My Future: EarthCorps?

It's strange to know that sustainable development, natural resource management, ecology, environmental remediation and conservation biology are all listed separately as fields of study and professional careers. And, it's strange to know most of the reasons why, too. These topics (and more) were always nebulously related to each other during my 4 years in school, alongside my venturing interests.

Now, it's time to narrow. For the next three weeks until school starts I will be exploring a range of research/grad school topics. I hope to include schools, programs and people in each topic area as potential options for my future. I am not truly feeling the pressure yet, so this is probably going to be splotchy. At the very least I can refer to this very blog as a decent compilation of easily attained (copied & pasted) facts and figures. Anyway, here goes.

This is all meant to establish a reference point against which I wish to compare my other option: full-time work. Since I already have one job option pretty well-researched, I will start there. The agency is EarthCorps, based in Seattle, WA. I came across it on accident while researching sources for my Uplands Ecosystem Management class last spring. It fit perfectly with what I was learning about in Uplands. Nearly every concept and technique discussed with Dr. Campa is being used for real in EarthCorps.
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Since 1993, EarthCorps has been building global community through local environmental service. They actually employ about 80 young people (ages 18-25) from across the US and around the world to restore habitats and lead environmental service volunteers. EarthCorps staffers manage 10,000 volunteers (ages 8-80) per year in diverse projects ranging from maintaining trails to restoring complex stream and shoreline eco-systems around the Cascade Mountains and the Puget Sound.

Through classes, workshops and field training the international group of staffers also lead community and corporate volunteer expeditions. Through this cooperation, EarthCrops creates a sense of community ownership and responsibility for our natural resources, fosters cross-cultural and intergenerational understanding, and promotes civic engagement.

They consistently work with about 100 other partner organizations on projects of many sizes. One of EarthCorps' larger projects is the revitalization of 3,700 acres of dying forests in the city's parks in cooperation with the City of Seattle and Cascade Land Conservancy.

The Corps values sustainability, diversity, integrity and service. These values are cleverly presented anthropocentrically on the website. I read the first three with their ecological definitions in mind, only to see them as the undertones for a more business/community-oriented goal. Even there, an ecological double-entendre exists with the word "community." Regardless, they are good values on both sides of the coin.

Starting as an all-volunteer urban park restoration organization in the 1990s, EarthCorps quickly gained popularity and notoriety through close networking with local and national environmental groups. Now, it pays to join the corps.

EarthCorps runs two program sessions per year:
February through November (calendar year - 10.5 months)
October through August (school year - 10.5 months)

Terms of service:

• $925/mo. stipend
• $4,725 AmeriCorps educational award at end of program for qualifying participants
• Paid vacation and accrued sick leave
• Health insurance coverage for participants
• No housing provided for U.S. participants
• 7:30AM-5:00PM workdays in crews of 5-6 people
  
• Weekend volunteer events
• Basic classes every other week covering ecology and botany of the Pacific NW, ecology and restoration theories and practices, leadership skills, inter-personal and cross-cultural communication
• 3-4 off-site multi-day retreats

Applications and reference forms are accepted:
May 1 - June 15 for crews starting in October
October 1 - November 17 for crews starting in February
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If I decide to hit some kind of grad school program first I will surpass the maximum age allowed in the EarthCorps staff program and I will not be able to take this opportunity to travel, interact and learn in such an intense hands on manner while getting paid, albeit minimally. I took a look at the app, and it's very different from what I expected. Could take some serious thought. But, that's what I'm here to do.

Next, I think I'll try and find land grant schools with entomology programs regarding invasive agricultural species.

Later,best,
Ben