AmeriCorps Project Conserve is a national service program in which members come from across the nation to dedicate themselves to serving Western North Carolina for an 11-month service term. Members are selected based on skill, education, experience, passion and commitment to service. Project Conserve was founded in September of 2004 as an initiative of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy (CMLC) to respond to the growing conservation needs in Western North Carolina. The program focuses on collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community groups and local governments to provide service throughout the region.
WNCA has listed the following positions with AmeriCorps Project Conserve:
- French Broad Assistant Riverkeeper
- The French Broad Riverkeeper Assistant will work with the French Broad Riverkeeper to protect and improve the water quality in the French Broad River watershed by engaging in water sampling, education, direct conservation, and volunteer recruitment.
- Forest Keeper Coordinator
- Forest Keepers are citizens that love their public lands and take an active role in their stewardship and management to help protect and restore these precious forests in a time of declining government funding. The Forest Keeper Coordinator will work with a group of dedicated Forest Keepers to schedule service learning events, organize stewardship activities, archive data, and facilitate citizen involvement in land management in the biologically and culturally rich Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Outings and Education Coordinator
- The Outings and Education Coordinator will work to engage citizens in environmental protection in Western North Carolina through outings such as hikes and paddle trips, outreach, and environmental education in both schools and the community. The Coordinator will also host a variety of educational events including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Asheville’s weekly Green Drinks’ programs.