Applications must be
received before March 1st.
Members of the SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps program serve Massachusetts’s public lands from Martha’s Vineyard to the Berkshires each summer, and spend the winter providing environmental education to children at local schools in the western part of the state. The residential program, headquartered at Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest in Hawley, MA, began its 20th year of service in October 2016.
Eighteen SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members begin their 10-month term serving at partner schools and education-related internships in Western Massachusetts during the fall and winter months (October – March). They engage students in science-based environmental curricula that create a broad learning context for students, improve their learning skills, and help foster an ethic of service and civic responsibility.
Eight more members are brought on in early March, for a 5-month term, bringing the total corps to 26 members. After trail training season in March, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members provide much-needed assistance in improving the public access to and protection of the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of Massachusetts from April - August. SCA members travel across the commonwealth serving in small teams to complete more than 40 conservation projects per year, implemented in dozens of communities.
Members of the Massachusetts Corps receive or have the option to receive the following trainings or certifications:
Each year SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members spend five months teaching approximately 800 environmental education lessons to over 1,000 students. Our members also complete approximately 60 Conservation Service projects each year. Projects include new trail construction, invasive plant management, Universal Access Trail construction, school nature trails, historic site reclamation, and more.
Members receive full room and board, health insurance, a weekly living stipend, and an AmeriCorps education award.
Applications must be received by March 1. Once you have started your application contact [email protected] to have your application fee waived.
It was a calm Wednesday in the teacher’s lounge where Christian and I were cowering in between lessons, trying to find shelter from the overwhelming amount of new faces. Mrs. Keir, the kindergarten teacher, popped in as we contemplated our existence. “The kindergarten class is going on a field trip to sing at the senior center tomorrow, and we’re running short on adults to help. Would you and Christian mind coming with us?”
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Now that the first break of education season is over, life is beginning to return to normal in Hawley. Despite the bitter cold and long hours of lesson planning ahead, I’m excited to be back in my forest home, and especially excited to see my students again at Northfield Elementary. All of the students at NES are beyond excited to have us in their classrooms—this year will mark the first time the SCA has worked with Northfield, and we have quite a legacy to live up to.
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Education season is here! When I first got assigned to teach at Hawlemont Regional School, I was beyond excited to be working with a school that had an agricultural program. On our first day we were greeted by many of the students. We got the chance to see the barn and all of the animals! The outside pen is right next to the playground and the goats were so friendly. They even have a chicken coop and it’s a daily chore to go out and collect the eggs.
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As the days got shorter and the temperature became colder, we finished our education training and began to go into our assigned schools. The first week in the schools, we observed and got to know the dynamics in each classroom. It is really cool to talk to each other and see the differences in each school - they are all so different. As someone who is doing their service in the smaller schools, Savoy and Pearl Rhodes, I have been introduced to an education that I have never experienced.
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One more week until our winter break and I feel just like I did in elementary school getting ready for our holidays! The last three weeks of working and teaching at our schools have been hectic, wonderful, tiring and delightful. I spend my Tuesdays and Wednesdays at a small hill-town school with 65 energetic students aged 3 – 12 year olds. These intrepid kids brave 15 degree days and howling winds for the fun of outside recess.
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