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AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program

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AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program

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Since then, the Department has recruited and trained over 350 AmeriCorps members as Watershed Ambassadors to serve New Jersey communities.

The AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is an environmental AmeriCorps program focused on water quality in NJ where Ambassadors act as local stewards and resources in their community! The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began hosting the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program in September of 2000 under an AmeriCorps State contract with the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors train and work with community volunteers to monitor the waters in their community using state and federally-approved visual and biological monitoring techniques. AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors also visit schools and community organizations to share information and educate the community about water and watershed issues in New Jersey and to encourage students and residents to become involved in protecting their watershed. The Program works to improve water quality by exploring relationships between people and the environment, nurturing community-based environmental activities, and empowering residents to make responsible and informed decisions regarding their watershed.

10/21/2026

Tree Tube Removal 🌲🍃🌳

Come join the Wallkill Watershed Management Group at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge to remove the tree tubes from previous tree plantings. The tubes provide vital protection against deer browse for young trees. When the trees mature enough to be resilient against this pressure the tree tubes are removed and prepared for recycling. Watershed Ambassador Luka Perelson who represents Watershed Management Area 2, the Wallkill Watershed, will be leading the event.

📆Friday, November 20th 2026
🕑2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍Bassetts Bridge Fishing and Canoe Access at 2-102, Co Rte 642, Wantage, NJ 07461 or at coordinates 41.260193, -74.551112

🚗Parking can be found in the small gravel lot at the location but space may be tight.

👕Please dress for the weather in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. The tree tube removal site is in a flood plain so please wear closed toed shoes that are suitable for potentially muddy or damp conditions.

Register with QR code on the flyer or at https://forms.gle/7jLm9c9ZgWTo51ee6

Please email Luka Perelson at [email protected] for any questions/ comments/ concerns

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

10/19/2026

We had a wonderful time at Parvin State Park and The Authority of Cumberland County, NJ learning all about low gradient assessments! Ambassadors also had time to study up on their benthic macroinvertebrate knowledge right before their bug test!

Ambassadors had the opportunity to assess some gorgeous low gradient streams like Menantico Creek, we couldn't ask for a better site to practice our stream skills!

Thank you to Erin Stretz of The Watershed Institute for keeping our ambassadors in the loop on all things stream health! We'd also like to thank the NJDEP team for coming out to give extra support throughout our time down south, we couldn't have done any of this without our wonderful trainers and support team!

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

10/15/2026

Palmyra Cove Beach Sweep 🌊♻🗑

Join Clean Ocean Action's Palmyra Cove Beach Sweep with Lower Delaware Watershed Ambassador Quaye Agoyo. Trash that unfortunately makes its way into the Delaware River often washes up in Palmyra and we need your help to keep the riverbank and nature park clean!

📆Saturday, October 24th
🕑7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
📍1335 NJ-73, Palmyra, NJ 08065

🚗Parking is available at Palmyra Cove Nature Park

Trash bags (bringing a bucket for trash is also encouraged) and gloves will be provided. Volunteers will also be given and fill out data sheets to track the type of trash we find.

‼️Be cautious around glass, needles, and other sharp trash! Notify the beach captain and do not pick up items that you are not comfortable with.‼️

Dress accordingly for the weather, as we will be outside and along the Delaware River. Wear clothes and shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.

Register online at: https://cleanoceanaction.org/beach-sweeps/sites-and-registration

🌟Email Quaye Agoyo ([email protected]) or Clean Ocean Action ([email protected]) for questions or concerns.

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management Clean Ocean Action

10/07/2026

What makes up a watershed? 🤔🌊🌳

This is the question ambassadors asked themselves as they learned different presentation techniques! One of which is our ever popular Enviroscape presentation! The Enviroscape is a model that helps audiences visualize what a watershed consists of.

Ambassadors had a great time learning from Team Leaders Phoebe Galione our Source Water Protection (SWP) Ambassadors of the Northern Region, Betsy Chernoff our WMA 7 Ambassador, and Richard Robinson our WMA 12 Ambassador. Our seasoned Team Leads did a wonderful job communicating to the new cohort and encouraging them as they tried their hands at using the Enviroscape themselves!

Does this seem like a topic you'd like covered in your organization? Feel free to reach out to your local Watershed Ambassador and check out our website for more information!

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management EnviroScape

10/06/2026

Keansburg Beach Clean-Up ♻️🏖😎🌊

Help clean up the Keansburg Waterfront on October 11th with Save Coastal Wildlife, Monmouth County Clean Communities, and the AmeriCorps Monmouth Watershed Ambassador Richard Robinson! The Keansburg Waterfront has accumulated a lot of plastic debris and trash after the most recent Nor'easter and needs your help to clean it up!

Come help clean the Eastern Keansburg waterfront so that everyone including the native wildlife can enjoy the wonderful sandy coast. The more volunteers that register, the more trash that can be removed to help restore important coastal habitat along the Raritan Bay!

