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Funding for the Future – Supporting Careers in Conservation

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We are deeply grateful to SAHC member Bob Detjen for making a heroically generous contribution this year to help us catalyze more opportunities for young people to develop conservation- related jobs and careers in the southern Appalachians.

“SAHC is using this gift strategically to recruit additional AmeriCorps members and interns from other places to Asheville to begin their conservation careers, and to realign existing staff to train and supervise them,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “Bob’s visionary insight and remarkable generosity is increasing our capacity to offer young people opportunities to work with SAHC and link them with potential job paths in conservation-related fields.” Read more

AmeriCorps Project Conserve Team

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Welcome to our 2022-23 AmeriCorps Project Conserve Service Members!

AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer Members

David Hagler. David has strong land trust experience having previously interned with Davidson Lands Conservancy and Lowcountry Land Trust. While a student at Davidson College, he helped with the day-to-day farm operations at Davidson Farm. In his free time, David plays clawhammer banjo and old-time music. David is passionate about the outdoors, community service, and working in WNC.

Corinna Mokotoff. A graduate from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, Corinna is a wilderness first responder and has spent several years performing forestry and other natural resource management work. She previously served with AmeriCorps in Colorado with the Southwest Conservation Corps. Corinna loves to engage with her community in a variety of ways, enjoys spending time outdoors, and is an avid mountain biker.

Leigh Johnson Schafer. Leigh hails from Asheville and is a graduate from Haywood Community College’s Fish & Wildlife Management Technology Program. She has been attending Oregon State University in pursuit of her Bachelors of Science Degree. She has considerable forestry and field work experience working for AmeriCorps programs through the Nevada Conservation Corps and the Camas National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho. Leigh is looking forward to completing her third AmeriCorps term in WNC, where her love of the environment first took root.

Community Engagement & Education Member

Emily Starnes. A NC native, Emily spent much of her childhood exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is a graduate of Appalachian State University where she obtained a history degree and a minor in Appalachian Studies. Emily is also a Certified Nurse Assistant and most recently worked at Yosemite National Park. She cares deeply about affordable housing and is interested in addressing the barriers that keep people from accessing the outdoors.

 

Americorps logoAmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at  AmeriCorps.gov.

Project Conserve is administered by Conserving Carolina and funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the office of Governor Roy Cooper, and the critical support of our host sites and community partners.

Virtual Lunch and Learn: AmeriCorps, Conservation in Action!

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What: Lunch & Learn: Americorps Project Conserve

When: Thursday, Nov. 11 | 12 p.m.

The AmeriCorps Project Conserve program has played an important role in conservation efforts across the region, including many exciting programs at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. This National Service program recruits talented members from across the nation who dedicate themselves to serve critical environmental and community needs in western North Carolina. The program focuses on collaboration with nonprofit organizations, community groups and local governments to provide service throughout the region.

SAHC currently hosts four incredibly talented AmeriCorps members who promote conservation through education, volunteerism, and direct environmental service. Join us to learn more about how AmeriCorps members have contributed to our conservation efforts since 2005 and what our current AmeriCorps members are up to this year.

AmeriCorps NC logoAmeriCorps Project Conserve is administered by Conserving Carolina and funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in the office of Governor Roy Cooper, and the critical support of our host sites and community partners.
AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges, through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
Click HERE to Register

Meet Our 2021-2022 AmeriCorps Project Conserve Team:

Laura Fraser

Laura Fraser

Community Engagement and Youth Education Member

Laura is originally from Iowa and graduated in 2019 from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Biology and Earth Sciences. During her time at university, she worked at the botanical center and observatory on campus. She joined Peace Corps Benin after graduating and did agricultural work with her local women’s group. After, she joined AmeriCorp and moved to Reno, NV to work as an arboretum educator at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum. She’s new to the east coast and is a plant mom that loves to bake, read, and hike.

Logan Dye

Logan Dye

Conservation Education & Volunteer Outreach Member

Logan is a western North Carolina native who grew up in Brevard, NC. While growing up, he spent his time mountain biking, rock climbing, paddling, and hiking. These activities fostered a love for the southern Appalachians, specifically the unique ecosystems of western North Carolina. While attending UNC Asheville, his fascination for the habitat he grew up in flourished as he pursued a B.S. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in ecology. Logan is returning for his second AmeriCorps term after spending last year with the Hemlocks Restoration Initiative. He is excited to continue his AmeriCorps journey with SAHC.

Stephanie Long

Stephanie Long

Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Stephanie is joining SAHC for another year as the Stewardship & Volunteer Associate. She graduated from Smith College in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy and a concentration in Conservation Ecology. While at Smith, Stephanie was involved in ecophysiology and spatial analysis research and is the recipient of the Amy Randall Brown Prize in Botany and the Florence Augusta Merriam Prize for innovative and collaborative approaches to solving environmental and sustainability problems. Before working at SAHC she spent a year in Vermont serving with the Vermont Land Trust. She obtained her Remote Pilot Certification in 2020 and has been using drones to help monitor SAHC conservation easements.

