Location of Service: 8520 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379//400 Garden Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37419
About Ivy Academy:
Ivy Academy is Tennessee’s first environmental public charter school, serving approximately 475 students in grades 6–12. Located adjacent to North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ivy Academy integrates environmental literacy, outdoor learning, stewardship, and community engagement into every aspect of the educational experience. Through hands-on field studies, citizen science, sustainability initiatives, agriculture and horticulture programs, and partnerships with local conservation organizations, Ivy prepares students to become informed citizens, environmental stewards, and future leaders. The school’s unique campus and mission provide students with daily opportunities to connect classroom learning to the natural world.
About Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center:
Reflection Riding is a nonprofit nature center and arboretum located on a 300-acre campus at the foot of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Reflection Riding connects people with nature through environmental education, native plant conservation, land stewardship, outdoor experiences, and community programs. Its campus includes trails, forest, meadow, wetlands, Lookout Creek, a native plant nursery, and educational spaces that provide hands-on opportunities for students, families, volunteers, and community members to learn about the natural world. Through field trips, public programs, native plant education, restoration work, and partnerships with schools and community organizations, Reflection Riding inspires environmental stewardship and helps people build meaningful connections to the land.
POSITION SUMMARY:
Split service time approximately 50/50 between Reflection Riding and Ivy Academy, supporting environmental education, native plant stewardship, outdoor learning, and community engagement at both sites.
Ivy Academy responsibilities:
- Support classroom teachers in developing and implementing environmental education lessons and activities.
- Assist with outdoor learning experiences on campus and in North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park.
- Support environmental field studies, citizen science projects, and stewardship initiatives.
- Assist with school-wide environmental education programs, theme weeks, special events, and community engagement activities.
- Support watershed education, conservation projects, sustainability initiatives, and environmental monitoring efforts.
- Assist with agricultural and horticultural learning programs, including school gardens, greenhouses, orchards, and food production projects.
- Support farm-to-school initiatives, habitat restoration projects, and native plant propagation efforts.
- Help coordinate educational partnerships, guest speakers, field experiences, and service-learning opportunities.
- Assist with student leadership programs, environmental clubs, and community service projects.
- Serve as a mentor and positive role model for middle and high school students.
- Support program logistics, educational materials, and project implementation.
- Perform other duties that support Ivy Academy’s environmental education mission.
Reflection Riding responsibilities:
- Facilitate and support school field trips at Reflection Riding, including hands-on, place-based environmental education experiences across campus.
- Lead or assist with public programs, guided walks, nursery tours, volunteer workdays, and other educational experiences for children, families, adults, and community groups.
- Support program planning, setup, materials preparation, participant engagement, cleanup, and evaluation.
- Help connect program participants to Reflection Riding’s mission, native plant work, conservation priorities, and opportunities for continued involvement.
- Assist staff in adapting environmental education activities for different age groups, learning needs, group sizes, and seasonal conditions.
- Support community outreach and engagement related to field trips, public programs, volunteer opportunities, and native plant education.
- Assist with daily native plant nursery operations, including watering, weeding, pruning, transplanting, propagation, and general plant care.
- Support greenhouse, hoophouse, irrigation, and nursery infrastructure upkeep.
- Assist with seed collection, seed processing, plant labeling, plant organization, and native plant identification.
- Help maintain an organized, clean, safe, and welcoming nursery environment.
- Prepare plants and materials for public sales, educational programs, volunteer workdays, and events.
- Assist guests with native plant questions and help connect visitors to native plant education and stewardship opportunities.
- Support volunteer workdays and assist staff with volunteer coordination as needed.
- Contribute to campus stewardship projects connected to native plants, habitat restoration, invasive species management, and ecological health.
- Perform other service activities that support the environmental education and stewardship mission of Reflection Riding.
The member(s) in this position will have the opportunity to gain the following skills/credentials:
- Gain hands-on experience in environmental education, outdoor education, place-based learning, curriculum implementation, sustainability programming, and community engagement.
- Grow skills in native plant identification, plant propagation, seed collection and processing, greenhouse and nursery operations, habitat restoration, and stewardship-based education.
- Develop skills in lesson facilitation, environmental interpretation, field study coordination, citizen science, project management, public speaking, partnership development, volunteer engagement, and event planning.
- Additional experience may include watershed education, conservation practices, horticulture, greenhouse management, farm-to-school programming, habitat restoration, volunteer coordination, and educational program evaluation.
SITE PREFERENCES/QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or equivalent required; college coursework or degree in education, environmental science, natural resources, agriculture, biology, ecology, sustainability, outdoor recreation, or a related field preferred.
- Interest in environmental education, conservation, agriculture, horticulture, sustainability, outdoor learning, or youth development.
- Experience working with youth, volunteers, community groups, educational programs, gardens, nurseries, or outdoor programs preferred.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with staff, students, teachers, volunteers, and community members.
- Comfortable working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and on uneven terrain.
- Comfortable working with chickens, livestock, and other animals
- Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and participate in outdoor activities, including hiking up to 2 miles with program participants.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation preferred.
- Saturday and occasional evening availability preferred or required based on program, school, nursery, and event needs.
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.