ReSourceZero Waste Educator

This Energy Corps member will conduct research on making the NCAT SIFT (Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training) Farm become more energy efficient and offer better energy functionality. The Energy Corps member will also work with the Sustainable Agriculture Project Coordinator and the Farm Manager to identify resources and opportunities for the SIFT Farm to expand its use of energy efficient technology and research work.

Livingston and Park County are in transition. Traditional industries such as agriculture and railroad maintenance have given way to tourism, residential development, outdoor activities and cultural events. We have a housing shortage, lack of high paying jobs, traffic congestion and substantial poverty. Through community and administrative support, Livingston and Park County have made progress in their recycling, active transportation and conservation programs and want to do more.

They hope to join the larger community in developing renewable energy systems. Addressing energy costs in our operations and within the community is one substantial way of reducing the outflow of energy dollars and providing some economic development in the larger community. Given their tight budgets, both governments have a commitment to make smart, economic decisions concerning energy use. The role of the Energy Corps member with the Whitefish School District will be to support programming for K-12 students and community members, engage in research, and spread sustainability-related programming learned at the Center for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship (CSE) throughout the community.

The Whitefish City Council, through help from the previous Energy Corps member, has approved the City’s first Climate Action Plan, which seeks to conserve energy, reduce GHG emissions, and prepare for impacts of a warming and more volatile climate. The Clark Fork Coalition is a science-based, community-driven, conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Clark Fork River basin. The Energy Corps service member will help the Coalition continue the success of the past three decades by leading community outreach efforts and encouraging watershed literacy in our river communities through our citizen science, project based learning, and volunteer river corps programs.

Climate Smart Missoula’s mission is to be the hub that fosters partnership and actions to address climate change in our community. Over the past few years, we have brought together key stakeholders and community leaders to develop a Community Climate Action Plan. The Energy Corps member with Freedom Gardens will help support food production of the Frenchtown School District’s greenhouse and assist teachers with lessons about the greenhouse.

They will help plant, harvest, and prepare for sale. The member will also help manage the aquaponics system and collect data. The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Northern Rockies, Prairies and Pacific Regional Office in Missoula seeks an Education Energy Corps member to assist the Montana Education Coordinator with promoting environmental stewardship and engaging communities, schools, and partners in opportunities that help develop and connect community stewards, support sustainable environmental education, and restore/protect wildlife habitat.

The NWF education programs supported by this work include Eco-Schools USA , Garden for Wildlife, and many community outreach opportunities. Home ReSource is a nonprofit business with a commitment to reduce waste and build a more vibrant and sustainable local economy. We collect and sell reusable building materials, channel materials to those in need, provide green job training, offer reuse skill-building opportunities, and foster Missoula’s move toward Zero Waste.

Every day, we keep tons of good materials out of the landfill and provide affordable building materials to the Western Montana community. Since opening in 2003, we’ve helped put thousands of tons of building materials back to work in Montana homes, offices, playgrounds, gardens, and dog and bird houses. The Energy Corps member with BWMT further develops and coordinates the BWMT education…