Frequently Asked Questions
What is Climate Corps?
Climate Corps is a fellowship program that provides valuable professional development opportunities for emerging climate protection leaders through implementation of climate change resiliency projects with local governments, higher education institutes, non-profits, and for-profit businesses.
WHAT SPECIALIZED TRACKS ARE A PART OF THE CLIMATE CORPS PROGRAM?
What is Climate Corps AmeriCorps?
Climate Corps AmeriCorps (CCAC) is a specialized track within the Climate Corps program that utilizes AmeriCorps Members to serve disadvantaged communities. Americorps Fellows are emerging climate protection leaders who implement energy, water, and waste reduction projects in environmentally and economically underserved areas. CCAC is a program of Bay Area Community Resources in collaboration with Strategic Energy Innovations.
What is Energize Colleges?
Energize Colleges is a specialized track within Climate Corps that supports a network of California colleges and universities to prepare leaders in the new energy economy. Full-time Fellows will lead climate and energy internship and education projects at their higher-education institution to institutionalize campus and community sustainability.
What is Climate Corps Education Outside?
The Climate Corps Education Outside (CCEO) program serves public elementary schools in the Bay Area. CCEO fellows lead garden-based science and environmental literacy education at a school and work with students in grades K-5.
Is every Fellow part of a specialized track?
No. These specialized tracks are designed to help accommodate a variety of different Fellows to best train and support a network of emerging leaders with the greater sustainability field. As an applicant, you may apply to any position (specialized or not) if you meet the necessary qualifications and feel the chosen fellowship would be best suited to your goals in a sustainability-related career pathway.
Do the subset programs have various qualification requirements? If so, how does the work experience differ?
Please see the position description to learn about the specific skills and experiences required for each placement.
In general:
AmeriCorps:
Americorps Fellows positions include but are not limited to: marketing and outreach, research and planning, data management, engineering and technical support, and community education. Fellows develop unique professional skills and connections in environmentally and economically underserved areas and will also participate in a day of service to a local community.
Energize Colleges:
Energize Colleges Fellows will work at their respective higher level institution to support recruitment and management of student interns. Fellows will work closely with faculty to lead instructional planning, lesson development, and high school engagement.
In general:
AmeriCorps:
Americorps Fellows positions include but are not limited to: marketing and outreach, research and planning, data management, engineering and technical support, and community education. Fellows develop unique professional skills and connections in environmentally and economically underserved areas and will also participate in a day of service to a local community.
Energize Colleges:
Energize Colleges Fellows will work at their respective higher level institution to support recruitment and management of student interns. Fellows will work closely with faculty to lead instructional planning, lesson development, and high school engagement.
Are the Climate Corps and specialized track fellowships all the same length?
Yes. The Climate Corps fellowship program runs for 10 months, as well as the subset programs: Climate Corps Americorps, Energize Colleges, and Climate Corps Education Outside. In some cases, Fellows may receive an extension to continue their Fellowship for an additional summer or as a second year Senior Fellow.
What types of projects have Fellows in the Climate Corps Program completed?
One of our Fellows, Cecilio Aponte, worked at Sunpower to conduct solar research and product development. Fellows have also conducted community outreach to achieve sustainability goals. Fellow, Alex Montes, worked closely with businesses and sanitary services to move towards a Zero Waste pledge in San Rafael. While Fellow, Ian Barker, focused on energy efficiency education and business outreach in San Jose.
What types of projects have Fellows in each specialized track completed?
Fellows in each specialized track have completed a wide range of projects with non-profit organizations, local public agencies, and higher education institutions with a goal to promote community sustainability.
AmeriCorps:
During the 2016-17 cycle, Fellow, Allison Hooks, worked on financing Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan. Commute.org Fellow, Erin Fieberling, worked on commuter outreach to San Mateo county in an effort to influence public commuting behavior. Education provides a huge opportunity for Fellows to engage with students and community members, which Fellow, Katelyn Heflin, experienced as she engaged with 630+ people at tabling events and assemblies.
Energize Colleges:
We have had Fellows focus on an assortment of projects including greenhouse gas emission data collection, curriculum organization and design, and electronic waste collection. Fellow, Jennifer Sanchez, became CSU Bakersfield’s Sustainability Coordinator and expanded campus sustainability programs and managed several events. At UC Merced, Fellow, Nick Conte, developed a new class on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) while engaging with over 650 students.
