Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
¬ Title of AmeriCorps service assignment:
¬ Name of organization: Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
¬ Location of organization: 703 E. Sawmill Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
¬ Website of organization: www.willowbendcenter.org
¬ Brief description of organization: Willow Bend Environmental Education Center is committed to place-based environmental education that fosters an ethic of stewardship and responsibility by deepening people's understanding of and connections to nature. As we educate children and adults about the local environment and the impacts of our daily consumer choices we look to the future with hope. In all of our programs, we strive to build the kind of world--socially, environmentally, and economically that we want to live in, and which we want our children to inherit. Willow Bend leads by example with our passive-solar straw bale education center, low-water native gardens, BIOBUG powered by used vegetable oil, on-demand hot water heater, composting, and energy efficient lighting.
Willow Bend serves over 20,000 people each year. We teach 45 different classroom programs to 12,000 students every year. In addition, we offer field trips at Willow Bend, tours of the recycling collection facility, Family Science Nights at Willow Bend, activities and community events such as Earth Day, teacher workshops, and an adult speakers series. In the past 5 years our programs have been recognized with 7 awards for environmental education. We are able to accomplish all of this with 2 full-time employees, two AmeriCorps members, and three work study students. We provide an open, flexible work environment for self-motivated individuals and paid opportunities to participate in professional development workshops, trainings, and conferences. Willow Bend is a non-profit organization sponsored by the Coconino and Fredonia Natural Resource Conservation Districts.
AmeriCorps Service Assignment Description:
1. Teach environmental education classes 2-3 days per week in local schools (K-12)
2. Lead field trips and Family Science events at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center
3. Lead field trips at the Recycling Center
4. Participate in Community Events (Earth Day, Science in the Park, Sustainable Living Fair, etc.)
5. Assist with development of new Discovery Room Exhibits and new classroom program
AmeriCorps Member Qualifications:
1. Experience or strong
desire to teach
2. Enjoy working with children
3. Independent and self-motivated
4. Organized
5. Patient and kind
6. Comfortable speaking to small groups
7. Curious nature—like to learn
8. Good sense of humor and fun