The New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is an environmental stewardship-oriented AmeriCorps program designed to raise awareness about water concerns. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has hosted the program since 2000, and while the program has evolved over the last 22 years, its main goals have remained the same: promote watershed stewardship through education and direct community involvement, and monitor the health of our waterways through conducting stream assessments.
Twenty (20) Watershed Ambassadors serve from partner host agency locations, with one located in each of New Jersey’s Watershed Management Areas. From Sussex to Cape May counties! Three (3) Source Water Protection Ambassadors serve from partner host agency locations, in north, central, and south locations and will engage in outreach and education campaigns that will lead to the protection of drinking water sources. Ambassadors serve with all sectors of society to improve the quality of New Jersey’s waterways by:
- educating the public on watershed science.
- implementing community green infrastructure.
- encouraging them to get involved in local stewardship actions.
- stewardship projects partnering with local organizations and community volunteers.
- performing habitat and biological assessments following DEP monitoring protocols to monitor the health of their WMA’s streams.
Throughout the program, extensive training in highly sought-after skills in the environmental field are provided, including ArcGIS, fieldwork experience, grant writing, project management, public speaking and presentations, green infrastructure and science communication. Members exit the program prepared to further their career in the environmental field!
Program staff reviews applications in the order they are submitted and choice of WMA/ SWP location is assigned on a first come first serve basis, so don’t delay your application!
Application deadline is Friday July 15th!
Application for the Full-Time Watershed Ambassador Position: https://bit.ly/3xtl9Iu
Application for the Part-Time Source Water Protection Ambassador Position: https://bit.ly/3NPNX53
You can also use the search feature on the AmeriCorps Portal to find either application. We are a State National Program located in New Jersey. The name of the full time position is “2022 -23 AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program” and the part time position is “NJDEP – SWP Ambassadors Source Water”.
All interested applicants should create an account on the “My AmeriCorps” website before they will be able to apply. Since this is an AmeriCorps Program, applicants apply through the AmeriCorps Portal: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do
Interested applicants can reach out to Samantha Pfeffer (samantha.pfeffer@dep.nj.gov) or Amanda Baksa (amanda.baksa@dep.nj.gov) with any questions or concerns.
Benefits of being an Ambassador?
✅Gain experience in the environmental field
✅Develop public speaking and presentation skills
✅Learn field work and citizen science methods
✅Enhance your ability to manage programs and events
✅Build your professional network
✅Increase your knowledge of local and state government
✅Make lasting friendships ❤️
✅ and more!
Positions we will be hiring for:
20 full-time Watershed Ambassador positions (35-40 hours a week, September-July, 1700 total hours)
3 part-time Source Water Protection (SWP) Ambassador positions (25-30 hours a week, September-April, 900 total hours)
*both Watershed Ambassadors and SWP Ambassadors serve together and are part of the same cohort.
Below you will find some links to relevant information about our program and what it means to serve as an ambassador.
Eligibility to Serve with the NJWAP:
• Must have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• A valid driver’s license, dependable car for service assignment travel
• Must be a U.S Citizen or a permanent resident of the US (must provide documentation)
NJWAP description and recent program requirements:
(full time) https://bit.ly/3OtLjSG
(part time) https://bit.ly/3O8atq6
Our homepage on the NJ DEP site: http://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/americorps.htm
AmeriCorps New Jersey site: https://americorps.gov/national-service-report/nj
Our fact sheet, which has all of our current Ambassadors’ contact information, host agencies, and WMA/ SWP locations: https://bit.ly/3njLq7P
Our Facebook page, where we post volunteer events organized by current members as well as program updates and recruitment info (and a great place to see pictures of our ambassadors in service!): www.facebook.com/njwap
We will be holding a virtual Open House event on Monday July 11th, 10 AM – 12 PM. This would be a great time for anyone interested in the program to learn more and ask questions. We will even have a few of our current members there to share their perspectives!
Register here for the open house: https://forms.gle/BXwsHcgFneTCFfDp8
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for helping us spread the word!