Environmental Education Leadership Corps, 500 Mero Street 4th Floor, Frankfort, KY (2026)

04/13/2026

What if one AmeriCorps member could expand environmental education for hundreds of learners in your community?

That’s what happens every year through EELCorps.

Across Kentucky, our AmeriCorps members serve with local organizations to:

- Teach environmental education lessons
- Lead outdoor learning programs
- Connect communities with the natural world

But none of it happens without local organizations stepping forward as Site Partners.

We are now accepting Service Site Partner applications for the 2026-2027 term beginning September 1.

We’re especially interested in partnering with:
• Environmental education centers
• Nature centers
• Schools or educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Nonprofits focused on environmental education

Both 1700-hour and 900-hour AmeriCorps members are available.

📅 Apply by May 15, 2026

Learn more and apply here:
https://keec.ky.gov/eelc/Pages/Partner-with-EELCorps.aspx

If your organization is passionate about environmental education in Kentucky, we’d love to partner with you.

Serve Kentucky

03/16/2026

Kentucky organizations: Want to host an AmeriCorps member?

EELCorps is recruiting Site Partners for the 2026-2027 service year.
Host an AmeriCorps member who can help your organization:

🌱 Deliver environmental education programs
🌳 Expand community engagement
🦋 Inspire environmental stewardship

Both 1700-hour and 900-hour member placements are available.

📅 Apply by May 15

Learn more and apply:
https://keec.ky.gov/eelc/Pages/Partner-with-EELCorps.aspx

Tag an organization that should apply 👇

Serve Kentucky

03/13/2026

As AmeriCorps Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the collective impact of our EELCorps members.

Throughout the week, we shared why our members serve and the stories that drive their commitment to their communities. Together, these voices show the care, intention, and heart behind their service.

Here is the full collage, created from each member’s artwork and paired with their “Why I Serve” statements. We are so proud of our members and deeply grateful for the compassion, energy, and dedication they bring to this work every single day.

Serve Kentucky

03/12/2026

Welcome to AmeriCorps Week. This is a moment to celebrate service and recognize the individuals who show up with purpose and care for their communities.

All week long, we’re highlighting our EELCorps members and the reasons they chose to serve. Their stories remind us that service can take many forms, but the impact is always meaningful.
Below, you can read our member’s “Why I Serve” statement and see their artwork featured alongside it. Each piece is part of a larger collage we’ll be sharing at the end of the week. We’re proud of our members and thankful for the dedication they bring every day.

“I serve because I want to make a positive impact by bringing the joy and health benefits of nature to a broader and more diverse audience in my own community. I love being able to serve people of all ages and background by giving them the opportunity to connect with the environment in new and meaningful ways.”
-Elaine Keller, Louisville Nature Center

“I serve because the wildlife and nature that is so abundant in this state matters to me. By being an environmental educator, I can show others why our wildlife so important to our state as both an ecosystem, as well as a community for us to all be a part of.”
-Max Moberly, EKU Division of Natural Areas

Serve Kentucky

03/11/2026

It’s AmeriCorps Week, a time to pause and recognize the impact of service and the people who make it possible.

This week, we’re spotlighting our EELCorps members and sharing their reasons for serving. Each story is unique, but all are rooted in care, commitment, and a desire to make a difference.
Below, you’ll find featured member’s “Why I Serve” statement, along with a piece of artwork they created. Stay with us throughout the week as we share more stories and build toward a collective collage. We’re so grateful for our members and the heart they bring to their work.

“I serve with EELCorps because I love connecting with people, the environment, and connecting people with the environment. Not only do I get to do all of that, but I get to learn lots of new things along the way!”
-Carly Cecil, Kenton County Conservation District, Kentucky

“I serve because showing up matters. Small, consistent acts like picking up trash, planting a tree and creating welcoming spaces can change how a place feels and how people connect to it. Service is about relationships as much as it is about results. Listening, working alongside others, and caring for shared spaces helps build stronger, more connected communities. I serve to help people feel connected to the land, to each other, and to something bigger than themselves.”
-Zach Vincent, FS Parks & Recreation-Franklin, KY

“I serve because I believe that environmental education is absolutely necessary as organisms of this Earth! Providing environmental literacy for my community is one of my favorite ways to give back!”
-Keionna Spalding, Know Waste Louisville

Serve Kentucky

03/10/2026

It’s AmeriCorps Week! This week is all about honoring service, lifting up impact, and recognizing the people who commit themselves to their communities day after day.

Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing the voices of our EELCorps members and highlighting why they serve. Every reason is personal, and together they reflect the care and purpose behind this work.
Below, you can read each featured member’s “Why I Serve” statement. You’ll also see a piece of artwork created by each member. Be sure to follow along and check back at the end of the week to see the full collage come together. We’re incredibly proud of our members and the intention they bring to their service.

