Coldharbour Institute Native Plant Nursery Education and Outreach -VISTA Summer Associate-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Native Plant Nursery Education and Outreach – VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

Coldharbour Institute

1 Western Way Gunnison Colorado 81230

Terms of Service:

* Start Date: 6/15/2026

* End Date: 8/23/2026

* AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hours (Minimum\-Time)

Purpose:

Gunnison, Colorado, is a rural community with higher\-than\-average poverty rates, limited economic diversification, and barriers to access for educational and professional opportunities. Through the development of Coldharbour Institute’s Native Plant Nursery and its associated educational programming, this project will expand opportunities for community members to learn about native plant cultivation, ecological restoration, and climate\-resilient land stewardship. Educational workshops, volunteer opportunities, and outreach events will provide accessible entry points for residents, students, and local professionals to gain knowledge and skills related to restoration and land management. In the long term, the nursery will also support the regional restoration economy by providing locally grown native plants for restoration professionals and land managers, helping build a more resilient local economy while expanding workforce knowledge and engagement in conservation and land stewardship.*

This project will build long\-term capacity at Coldharbour Institute by developing educational programming, outreach materials, and engagement strategies that support the growth of the Native Plant Nursery initiative. The VISTA member will create workshop outlines, educational resources, and outreach materials that staff and volunteers can continue to use in future seasons. The member will also help establish community engagement systems by piloting workshops, nursery tours, and outreach at local events. By documenting materials, event templates, and outreach strategies, the VISTA will leave Coldharbour Institute with tools and frameworks that strengthen its ability to sustain and expand Native Plant Nursery education and community engagement over time.*

The Stewards Summer Associate will support the development and community engagement of Coldharbour Institute’s Native Plant Nursery in Gunnison, Colorado. The goal of the 10\-week position is to expand community awareness, education, and interest in native plant cultivation while helping establish the nursery as a long\-term regional resource for restoration professionals, local growers, and community members alike. During the summer term, the Associate will design and implement educational programming that connects the community to the Native Plant Nursery and highlights the ecological, economic, and climate resilience benefits of native plants adapted to the Gunnison Valley. The Associate will work with CI staff to develop workshops and outreach activities around native plant cultivation and the role of native plants in supporting biodiversity and watershed health. Key activities will include developing educational materials and curriculum for workshops and events, creating outreach and educational materials, assisting with educational programming at Coldharbour Ranch, and conducting outreach at farmers markets and other community events. The Associate will also assist with Coldharbour Institute events and workdays. By the end of the 10\-week program, the Associate will produce a set of educational resources and outreach materials for the Native Plant Nursery, help deliver multiple community engagement events or workshops, and contribute to a basic outreach and engagement framework that Coldharbour Institute can continue to use as the nursery grows. These outcomes will help strengthen community awareness, increase local interest in native plant cultivation, and support the long\-term success of the Native Plant Nursery initiative.*

Description of Duties:

The Summer Associate will focus on capacity\-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials. Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public\-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations. Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations’ capacity, guide long\-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The Summer VISTA Member will help build the capacity and long\-term sustainability of Coldharbour Institute’s Native Plant Nursery by developing educational programming and community outreach that increases awareness of the ecological, climate resiliency, and economic benefits of cultivating native plants in the Gunnison Valley. Key activities may include:

Design and implement educational workshops and community programming related to native plants, biodiversity, and climate\-resilient landscapes.*

Create outreach and educational materials that support the Native Plant Nursery and its community engagement goals.*

Support development of outreach strategies and partnerships that strengthen the long\-term impact of the Native Plant Nursery.*

Table at farmers markets and local events to share information about native plant cultivation and Coldharbour Institute’s work.*

Help coordinate and support volunteers involved in nursery activities, restoration efforts, and community workdays.*

Qualifications:

• Car recommended;
• Desired education level: High School Diploma
• Language requirement: English
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• 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 per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Permits attendance at school during off hours;
• Permits working at another job during off hours

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 $1,565\.08
• Living Allowance of $957\.46 (taxable) every other week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Recreational Opportunities
• Professional Development Opportunities

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, performance will be evaluated on whether the Summer Associate has completed the required number of hours, whether the Summer Associate has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the Summer Associate 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 and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Erin Adams

eadams@conservationlegacy.org

330 Harper Park Drive

Beckley, WV 25801

(304\) 860\-0578

Host Organization Contact:**

Ella Donovan

programs@coldharbourinstitute.org

(302\) 358\-4785

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.