“My two year experience as an Education Outside Fellow transformed my perspective on education, environmental work, and public service. I gained experience in independent work that most young professionals don’t have access to until late in their career. It empowered me in my leadership and has further motivated me toward work in youth empowerment around climate change.”
- Former Fellow
- Former Fellow
Program Details
Climate Corps Education Outside (CCEO) is an AmeriCorps Fellowship program taking place over two academic years which serves public elementary schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a CCEO Fellow, you will teach garden-based science and environmental literacy lessons to inspire the next generation of earth stewards. CCEO fellows are committed to social justice and cultivating cultural competence and humility.
Climate Corps Education Outside Fellows:
Climate Corps Education Outside Fellows:
- Serve 1,200 hours per year over two academic years in a Bay Area school as an AmeriCorps Member
- Participate twice a month in professional development with a cohort of emerging education and sustainability professionals
- Plan and teach ecoliteracy lessons for high needs students in the Bay Area
- Cultivate a garden space and green schoolyard to promote urban students’ connection to the environment and nature
- Activate community and volunteer power to develop lush outdoor classrooms and benefit student learning
- Identify and fulfill one fundraising opportunity to promote the continuation of garden programming at a school site
- Receive a monthly stipend of $2,115 and an end of program education award of $4,266.
Fellow Stories
"I never went hiking as a kid and my family definitely didn't take trips to national parks, so I find that working at a school where there are a majority of kids of color it becomes so much more personal for me to do it right. There are very few people in this line of work who look like me and I feel an immense responsibility to make this experience worthwhile."
- Maninder Kaur |
"I just taught a spider lesson to the kids this week. While I was helping out at my school's Fall Festival I was able to meet many of the parents of my students. One of the parents told me that their child came home and said "Ms. Emma said we shouldn't kill spiders so we shouldn't kill spiders anymore". I thought it was so sweet that the kids really do take what I teach them and bring it home to share."
- Emma Watkins |
"I am extremely excited for the new learning that has and will come from this year. I am excited to be immersed in a culture that I am learning about all the time. I am extremely blessed to work with students and teachers who are eager and open to seeing where the garden programming can lead our community. I am excited to have the capacity to get into in depth topics with my students - in science, as well as social justice. I am hoping to work on finding a better way to balance my commitments, as well as my general humanness outside of this work!"
- Sarah Harris |
Let's Chat
If you have questions about the Climate Corps Education Outside program, or want to discuss the opportunity in more detail, please reach out to George Spencer at georgespencer@seiinc.org.
FAQ
WHAT IS AMERICORPS?
AmeriCorps is a civil service program that recruits Members to commit to and serve their local communities. Over 1 million AmeriCorps Members have served since 1994, and it can be described as a “domestic Peace Corps”. To learn more, visit the official AmeriCorps website here.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS WILL CCEO FELLOWS WORK ON / WHAT TRAINING WILL THEY RECEIVE?
Climate Corps Education Outside Fellows will increase student science activation and environmental knowledge and awareness by engaging students and volunteers in maintaining school gardens, supporting outdoor science lessons, and championing school-based stewardship and sustainability initiatives. On-site and remote training sessions will be held every other week to support Fellows in their educational and professional skills and goals.
HOW MANY CCEO CANDIDATES WILL BE ACCEPTED?
For the 2019-2020 cohort, we will place 35 full-cycle CCEO Fellows with 35 school sites.
What are the prerequisites to become a CCEO Fellow?
Fellows should have an undergraduate degree and generally be in the early stages of their career development. Please review the full position description for a complete list of prerequisites.
do fellows get to choose which SCHOOL they're assigned to?
SEI will take into account current EO Corps' members placements for continuation. New Fellows will be able to indicate general location preference for school sites.
Why become a CCEO fellow?
Climate Corps is a “bridge-to-career” program that provides essential training and the unique opportunity to gain work experience as a teacher bringing hands-on, outdoor science education to urban elementary schools. This fellowship is an excellent resume builder and "bridge to career" opportunity for emerging professionals to launch their career in sustainability and/or education. To support our Fellows, we offer a monthly living stipend of $2,115, healthcare, and an end-of-program Education Award of $4,266.
Where are CCEO fellows located?
AmeriCorps strives to reach underserved, high-need communities all over the state of California. Fellows will be placed with elementary schools in San Francisco Unified School District, South San Francisco Unified School District, Redwood City Elementary School District, Bayshore Elementary School District, and Jefferson Elementary School District.
What are the program Goals?
The purpose of this program is to advance science education and environmental literacy by teaching outdoors in public schools. Activating interest in science during elementary school is critical, as studies suggest that children who develop interest in science at an early age tend to stay engaged in science and/or contribute to scientific discovery and innovation in their adult lives. We will spark children's interest in science and connect them to the natural world through hands-on learning in school gardens.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY?
We typically complete recruitment in the summer and then work to place Fellows with schools before Orientation in September. There will be several deadlines, with the last one being rolling.
Administered by California Volunteers and sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