📆Sunday, October 11th
🕓10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍2 Beachway Avenue, Keansburg, NJ 07734
🚗There is plenty of parking space available at the Baywalk East Parking Lot

‼️Beware of glass, needles, and sharp items that may be found during the clean-up. Only collect debris that you can lift and handle safely. ‼️

👕Dress accordingly: We will be on the beach waterfront, high winds may be present so bring a warm coat. Please wear sturdy closed toed shoes that can get dirty.

Trash pickers, gloves, and trash bags will be provided.

Register with the QR code on the flyer or at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteers-needed-for-beach-cleanup-of-raritan-bay-in-keansburg-tickets-2002677204429?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Email Richard Robinson at [email protected] with questions or concerns.

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

10/05/2026

Our new cohort of Watershed Ambassadors is settling in at their Host Agencies! 🌱💧

A Host Agency is a local organization where each member serves within their watershed. Through a Host Agency a member can focus on building connections, supporting community projects, and helping care for the places we all call home.

A huge thank you to the many wonderful organizations that welcome and host a Watershed Ambassador. We’re so grateful for your partnership and for the important work you do in communities across our watersheds! 💙🌎

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

10/01/2026

Westwood Tree Plantings 🌳🪏💧

Looking for volunteers! Join Westwood and your local Source Water Protection Ambassador, Phoebe Galione, in planting 25 trees for Autumn Arbor Fest!

📆Saturday, October 17th
🕓Starts at 10:00 AM and goes until all trees are planted!
📍Meet at Brookside Park (Lake Street, Westwood NJ 07675) or use these coordinates (40.998842, -74.030306).

👕Be sure to wear clothing that can get dirty, and please bring your own shovel and work gloves!

Register with the QR Code on the flyer or with the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/westwoodautumnfest2026

Please email Phoebe Galione ([email protected]) with any questions, comments, or concerns.

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

09/22/2026

What a wonderful time we had learning all about High Gradient streams up at the New Jersey School of Conservation ! 🌿💧🪱

🌟Our ambassadors started off the trip with a team building activity provided by the NJSOC staff. The cohort had to put faith in each other to complete various tasks as a group. It was a great way to build bonds between the group! Thank you so much to NJSOC for facilitating these activities as well as hosting us for this training!

🎉Of course we can't forget the amazing contributions our Team Leaders Phoebe Galione, Betsy Chernoff, and Richard Robinson made throughout the trip. Our Team Leads focused on the paperwork side of NJWAP and caught the group up to speed on our bookkeeping protocols! We are so thankful to have them!

👏A massive thank you to Erin Stretz of The Watershed Institute for leading the charge on teaching the new group our stream assessment protocols. None of this would be possible without your guidance!

😁Last but certainly not least, thank you to the NJDEP staff that joined us for the duration of this training. Thank you for giving your time and effort to this event!

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management The Watershed Institute

09/14/2026

🎉Welcome to the 2026 to 2027 AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors! We had a great time officially welcoming our new cohort to this upcoming term of service at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. 🎉

🧊Our new members kicked off orientation with some fun icebreakers led by our wonderful Team Leaders Phoebe Galione of SWP North, Betsy Chernoff of WMA 7 and Richard Robinson of WMA 12!

⭐The cohort then moved into our 9/11 service activity where they packed hygiene kits for Trenton Homefront. The members were able to pack over 50 kits to donate! What a great showcase of that service spirit!

💧We are so excited to begin this 10 month term of service with this new group, as well as welcoming 7 returning members from last term!

‼️Check back here for more updates and to meet the cohort as we move through orientation!

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

07/29/2026

📣📣We’re ! 📣📣

🚨Two days left to apply! Applications are due July 31st! Placements are first-come, first-served. All offers are contingent upon the Program receiving funding for the 2026-2027 grant cycle.

All interested applicants should create an account on the “My AmeriCorps” website before they will be able to apply: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do

Positions we are hiring for:
💦20 full-time Watershed Ambassador positions (35-40 hours a week, September-July, 1700 total hours)
💦3 full-time Source Water Protection Ambassador positions (35-40 hours a week, September-July, 1700 total hours)

Application for the Watershed Ambassador Position
🔗https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=129830

Application for the Source Water Protection Ambassador Position
🔗https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=129847

🏠To view our recorded Virtual Open House, please visit: https://youtu.be/kOkqNVTR7rE

We like to see an applicant include why they want to apply to our program specifically in their Motivational Statement, as well as which WMA or SWP Region they are interested in. Please consider your Motivational Statement your Cover Letter.

Benefits of being a Full Time Ambassador?
~ $25,000 living stipend evenly distributed bi-weekly over the 10 months of service
~ Segal Education Award upon completion of 1700 hours (up to $7,395)
~ Health coverage provided
~ Childcare assistance if eligible

This program is open to all ages and experience levels. We do not require any specific field of study, but a bachelor’s degree or higher is required.

A car is also required to travel to service assignments.

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent resident aliens.

📧Email ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns.

Head over to our pinned post on Facebook for a full list of WMA's, SWP Regions, and their vacancy!

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey

Address

401 East State Street, PO Box 420 MC 401-04I
Trenton, NJ
08608

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16096331441

Website

https://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/americorps.htm

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