Eastern Sierra Land Trust is currently not accepting positions for Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Members. Please check back for updates. We are grateful for all our past members; read below to learn more about all they did.
Organized by the Sierra Nevada Alliance, the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership places 28 AmeriCorps members each year with partner organizations throughout the Sierra. SNAP members typically serve 11-month service terms, beginning in October and ending in September of the following year. The partnership was founded in 2007, and every year through 2023 ESLT hosted talented SNAP members who have conducted education and outreach in our area, helping to inform and inspire our community. We are currently not accepting applications for AmeriCorps members. However, if you are interested in learning more about other AmeriCorps opportunities, visit the Sierra Nevada Alliance website.
Our SNAP Members Made a Difference
Do you recognize any of the friendly faces on the right? These are our past SNAP AmeriCorps members, and they have made a huge difference in the Eastern Sierra. Many have chosen to remain in the area to continue giving back to our community long after their service term ended, going on to take full-time jobs at several of our partner organizations, including the Bishop Paiute Tribe, Eastern Sierra Audubon, and the Bishop Elementary School.
In 2015, two-time ESLT SNAP member, Sara Kokkelenberg, was chosen from among more than 4,000 AmeriCorps participants across the state as the winner of California’s 2015 Volunteering and Service Award for AmeriCorps Member of the Year! She later worked as a full-time employee for ESLT. Thanks for all your hard work, Sara!
ESLT’s AmeriCorps Members of years past
- Katie Hergenrather, 2007
- Katie Nelson, 2008
- Serena Dennis, 2009
- Sarah Spano, 2010
- Hillary Behr, 2011
- Victoria Ortiz, 2012
- Elise Robinette, 2013 (half-term)
- Alison Amberg, 2014
- Sara Kokkelenberg, 2014 and 2015
- Abbey Blair, 2015 (half-term)
- Catherine Tao, 2016
- Indigo Johnson, 2017
- Ryan Delaney, 2018
- Marie Ring, 2019 and 2020
- Gabrielle Tribelli, 2021
- Claire Marvet, 2022
- Julie Royall, 2023 (half-term)
What Did a SNAP Member Do?
As our Education Coordinators, SNAP members led and collaborated on restoration, education, and outreach projects that engage our community in conservation. They gained skills and technical training, mentored with environmental leaders in our area, and received an education award at the completion of their service term to help cover student loans or pay for future education. They were also given a small monthly stipend and healthcare during their service.
During their 11-month service term with us, our AmeriCorps members worked on a variety of interesting projects with a high level of responsibility and creative freedom. This included:
- Leading our Eastside Pollinator Garden Project by helping locals create and certify pollinator-friendly gardens
- Organizing community education programs, field trips, seminars, workshops, and more
- Coordinating volunteer events on our protected lands
- Collaborating with ESLT staff and conservation partners on important habitat restoration projects