I serve because “I personally believe that community is the solution to many problems. Community is able to pick up the pieces when people are let down by greater systems or larger powers… I get to help these people and their children create a meaningful connection with nature. Not only is this connection great for our bodies and minds, but I hope one day it can lead to a population that is a little more conscientious about the natural world around them.”
-Sophie Lilygren, Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

“I serve with the Environmental Education Leadership Corps because I think it’s important for everyone to be able to learn about the world around them. We are facing many environmental challenges, and helping people access knowledge about how it affects us and what solutions are available is how we build a more resilient future. I think it’s especially important to provide this education to younger generations to help prepare them to face these challenges and act as problem solvers when they come across them.”
-Olivia Hurley, Jefferson Memorial Forest & Natural Areas

“I serve with the Environmental Education Leadership Corps to create accessible outdoor spaces and strengthen connections between people and their local environment. I believe that fostering a relationship with nature builds healthier, more resilient communities. I’m honored to play a role in nurturing environmental accessibility, connectedness, and stewardship.”
-Julia Thomas, Jefferson Memorial Forest & Natural Areas

“I serve because I want everyone to experience the joy of being outdoors and learning about the environment.”
-Madi Warner, The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Serve Kentucky

03/09/2026

Welcome to AmeriCorps Week. This is a time to celebrate service, reflect on impact, and recognize the people who show up for their communities every day.

Throughout the week, we’re lifting up the voices of our EELCorps members and sharing why they chose to serve. Each member brings their own story, perspective, and motivation, and together those stories show the heart of this program.

Below, you can read each featured member’s “Why I Serve” statement. In the attached images, you’ll also see some of our members’ artwork. Be sure to check back at the end of the week to see the full collage, created from all of their pieces. We’re so proud of our members and grateful for the care, commitment, and intention they bring to their work every day.

“I serve because I am AWAKENed to the notion that our little actions make a difference by spreading joy and a sense of community to one another, to ourselves, and to the environment around us. I pass this forward to as many people as possible, finding solace and contentment that together our little actions make big impacts.”
-Sarah Bell, Bluegrass Greensource

“I serve with AmeriCorps to work directly with my community in ways everyday jobs or service does not have the ability to. I believe I have a unique set of skills and expertise that the everyday student may never know about. Through my service I am able to connect with students from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences using nature in aspects of their life that surround their environment. Serving with AmeriCorps gives me a new perspective on how communities interact with themselves and others”
-Mia Murphy, Fayette County Public Schools

“I serve because of my love for the world that surrounds us. This position has placed me within a community that I know I can make a difference in. I hope with all the people I reach that they leave loving the world and beauty of our planet a little more.”
-Christine Argus, Franklin County KY Solid Waste

“I serve to give back to my community and share my passion for environmental science. Everyone deserves access to quality education, and I’m grateful to help students build their scientific literacy.”
-Monica Nokes, The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Serve Kentucky

01/22/2026

"At the heart of all that civilization has meant and developed is ‘community’ — the mutually cooperative and voluntary venture of man to assume a semblance of responsibility for his brother.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This MLK Day, our AmeriCorps members honored Dr. King’s legacy by showing up for both the places and the people they serve. From community cleanups and beautification projects that care for our shared environment, to preparing and serving food for neighbors in need, our members embodied what it means to take responsibility for one another.

Service lives at the heart of community, and community is built through action. Thank you to our members for leading with compassion, care, and commitment.
How do you show up for your community, not just on MLK Day, but every day?

01/16/2026

This is what service looks like.

Christine isn’t just sharing information.
She’s sparking curiosity.

She’s helping young people and neighbors understand how everyday choices add up for our environment, our communities, and our future, and how we can all put waste in its place.

Through AmeriCorps, Christine brings learning into everyday spaces,
from farmers markets to classrooms to conversations that matter.

And that impact?
It stays with people long after the table is packed up and the talk is over.

💚♻️🌱

Franklin County KY Solid Waste

12/01/2025

At the University of Kentucky Careers in the Environment Career Fair, EELCorps showed up strong — thanks to our outstanding AmeriCorps member, Sydney, who represented both EELCorps and her host site, Know Waste Louisville .
Because when people across Kentucky ask, “Where can my passion for the environment actually make a difference?”

Sydney gets to answer: Right here. With us.

Sydney joined our program director, Ashley Mike, and did a wonderful job sharing what EELCorps offers and connecting with future environmental leaders.

With EELCorps, you can spend a term of service leading environmental education and join a statewide network of passionate changemakers. We have limited positions available this year, but more positions coming in 2026.

👉 Learn more & apply: keec.ky.gov/eelc

11/24/2025

Check out this exciting update from our 2023–2024 alum, Lillie Daniel, who served at Thomas More University Biology Field Station!
EELCorps continues to open doors to incredible opportunities, and we couldn’t be prouder of our alumni making an impact. 💚🌱

Environmental Education Leadership Corps

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