Creative Communications Member

The Nature Place; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 24,000 - 25,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly living stipend

Job summary

Central Conservation is hiring two AmeriCorps Communications Members—one dedicated to The Nature Place and one dedicated to WisCorps. The roles focus on telling stories that showcase AmeriCorps impact through photography, video, writing, social media, and digital communications.

Responsibilities include planning content, updating WordPress sites, and producing newsletters to drive awareness of service opportunities and community programs.

Qualifications

• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience with social media platforms and content creation.
• Interest in photography, videography, journalism, marketing, public relations, or graphic design.
• Familiarity with Canva; experience with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
• Organized, self-motivated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively, bringing new ideas to the table and executing them from start to finish.
• Passion for conservation, environmental education, outdoor recreation, volunteerism, and community engagement.
• Willing to make the first introduction in a conversation with a stranger.

Responsibilities

• Capture photography and video of programs, events, service projects, and AmeriCorps members.
• Create engaging social media posts, Reels, blogs, and member spotlights; plan and manage social media content calendars.
• Assist with communication strategy and campaign planning.
• Update website content using WordPress and contribute to newsletters through Mailchimp.
• Promote AmeriCorps service opportunities through digital storytelling.
• Collaborate with staff to develop creative communications that support organizational goals.

Skills

Strong writing

Storytelling

Social media

Photography

Videography

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Public relations

Graphic design

Teamwork

Tools

WordPress

Mailchimp

Job description

Creative Communications Member

One member will serve with The Nature Place and one member will serve with WisCorps

Host Site: Central Conservation
Location: 789 Myrick Park Dr., La Crosse, WI 54601 (at The Nature Place headquarters)

Note about the Member serving WisCorps: The WisCorps Communications Member may work up to three days per week from the WisCorps headquarters (411 La Crosse St. La Crosse, WI) and will be required to travel on occasion during Spring Crew Leader Training and peak Summer Field Season, which will involve camping.

Service Term: September 9, 2026 – August 20, 2027
Service Hours: 1,700 hours | Full-time (40 hours/week)
Time Off: Approximately 5 weeks throughout the service term

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5 PM, with occasional evening, weekend and holiday hours required for events and programs. Hours will vary weekly but generally will not exceed 70 hours over a two-week period.

Benefits: Weekly living stipend of $470 (paid biweekly)
$7,395 Education Award upon successful completion of service
AmeriCorps Provides Additional Benefits:

• Learn more about the AmeriCorps Education Award mentioned under "Details".
• You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay for current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. (Award Amounts)
• Professional networking opportunities, mentorship, and experience to help grow your career
• Make a difference in the community
• Be a part of a dedicated service team
• Opportunity for loan forbearance on qualified student loans
• Free access to Employee Assistance Program includes phone/text/video call counselor service and other resources
• Health insurance (1700 hr positions who are not already covered, have optional coverage)
• You may be eligible for AmeriCorps child care public assistance
• Access to on-site food pantry and laundry facilities

Overview: Central Conservation is hiring two AmeriCorps Communications Members—one dedicated to The Nature Place and one dedicated to WisCorps.

Both members will serve under the Director of Communications, creating compelling stories that showcase the impact of AmeriCorps service through photography, video, writing, social media, and digital communications.

About Central Conservation: Central Conservation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers environmental organizations through shared resources and operational support. We build the systems, infrastructure, and administrative capacity that allow our division staff to focus on what they do best—protecting our environment, engaging communities, and creating lasting conservation impact.

• The Nature Place: Located in Myrick Park, The Nature Place inspires and cultivates meaningful connections between people and nature through environmental education, community programs, for the benefit of both. Through their community programming, land stewardship opportunities, public gathering space and environmental education focus, the programmatic division serves thousands of visitors each year through camps, school programs, events, and accessible outdoor experiences.
• WisCorps: WisCorps engages the next generation through guided, hands-on conservation service opportunities that benefit our public lands. Crew & Individual Placement AmeriCorps Members complete meaningful projects including trail construction, habitat restoration, invasive species management, and environmental stewardship while developing valuable career skills with partners across the Upper Midwest.

Service Description:

The AmeriCorps Communications Member tells stories that connect new and existing audiences to our mission while highlighting the vital role AmeriCorps members play in advancing conservation and environmental education within our communities.

This position is responsible for planning and managing social media content, capturing photography and video that tell compelling stories, writing engaging content that showcases the day-to-day impact of our organizations, developing and managing blog content to drive website traffic, and supporting digital communications that increase awareness of AmeriCorps service opportunities, community programs, and organizational impact through seasonal newsletters and targeted digital campaigns.

Ideal candidates are creative storytellers with strong writing and visual communication skills, an eye for compelling content, and a passion for conservation, environmental education, and community engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Capture photography and video of programs, events, service projects, and AmeriCorps members.
• Create engaging social media posts, Reels, blogs, and member spotlights.
  Plan and manage social media content calendars.
• Assist with communication strategy and campaign planning.
• Update website content using WordPress and contribute to newsletters through Mailchimp.
• Promote AmeriCorps service opportunities through digital storytelling.
• Collaborate with staff to develop creative communications that support organizational goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Experience with social media platforms and content creation.
• Interest in photography, videography, journalism, marketing, public relations, or graphic design.
• Familiarity with Canva; experience with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
• Organized, self-motivated, and able to work both independently and collaboratively, bringing new ideas to the table and executing them from start to finish.
• Passion for conservation, environmental education, outdoor recreation, volunteerism, and community engagement.
• Willing to make the first introduction in a conversation with a stranger.

AmeriCorps Qualifications:

• Must be a citizen of the United States, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States.
• Must be 21+ year old and possess a valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.
• Upon hire, participant must consent to a Criminal History Check; service with Central Conservation will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed.
• Must be able to perform field visits while exposed to adverse conditions such as inclement weather and biting insects.

Impact

The Americorps Communications Member will drive awareness of AmeriCorps service, elevate the stories of members making a difference, strengthen community participation in environmental education programs, and recruit future AmeriCorps members for both The Nature Place and WisCorps.

Through authentic storytelling, these members will help inspire more people to care for and about nature.

TNP provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@natureplace or Wisconsin Relay 711.

Details

1 Year Term Positions
Sept 9, 2026 - Aug 20, 2027

1700 total hrs required before end date

$470/wk living stipend; $25,500 annually

$7,395.00 = estimate Education Award upon successful completion of service