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Stewards VISTA: Guardians of the West Fork Watershed Y1
 
 
 
Guardians of the West Fork Watershed is the only nonprofit focused on the environment in our 880 square mile watershed, an all-volunteer organization whose main work for 25 years has been abandoned mine drainage remediation, litter, erosion, and since 2014, the West Fork River Water Trail. Our watershed is at the edge of the northern Appalachian coal field, and has had more mining than much of the surrounding area, and of West Virginia. Clarksburg was promoted as “Fuel City” in the oil, gas, coal, and manufacturing boom of the 1910s and 20s. Harrison and Lewis Counties have both lost about 25% of their population since 1950, and continue to decline. Our largest watershed health problems now are sewage and sediment, from unmaintained septic and sewer systems, pastures, unpaved roads, and we hope to expand our programs to help people address those. We are a mostly rural and wooded area, but there is little easy access to nature for our residents, and access to natural environments, especially water, improves child development, everyone’s physical and mental health, and makes our communities more attractive places to work and live. The Guardians see that focus as an overarching goal, keeping an eye on the monitoring, research, and activities affecting watershed health, leveraging all the work being done, coordinating with as many organizations as possible, and both educating the people of our watershed and translating their needs and watershed health needs to the governments and other organizations, to build a better environment and ways for everyone to live and prosper from it.
 
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Member Duties : The VISTA will be responsible for a variety of capacity building activities, including but not limited to developing an asset map of existing community supports and stakeholders; identifying past and current water and ecology projects, plans, and research in the watershed; outreach and education to the community through our websites, social media, publications, and local media; conducting outreach and engagement activities to recruit volunteers and participants for community initiatives; creating processes and systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the Guardians workflow, collaborating with the Board to develop strategic partnerships and building relationships within the community; developing strategic plans using community input to identify watershed health and recreation initiatives needed by the community; researching, tracking, and supporting completion of grant applications; and identifying opportunities to solicit inkind and financial contributions and sponsorships.
 
Program Benefits : Stipend ,  Training ,  Health Coverage* ,  Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend ,  Living Allowance ,  Childcare assistance if eligible ,  Relocation Allowance . 
 
 
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits.
 
Terms :
Permits attendance at school during off hours ,  Car recommended ,  Permits working at another job during off hours . 
 
Service Areas :
Community and Economic Development ,  Community Outreach ,  Environment ,  Children/Youth ,  Education . 
 
Skills :
Communications ,  Public Speaking ,  General Skills ,  Computers/Technology ,  Writing/Editing ,  Fund raising/Grant Writing ,  Social Media ,  Team Work ,  Education ,  Non-Profit Management ,  Environment ,  Community Organization . 
 
 
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SUMMARY
Program Type:
AmeriCorps VISTA
Program
Stewards VISTA: Guardians of the West Fork Watershed Y1
Program Start/End Date
04/07/2025  -   04/06/2026
Work Schedule Full Time
Education level
Some college
Age Requirement
Minimum:  18    Maximum:  None
Program Locations WEST VIRGINIA  
Languages
English
Accepting Applications
From  01/15/2025  To  04/01/2025 
Contact Addie Gilkerson
330 Harper Park Dr
Beckley   WV   25801
3045331211
agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
www.stewardslegacy.org
Listing ID 125468

       

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