Sarah Sussman

Sarah Sussman

AmeriCorps Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Sarah graduated from Appalachian State University in 2019 with a degree in Sustainable Development – Environmental Studies, a minor in Nonprofit Management, and an undergraduate certificate in Geographic information Systems. At ASU, Sarah was a member of Watauga Residential College and worked as a Sustainability Ambassador for the Office of Sustainability, connecting students, faculty, and staff to App State’s sustainability initiatives. After graduating, Sarah served in the Student Conservation Association managing trails in the Catskill Forest preserve in New York. This is Sarah’s second AmeriCorps term; she previously served at Conserving Carolina in Hendersonville, NC removing nonnative invasive species, working with volunteers, and conducting other land management activities. In her free time she loves to run, hike, and explore the mountains of WNC.

Stephens-Lee Bird Sanctuary Outing

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In November, AmeriCorps member Whisper Moore led an afterschool group from Stephens-Lee Recreation Center to experience birding at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary in North Asheville. In a previous afterschool session, Whisper had introduced students to migratory birds with the #GreatMigrationChallenge game. For this field trip, Bethany Sheffer and Simon Thompson of the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society chapter joined us to share their expertise.

Bethany and Simon gave a brief lesson on birding and showed students how to use binoculars by spotting a particular point on a sign. Then they headed out together to spot some resident birds that stay at the Sanctuary year-round. As they ventured over to look at some Canada Geese across the waterway, one student exclaimed “Look at the mountains!” Read more

AmeriCorps Team 2018-19

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Our Project Conserve AmeriCorps members serve 11-month terms, beginning in September. Their service helps expand and enrich all of our programs. We are grateful for their commitment and welcome our new 2018-19 team! Read more

Crossnore Boy Scout Troop 814 Volunteer Workday

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Ellis Ayers, the Committee Chair for Boy Scout Troop 814 out of Crossnore, NC, heard about our conservation work ‘through the grapevine’ and recognized a great opportunity for his scouts to do local land stewardship.

“I never had the pleasure of being a Boy Scout growing up,” said Travis Bordley, SAHC’s Roan AmeriCorps members. “That explains some odd holes in my outdoor education and training — and was one of many reasons why I was delighted to team up with Boy Scout Troop 814 out of Crossnore NC on behalf of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.” Read more

AmeriCorps Needs Our Help!

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We need your help!

Please contact your Senator and Representative NOW, and ask them to oppose efforts to eliminate the AmeriCorps program (part of the Corporation for National and Community Service). This program is an important public/private partnership — in which non-profits like Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy match federal funds in order to accomplish meaningful land & water conservation and to create vibrant rural and urban communities. Read more

Project POWER visits Our Community Farm

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A cold morning brightened up on November 18th just in time to indulge a large group of AmeriCorps members on a tour of our Community Farm. Chris Link, SAHC’s Community Farm Manager, and Travis Bordley, our Roan Volunteer Outreach Associate, hosted 26 AmeriCorps members from Project POWER, which stands for “Putting Opportunity Within Everyone’s Reach.”
Project POWER is a local division of the national AmeriCorps program. Members of Project POWER work exclusively in Buncombe Country and with at-risk youth in schools, non-profits and faith biased organizations. SAHC and Project POWER have been fostering a relationship to connect people with the environment and outdoor experiences on conservation properties.

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Headwaters Exploration

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SAHC-23_Group High Quality2_brightenedTucked away in the hills of Black Mountain, NC, lies the headwaters of the Catawba River and the popular hiking destination, Catawba Falls. During the last week of May, we had the pleasure of leading a group of hikers to the upper portion of Catawba Falls, a rarely visited section of this favorite waterfall spot. Most hikers access Catawba Falls from the bottom and rarely see the upper portion of the falls, but we were able to gain access to this unique route by beginning the hike on a tract on which SAHC holds a conservation easement. This particular property in Black Mountain is a real favorite, for its incredible plant diversity, high water quality and most notably the headwaters of the Catawba River. Read more

Thunder on the Mountain

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2014_thunderstruck_hike_view_from_waterrock_knobDrew Stevenson from Highland Brewing Company  and Kana Miller (SAHC AmeriCorps PR and Outreach Associate) fearlessly led our group of hikers into the clouds for a strenuous but fun October hike — the Thunderstruck “For Love of Beer and Mountains” Partnership hike to  Blackrock Mountain. Drew recounts this trek through the Plott Balsams in Jackson County, our 2nd Partnership  hike of the fall season:

“The hike group met at the Waterrock Knob overlook (elevation 6,292 feet), which gets its name from a cool stream where hunters and farmers came to quench their thirst. About 1/4 mile down from the Waterrock Knob Visitor Center we started the trail, which covers approximately 2.2 miles of up-and-down terrain, becoming very skinny at times to hug the steep mountainside.

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