Stewards VISTA: NEEF - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This program will allow the Education staff at Great Smoky Mountains National Park to collaborate more intentionally with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley in Tennessee and to incorporate more program content that is appropriate for both English and Spanish learners. We have partnered with these clubs for several years during the summer months, having the students come to the park for recreational visits. The gap that this project addresses is incorporating STEM activities into what are typically recreational visits. The challenge we have is to weave the STEM learning into activities like horseback riding, hiking and bike riding. We plan to do this with STEM Exploration breaks that will vary depending on the location and student age group but will all involve the students in some aspect of the scientific method. The goal of the project is for the students to experience the park and its resources through the eyes of a scientist. For them to learn how to collect data for on-going citizen science projects and, through that interaction and closer connection with the resources, to develop stewardship behaviors. We have research data that shows students who collect data during park citizen science programs express feeling a deeper connection to the resources and are more concerned about protecting those. A secondary goal is for the NPS rangers to develop deeper personal connections to the student participants since we will be meeting with each group multiple times. Many of these students come from traditionally under-served communities and we hope that creating closer bonds with the youth, they will be inspired to continue to engage with the Smokies and other nearby public and park lands. VISTA will work side by side with an NPS ranger to develop and implement programming for the Boys and Girls Club activities.
Member Duties:
- Develop and implement programming for NPS-21stCCLC Grant Program and other Great Smoky Mountains National Park programs.
- Work with staff in the preparation and submission of grant proposals to secure future funding to continue program beyond the initial grant as needed. Work to obtain in-kind program support.
- Work on digital community engagement efforts to keep community members informed on program activities and accomplishments.
- Development(s) with project partners and the local community. Serve as liaison with NPS unit while conducting outreach to 21st CCLC programs and local K-12 schools and student groups (after-school programs, out-of-school programs, clubs, etc.).
- Gather ideas and opportunities for growth.
- Track Performance Measures and submit quarterly and final progress reports inclusive of qualitative and quantitative data for all areas of work
Program Benefits:
Relocation Allowance, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Training, Health Coverage*, Childcare assistance if eligible, Housing Assistance. Professional Dev., Living Allowance.
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare
Service Areas:
Education, Children/Youth, Environment.