The Conservation Collaborative of Central Ohio (formerly the Central Ohio Collaborative for Conservation) is an environmental stewardship AmeriCorps state program. We are a grant-funded program administered by Franklin County Conservation District and supported by ServeOhio, Ohio’s commission on service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps programs offer national service volunteer opportunities for people to get involved in their community and address a critical community need.
The Conservation Collaborative’s mission is to develop a workforce of environmental leaders who increase Central Ohio’s capacity to improve natural resource quality and educate and engage the public in responsible land use and stewardship. In short, we “Get Things Done” for conservation!
We host AmeriCorps Volunteer national service opportunities that have you serving at the heart of leading conservation-focused organizations in Franklin, Delaware, and Licking Counties. Keep reading below to learn more!
AmeriCorps Volunteers (formerly called AmeriCorps members) are the people who participate in an AmeriCorps program. The Conservation Collaborative is designed to support Full Time AmeriCorps Volunteers, which means completing at least 1,700 hours of service over the course of one year (to occur from Sep-Aug).
Each AmeriCorps Volunteer position in our program is different, but everyone performs on-the-ground services that result in tangible improvements to the environment and local communities. Everyone will also periodically come together for conservation project workdays, trainings, and team-building activities. If you’re interested in land management, environmental education, or community mobilization, then you came to the right place! Our opportunities are a great way to get your feet wet (sometimes literally) in this field and connect with organizations who do exceptional work throughout the region.
Benefits of a Full Time term of AmeriCorps Volunteer national service include a modest living stipend, Segal Education AmeriCorps Award (which can be used to repay qualified student loans or cover the Cost of Attendance at any Title IV institution), student loan forbearance and forgiveness of interest accrued, healthcare and childcare availability, travel reimbursement, gear stipend, and robust professional development opportunities. Full Time AmeriCorps service is also considered qualified employment for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Ready to apply? Fill out this form to be notified whenever a position becomes available!
All AmeriCorps Volunteer positions in our program are sponsored by a partnering nonprofit or government organization. These organizations, called host sites, curate unique AmeriCorps Volunteer opportunities that advance their mission and the goals of the Conservation Collaborative. Host sites act as an AmeriCorps Volunteer’s home base and provide day-to-day supervision and support. Host sites pay a fee to support the AmeriCorps Volunteers they host, which is then used as cost match for the grant.
Current Conservation Collaborative Host Sites: Franklin County Conservation District, Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Green Columbus, Licking Park District, Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District, Preservation Parks of Delaware County, and Stratford Ecological Center.
Is your organization interested in hosting AmeriCorps Volunteers through the Conservation Collaborative? Reach out to Abby Thiel, AmeriCorps Program Coordinator, at athiel@franklinswcd.org to get started!
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This program is available to all, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status, familial status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.