New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program (AmeriCorps)

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About the Program

The NJWAP is a 10-month, full-time AmeriCorps program focused on promoting watershed stewardship through education, community engagement, and stream monitoring. Individual AmeriCorps members are assigned to each of New Jersey’s 20 watershed management areas (WMAs) to serve as “Watershed Ambassadors” to their watershed communities. In addition to the 20 Watershed Ambassadors, 3 Source Water Protection (SWP) Ambassadors are each assigned to the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of NJ. While Watershed Ambassadors have a focus on water quality through non-point and point-source pollution, SWP Ambassadors have a focus on source water, water conservation, and groundwater.

This program is a full-time commitment of 35-40 hours a week, for a total of 1700 hours over a ten-month span (September-July). While outside activities like graduate school and other jobs are allowed, members are asked to make the NJWAP their priority while they are serving.

Candidates are eligible if they

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree (any major)
  • Are passionate about the environment and community service
  • Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (travel is throughout NJ, but never in other states)
  • Are a U.S. Citizen or can provide required documentation of permanent residence
  • Can commit to 35–40 hours/week (1700 hour term) from September to July

Why become an Ambassador?

✅Gain experience in the environmental field
✅Develop public speaking and presentation skills
✅Learn field work and citizen science methods
✅Enhance abilities to manage programs and events
✅Build a professional network
✅Increase knowledge of local and state government
✅Make lasting friendships

and more!

Program Benefits

  • Living Stipend evenly distributed bi-weekly over the 10-month term of service
  • Health Coverage
  • Childcare assistance if eligible
  • Segal Education Award upon completion of 1700 hours. Members can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

Program Terms

  • Permits working at another job during off hours
  • Permits attendance at school during off hours
  • AmeriCorps apparel provided and required to be worn during service outreach events

Learn More at Our Open House

We will go over program requirements, what an average day as an Ambassador is like, how to apply, and other relevant details. We will also have testimonials from current Ambassadors and alum. Open to graduates and students interested in future terms.

Register here

  • Virtual: TBD, July
  • In-Person: TBD, July (Central NJ)

How to Apply

  • Application opens in June 2025 via the My AmeriCorps Portal.
    •  All interested applicants should create an account on the “My AmeriCorps” website and fill out their basic application information before our application opens, so that when we start recruiting they are ready.
  • Interested applicants can get an application opening alert by filling out this interest form or by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

Placements are first-come, first-served, so early application is encouraged!

Where do Members Serve?

Ambassadors are hosted at different Host Agency Locations across the state, listed below. When applicants are accepted to the program we try to place them in the Host Agency closest to where they live. Ambassadors will most frequently commute to their Host Agency location, but there will also be travel to other locations throughout their WMA or region. We expect that when an applicant applies to our program they have considered which Host Agency would be their preference.
WMA 1: Upper Delaware Watersheds
Musconetcong Watershed Association, Asbury
WMA 2: Wallkill Watersheds
Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority, South Lafayette
WMA 3: Pompton, Wanaque, Ramapo & Pequannock Watersheds
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Passaic County, Wayne
WMA 4: Lower Passaic & Saddle Watersheds
Liberty State Park, Jersey City
WMA 5: Hackensack & Pascack Watersheds
Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc., Hackensack
WMA 6: Upper Passaic, Whippany & Rockaway Watersheds
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham Township
WMA 7: Arthur Kill Watersheds
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County, Westfield
WMA 8: North & South Raritan Watersheds
Raritan Headwaters Association, Bedminster
WMA 9: Lower Raritan, South & Lawrence Rivers Watersheds
Duke Farms, Hillsborough
WMA 10: Millstone Watersheds
The Watershed Institute, Pennington
WMA 11: Central Delaware Watersheds
Bulls Island Recreation Area at Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, Stockton
WMA 12: Monmouth Watersheds
Monmouth County Division of Planning, Freehold
WMA 13: Barnegat Bay Watersheds
Barnegat Bay Partnership, Toms River
WMA 14: Mullica Watersheds
Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, Tuckerton
WMA 15: Great Egg Harbor Watersheds
Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Great Egg Harbor Township
WMA 16: Cape May Watersheds
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, Cape May Court House
WMA 17: Maurice, Salem & Cohansey Watersheds
The Authority of Cumberland County, Millville
WMA 18: Lower Delaware Watersheds
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Camden & Palmyra Cove Nature Park, Palmyra
WMA 19: Rancocas Watersheds
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton
WMA 20: Crosswicks, Doctors and Assiscunk Watersheds
The Tulpehaking Nature Center at Mercer County Park Commission, Hamilton
SWP Northern Region
NJ DEP Northern Water Enforcement Office, Cedar Knolls
SWP Central Region
New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Clinton
SWP Southern Region

NJ DEP Southern Water Enforcement Office, Camden