duties:
- Plan a minimum of six community environmental stewardship and outreach projects throughout our watershed for staff to lead volunteers with hands-on environmental education and job-skill building experiences that support the sustainability and resiliency of rural Colorado’s natural resource base
- Grow WSCC’s organizational resources by researching funding opportunities, contributing to a minimum of four grant proposals, developing new partnership and sponsorship strategies, and strengthening fundraising capacity for special campaigns
- Strengthen WSCC’s volunteer program by creating a toolkit for staff for recruiting, stewarding and transitioning responsibilities to volunteer leaders, developing position descriptions for future paid staff, and creating orientation materials and standard operating procedures to ensure program continuity
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- Must be 18 years of age
- College Graduate
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements
- Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.
Benefits:
· Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
· Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
- Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
- Housing Allowance
- Training
· Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
· Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
· Loan forbearance if Eligible
· Interest Payments if Eligible
· Training and Professional Development Opportunities
· Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
· Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
· Networking and Mentorship
*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Hannah Stevens, director@theconservationcenter.org
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.