Northwest Service Academy

The face of the Northwest Service Academy

Northwest Service Academy (NWSA) is an environmental service and leadership development organization that addresses environment issues in communities across Oregon and Washington. NWSA members engage in hands-on watershed restoration, environmental education, trail construction, resource conservation and volunteer mobilization projects throughout the Pacific Northwest, with centers at these two locations:

The Mt. Adams Center (MAC) is located in Trout Lake, Washington, a small rural town nestled at the base of snowcapped Mt. Adams. This center serves as a training facility for Trail Team and Individual Placement members and is the base for all Environmental Education programs. MAC offers AmeriCorps placements that span from offices in Seattle to the backcountry of the Cascades.

The Lower Columbia Center (LCC) sits on the bank of the Willamette River in southeast Portland, Oregon. Portland is one of the country's most environmentally progressive cities and LCC members enjoy living in this vibrant urban setting while still having easy access to the region's natural wonders. Along with its Portland-Vancouver metro area placements, LCC also offers AmeriCorps placements throughout the beautiful and diverse state of Oregon.

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRFW), a private nonprofit conservation organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, is a new NWSA affiliate site. The NRFW will engage NWSA AmeriCorps members in environmental service in the state of Wisconsin. View open NRFW AmeriCorps job opportunities, sortable by location, type, and alphabetically by position title or sponsor title.

INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENTS

Individual Placements with the NWSA

Looking for an opportunity to gain experience in an environmental field? Individual Placements (IPs) usually serve a year with one of more than 50 schools, nonprofits or local government agencies. Project examples include teaching kids about recycling, conducting species surveys, coordinating environmentally-focused volunteer programs, working with local agencies on water quality issues, increasing community involvement in service, leading service-learning activities, coordinating hands-on restoration projects, school and community-based environmental education and enhancing public lands. Whether working with a small start-up nonprofit or a larger, more established agency, IPs accomplish some great things while gaining professional skills and networking with the pros from throughout the environmental community.

View job opportunities beginning in May and June

FIELD TEAMS

Field Team Placements with the NWSAFrom the remote ridges in the Deschutes National Forests to the vibrant urban communities of the Portland metro area, each field team enjoys an adventure all of its own. Team projects vary in length, location and focus depending on the needs of the community they serve. As a Field Team Member you might find yourself camping along the Pacific Crest Trail as you repair a section destroyed by an avalanche or traveling by van out to the banks of the Clackamas River to work with the Nature Conservancy on a long-term environmental project. Project examples include restoring watersheds, teaching forest ecology, building trail, reducing forest fuels, leading crews of community volunteers and removing noxious weeds.

View job opportunities beginning in May and June

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Leadership Opportunities with the NWSAHave some experience leading teams of your peers? Interested in further developing your leadership skills? NWSA has two types of leader positions that might be right up your alley: Individual Placement and Field Team Leaders. Leaders are chosen for leadership skills they bring to the program and for their potential to develop new skills in the following areas: coaching and mentoring, facilitation, event planning and community building. NWSA's leader positions vary widely and may include leading a team in the backcountry, coordinating with partners on shorter-term projects or providing on-going support to a larger group of members serving on a diverse set of projects in a central location.

BENEFITS

Full-time member benefits include a living stipend ranging from $500 to $1,200 per month, professional development opportunities, basic medical insurance, a $2,362 to $4,725 AmeriCorps education award, loan forbearance and a childcare allowance. Some projects also provide room and board or reduced cost housing. Beyond this, NWSA members learn new skills, enjoy backcountry and other adventures, develop contacts in the field, and experience the satisfaction of getting things done.

NWSA • AmeriCorps • Join Us!

NWSA member and leader positions start each spring, fall and winter, with full-year positions starting in the fall and winter, and six-month positions starting each spring. View the recruitment timeline for start and end dates.

There is a two-step process for applying to all NWSA positions. The first step is completing an AmeriCorps application online. Next you'll email your resume and AmeriCorps application number to the contact listed at the bottom of each position description found online.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Sign up for NWSA's monthly recruitment eUpdate that provides news about upcoming job opportunities.

CONNECTIONS

Northwest Service Academy
www.northwestserviceacademy.org


Lower Columbia Center

LOWER COLUMBIA CENTER
Sherrie Jackson
Member Recruitment
55 SE Main St.
Portland, OR 97214
503.234.2383 x108
sherrie.jackson@esd112.org

Susan Navrotsky
Statewide Coordinator
503.234.2383 x 106
susan.navrotsky@esd112.org

Mt. Adams Center

MT. ADAMS CENTER
Stephanie Ludlow
Member Recruitment
2455 Highway 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
509.395.3465
stephanie.ludlow@esd112.org

NAVIGATION

Northwest Service Academy can be found in the Conservation Jobs channel

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