Host Sites & Community Partners
AmeriCorps is about enriching lives by helping others. NESS SEA AmeriCorps supports students of all ages with standards-based STEM enrichment programs.
Student Support and Standards-Based Enrichment
Host Site & Community Partner Benefits
- Student support for 7 hours/day either full school days or afternoon support with after-school enrichment.
- For Schools: Service begins Oct. 1 through the end of your academic school year.
- For Community Programs: Service begins Oct. 1 through July 31.
- Standards-based enrichment
- Federal funding enables a discounted rate
- Additional support by NESS Educator professionals.
NESS SEA AmeriCorps Partners
Host Sites — any public elementary, middle or high school located in Connecticut.
Community Partners — an organization that programs for children from preschool through high school. Examples are: Parks and Rec Departments, After School Programs, Summer Programs, Youth and Family Services, Scouting Organizations, etc.
Student Support
NESS SEA Americorps members are trained to provide classroom and student assistance and support. For example, you might assign a member to a specific class for the school year, an entire grade, or send them where needed on an ad hoc basis. Members are capable of supporting students who don’t qualify for special services; they can support anyone who needs extra help.
Standards-Based Enrichment
AmeriCorps members are trained, under the guidance of NESS Educators, to support schools with standards-based enrichment programs that teach innovative environmental and STEM-based education. The programs follow standards such as the Ocean Literacy Principles and Next Generation Science Standards. Every lesson also includes and encourages our students to develop and grow social-emotional learning (SEL) skills.
For example your school might schedule NESS standards-based enrichment as a special in your block or weekly schedule. Or, AmeriCorps Members could support or provide enrichment for after-school programming.
Students exposed to NESS programs show positive improvements in their social and emotional learning. Click here to learn more about how NESS Works!
NESS SEA AmeriCorps Partners
NESS SEA AmeriCorps seeks public and charter pre-school, elementary, middle and high school as host sites. Additionally, we look to partner with community groups who work with underserved students who need additional support or who would benefit from standards-based enrichment. Per the federal grant requirement, the ideal student population is in a community, school, or school district with a 50% or higher free and reduced lunch rate (FRR%).
NESS can help our host sites apply for grants that may assist in the cost of members, with additional funding opportunities for Title 1 schools.
Host Site Assignments & Responsibilities
NESS SEA AmeriCorps is responsible for all recruitment for members and provides four weeks of training to the members at the beginning of the service year.
NESS will place a minimum of 2 AmeriCorps members at your site, although you are welcome to request more; through the development of our program, we learned that members are the most successful and our program is of the highest quality when they serve at a host site with at least one other member. During our training period, NESS assesses each member for optimal site placement.
Depending on how your school integrates members into the community and programming, your students could interact with the AmeriCorps members from monthly to weekly or even daily.
The most successful programs are those that welcome AmeriCorps members into the school community and provide ample opportunities for the members to interact with students.
- Enjoy additional standards-based enrichment and/or classroom assistance provided by AmeriCorps members under NESS Educator guidance, during the school day or in after-school activities.
- Provide members with a work space in the school. This can be a classroom that is dedicated to NESS SEA AmeriCorps or desk space.
- Orient our members to acquaint them with the school and staff at the beginning of the members year of service.
- Consider including members in any relevant training or professional development offered to school staff.
- Proudly display the “AmeriCorps A” signage at your school to let your community know that members proudly serve your students.
NESS SEA AmeriCorps Members
NESS SEA AmeriCorps Members serve the community for 1-2 years. They typically have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary education, have a passion for working with underserved students, a commitment to community service, experience in leading sailing and outdoor adventures, an interest in STEM Education, and experience in education and marine science. Members receive 4 weeks of extensive training from NESS including the delivery of standards-based enrichment programs based with guidance from NESS Educators.
NESS Educators are full-time year-round employees who design and deliver NESS Classroom and Field Expeditions. NESS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the education team ensures that all lessons and experiences follow Next Generation Science Standards, CASEL social emotional learning standards, and align with Ocean Literacy Principles. From the outset, NESS Educators guide AmeriCorps members to ensure the highest quality experience with students.
