During my time as an AmeriCorps VISTA member for the James River Basin Partnership I gained experience working with non-profit organizations, building partnerships, organizing events, and so much more. This position has been extremely enriching not only for my professional development, but it has also expanded my interest in conservation work as a whole.
One of the most valuable experiences that I’ve had during my service is meeting and working with so many established professionals, many of whom could be potential employers one day. It has provided me with a “foot in the door” to agencies like the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Missouri Department of Conservation, and the City of Springfield. I have had the opportunity to work directly with department heads to complete projects, which was a good way to get to know them and them get to know me.
I have been able to gain a lot of hands-on field experience with water quality monitoring, including chemical sampling and macroinvertebrate monitoring, as well as interpreting the data and submitting it on to state agencies. Another skill I learned was how to collect soil samples for soil tests and meet with homeowners. Converting scientific information into digestible material for the public is a powerful asset that I have been able to expand with this position.
Another skill I have learned through this position is grant writing. I have researched, applied for, and received several grants for the James River Basin Partnership. This is a great skill to have that any non-profit organization will look for in the hiring process.
In the last year, I visited several classrooms and helped teach lessons on water quality to students ranging from 2nd grade to college level. This gave me a lot of perspective on classroom management as well as how to mold material to the level of understanding of each individual student.
My favorite part of my service is how much independent development I had. It pushed me out of my comfort zone to reach out to organizations, individuals, and department heads to work with them on a project or even ask for their financial support. I gained a lot of public speaking experience - which no one can ever have enough of! There have been so many opportunities through my service that I never would have had otherwise. I never felt pressured to “prove” myself like in many past entry level positions. During my service year, I was always in a very encouraging environment where everyone wanted me to succeed, gain experiences that would benefit me, and prepare me for my future.
Allison Osredker
