Project Conserve Launches 2019-2020 Term
Thirty-one AmeriCorps Project Conserve members started their terms on Tuesday, September 3rd. The four-day AmeriCorps Orientation was hosted by Rockbrook Camp for Girls in Brevard, NC for the 13th year.
Administered by Conserving Carolina, Project Conserve is a National Service program in which members come from across the nation to dedicate themselves to serving critical environmental and community needs in western North Carolina. Members are selected based on skill, education, experience, passion and commitment to service. The program focuses on collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community groups, and local governments to provide service throughout the region. The 2019-2020 term marks 15 years since the program began in 2004.
Project Conserve individually places members in service with one of our host site organizations working to protect the unique natural resources of the southern Blue Ridge Mountain region. Our 2019-2020 host sites include:
- Asheville GreenWorks
- Buncombe County Schools
- Conserving Carolina
- Environmental Quality Institute
- Foothills Equestrian Nature Center
- Great Smoky Mountain National Park
- Mills River Partnership
- MountainTrue
- Polk County Parks & Recreation
- RiverLink
- Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
- The North Carolina Arboretum Society
- Town of Lake Lure & Rutherford Outdoor Coalition
- Transylvania County Cooperative Extension
- WNC Communities’ Hemlock Restoration Initiative
During their 11-month terms of service, members will promote conservation through educational programming, volunteer coordination, and direct environmental service on public lands, rivers, and trails. Members receive training and professional development and participate in Project Conserve team service days several times per year. Training may cover a broad range of topics including wilderness first aid, CPR/AED, conflict resolution, forest management, trail construction, invasive plant identification, environmental education, volunteer management, and disaster preparedness. Meet our Team!
AmeriCorps Project Conserve and Summer of Service are administered by Conserving Carolina and funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the office of Governor Roy Cooper, and the critical support of our host sites and community partners.