Stewards VISTA: Freshwaters Illustrated-University of TN
Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Freshwaters Illustrated-University of TN - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: 2506 E J Chapman Drive
City, State or Full Address: Knoxville, TN 37996
Terms of Service:
Start Date: July 13, 2026
End Date: July 12, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)
Purpose:
Freshwaters Illustrated (FI), in partnership with University of Tennessee Extension, is an AmeriCorps Program dedicated to connecting communities across Tennessee with the rivers, watersheds, and freshwater ecosystems that sustain them. Working primarily in rural and under-resourced counties, including some of Tennessee's most economically distressed communities—FI and UT Extension combine the power of visual storytelling, hands-on science education, and a statewide network of Extension agents and 4-H educators to bring watershed science and environmental stewardship to life for students, teachers, and community members alike. Guided by the values of environmental education, community access, and conservation career development, this partnership works to ensure that young people and residents across Tennessee—no matter where they live or what resources they have—can explore, understand, and connect with the natural world around them.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will serve with Freshwaters Illustrated and UT Extension to help expand the reach and impact of environmental education and conservation career programming across Tennessee. In this AmeriCorps Position, the member will develop curriculum templates for the Water Teachers and Hidden Rivers programs, build an outreach framework for connecting with schools and communities, and create systems that make it easier for students and community members to discover and pursue careers in conservation and natural resources. By building these tools and pathways, the member will help ensure that more Tennesseans—especially those in rural and under-resourced communities—have the knowledge, inspiration, and opportunities they need to become the next generation of environmental stewards.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description of Duties:
The VISTA will expand the Water Teachers program to develop an outreach toolkit for staff to engage students and introduce them to environmental careers while strengthening environmental awareness in targeted communities. The VISTA will develop a plan for staff to recruit teachers and 4-H agents, with special focus on Hurricane Helene–impacted communities, refine a database for career portraits into web and build curriculum resources, integrate storm recovery and ecological resilience concepts, and develop training materials for K–12 educators.
Qualifications:
· United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
· At least 18 years of age
· College graduate
· Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements
· Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.
· Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
· Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
· Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.
Benefits:
· Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
· Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
· Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
· Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
· Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
· Loan forbearance if Eligible
· Interest Payments if Eligible
· Training and Professional Development Opportunities
· Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
· Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
· Networking and Mentorship
*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Jeremy Monroe, jeremy@freshwatersillustrated.org
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.