AmeriCorps:
During the 2016-17 cycle, Fellow, Allison Hooks, worked on financing Oakland’s Energy and Climate Action Plan. Commute.org Fellow, Erin Fieberling, worked on commuter outreach to San Mateo county in an effort to influence public commuting behavior. Education provides a huge opportunity for Fellows to engage with students and community members, which Fellow, Katelyn Heflin, experienced as she engaged with 630+ people at tabling events and assemblies.
Energize Colleges:
We have had Fellows focus on an assortment of projects including greenhouse gas emission data collection, curriculum organization and design, and electronic waste collection. Fellow, Jennifer Sanchez, became CSU Bakersfield’s Sustainability Coordinator and expanded campus sustainability programs and managed several events. At UC Merced, Fellow, Nick Conte, developed a new class on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) while engaging with over 650 students.
Is the administering agency - SEI - a nonprofit?
Yes.
What kind of specific training outcomes are you hoping for from member's experience?
We aim to provide an initial training in climate change policies (AB32, SB375), GHG inventory protocols and quantification approaches, technologies and strategies for various mitigation measures related to energy, water, waste, transportation, land-use, professional practices, community outreach approaches for residential, business and municipal audiences.
Who handles the worker's compensation and liability insurance?
SEI handles worker's compensation and liability insurance.
Does Climate Corps handle benefits/payroll?
Yes the Fellows are on our payroll.
Who is responsible for Fellow's activities?
Program Partners' designate site supervisors who have direct oversight. Climate Corps provides initial training, remote supervision and ongoing training. Climate Corps also acts as an intermediary if there are problems.
DOES CLIMATE CORPS ACCEPT ANY APPLICANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS?
We accept applications from college graduates, or those with equivalent experience. If you are currently in school, you would have a hard time participating as the fellowship is a full-time position.
Are there part-time positions?
Not at this time. All of our fellowships are full time positions.
HOW ARE PROGRAM PARTNERS INVOLVED IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS?
Partners participate in the recruitment and selection process. Climate Corps encourages partners to let their community know and to put forward candidates they are already familiar with. Climate Corps staff screens candidates, narrows down a few according to partner criteria and interests, and share this pool. Based on this, partners will identify candidates to interview.
Does the program require a set number of hours/week?
Fellows will generally be involved with the program for 10 months full-time (approximately 1700 hours). They will generally work 40 hrs a week with 1 day a month off for groupwide training and development days. In addition there is a 2 day retreat mid-year. The program period also provides for a set amount of personal /vacation days and holidays.
What does the partner contribution cover and are there any other contributions expected?
See the "Program Partners" Section for annual contribution costs. Fellows are on payroll at SEI, so partners don't have any HR costs to bear. That match amount is the only cash contribution, we do expect in-kind supervision as well.
I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. CAN YOU UPDATE ME ON THE STATUS AND NEXT STEPS?
Climate Corps Staff seek to notify candidates of status as soon as possible. Given the large volume of applicants we receive and the role of partners in the application process, we may be delayed in giving updates on application status. If you would like an update, you can email [email protected].
IS THERE ANY FLEXIBILITY IN FELLOWSHIP START DATES?
The majority of our fellows start on the first day of our week long orientation, in late August. There are some positions that are considered late start, starting throughout the fall or half-cycle fellowships that begin in January.
I WAS WONDERING WHEN I SHOULD APPLY IF I'M INTERESTED IN DOING THIS FELLOWSHIP FOR THE NEXT COMING PROGRAM YEAR ?
The best time to apply for fellowships starting in the fall is in the late spring and early summer.
DOES CLIMATE CORPS ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS?
You must be a U.S. citizen to be considered. Unfortunately, the structuring of our program does not permit international applicants at this time.
DOES CLIMATE CORPS PROHIBIT PAID WORK OUTSIDE OF THE PROGRAM FOR FULL-TIME FELLOWS?
Fellows are allowed to work outside of the program. However, the work cannot conflict with the fellowship and the partner organization cannot both have a Fellow on site and pay them to do similar work as their fellowship entails.
If you are currently collecting unemployment insurance benefits does participation in Climate Corps affect this (i.e. Do you have to report the stipend allowance as wages?)?
Yes.
