Written by Jessamyn Biette, Program Coordinator – Service
On Friday, January 10, 2025, the 13 members of the Winter 2025 AmeriCorps cohort had their first full day of service. They had moved in the day before and were just beginning to get to know each other. Although they were strangers at the time, one thing united them: each person had chosen to serve with Teton Science Schools for their own unique reasons.
On this first full day, surrounded by new faces that would soon become lifelong friends, the AmeriCorps members were asked a few reflective questions: Why are you here? What are your personal goals and motivations for being here? What do you hope to both receive from and give to this community? There was a quiet pause as everyone journaled, reflecting on what had led them to the Tetons on that -10°F morning in early January. After some time, they were asked to distill their reasons down to just three words. The words they shared reveal their individual and collective sense of purpose:
- Adela: Learn. Engage. Connect.
- Anna: Inspire About Nature.
- Avery: Learn. Communicate. Change.
- Cameron: Greater Good Outside.
- Campbell: Explore. Discern. Empower.
- Colin: Learn and Teach.
- Eliza: Community. Growth. Discovery.
- Jessamyn: Inspire Critical Thinking.
- Julia: Moving Forward Together.
- Matilda: Resilience. Adventure. Community.
- Nicole: Engagement Through Nature.
- Oliver: Be a Contributor.
- Taylor: Serve with Care.
- Zeb: Shared Experiences. Memories.
Nearly halfway through their service term, these 13 strangers have become a tight-knit community of friends, spending each day serving the Jackson Hole community. Whether through Field Education at Teton Science Schools or working with local partner organizations, they are living out their “three-word whys” — and it’s clear that their impact is growing. Here’s a glimpse of how the Winter 2025 cohort is making a difference:
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“My students eagerly look forward to time with Oliver, always asking if it’s ‘an Oliver week.’ His flexibility and support in the classroom are invaluable, and I’m so grateful for his help!”
— Kelly Elementary School
“Eliza has jumped right into lesson planning and teaching at the Museum. Her enthusiasm, adaptability, and attention to detail have made her an incredible asset to our organization.”
— National Museum of Wildlife Art
“We are so lucky to have Cami — kind, wise, brave, compassionate, persistent, fun, thoughtful, and an overall AMAZING presence. Thank you, Cami, for all you bring to our team every day!”
— Northern Rockies Conservation Cooperative
“Colin is dynamic, engaging, and driven! When he arrived at the Murie Ranch field trip, students shouted his name. This speaks volumes about the relationships he has created in Sustainability.”
— Jackson Hole Middle School
“Zeb has been an absolute rockstar! His thoughtfulness and calming presence in the classroom, paired with his enthusiasm and creativity, have made him an invaluable part of our team at the Art Association of Jackson Hole!”
— Art Association of Jackson Hole
“Avery has done an amazing job leading the charge in planning our spring event! We are so happy to have her aboard.”
— Protect Our Water JH
“Taylor has been a fantastic addition to our team. They’ve created thoughtful lessons using materials from our collection that I hadn’t previously thought to explore. Taylor connects with people in such a genuine way, and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”
— History Jackson Hole
“Anna has been a true joy to work with. She has rounded out our team flawlessly; Her passion for children and science education shines in the relationships she has built with our students in such a short amount of time. We are so lucky to have such a motivated and inventive educator with us!”
— Jackson Hole Children’s Museum
“Adela and Taylor, working with you on the Snowtography project has been incredibly rewarding. Your dedication and hard work are essential to making this research possible. You’re already great scientists and communicators, and we can’t wait to see what you do next.”
— Teton Science Schools/University of Wyoming Snowtography Research
“Whether Adela is assisting in the office or representing Friends of the Bridger-Teton at an event, she shows up every day with a can-do attitude and genuine excitement. Her positive energy and commitment to public lands make her an integral part of our team.”
— Friends of the Bridger-Teton
“Campbell has been an amazing addition to the MMES family. His enthusiasm for science education, kindness, humor, work ethic, and willingness to help out (Red Bull and push-ups included!) have had a positive impact on our school. Campbell, thanks for making our community a more fun, engaging, and positive place.”
— Munger Mountain Elementary School
“We love having Campbell as part of our team this season. He brings such a positive energy and vibrance to our office each day he is with us. He has made strides in our Archival Project and we would never have gotten so far without him.”
— Teton Valley Ranch Camp
“Reilly is an incredible teacher and brings such valuable experience and perspective to our team. I am thankful for her dedication to our students and organization as well as her strengths in managing her administrative work. There is no question that we really lucked out in Reilly joining our team as an AmeriCorps member this year – thank you Reilly for all you do and your tireless energy at TLC!”
— Teton Literacy Center
“Avery has been a rockstar in our classroom. Today, she jumped in to drive our class to art, filling in when others were unable to do so. She also worked one-on-one with a student who has been struggling, offering patience and support to help them complete their project. Avery truly made a difference today.”
— Teton Science Schools Mountain Academy (Teton Valley Campus)
“We love working with Eliza! She is reliable, professional, hardworking, organized, and has excellent attention to detail. It is wonderful to have her fresh perspective as she generates new ideas for outreach related to Public Art projects.”
— Jackson Hole Public Art
“I wouldn’t have been able to do Fifth Day programming without Matilda. She was essential to this program for helping translate lessons and teaching materials for Spanish speaking students, she helped write lesson plans, and helped communicate with students’ families through weekly newsletters.”
— Teton Science Schools & Above and Beyond the Classroom
“Thanks to Matilda for being such a self-driven, energetic and passionate TCSAR team member! Her dedication to all types of projects, from building med kits to developing lesson plans, has been an incredible asset to all things we do in the community outreach and incident prevention space! The support she has offered will certainly elevate the current and future educational opportunities we provide.”
— Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation
“Nicole, thanks for the kindness and thoughtful attitude you bring to the Field Education team! You rocked it during the Fort Washakie week and really made a positive impact in those kids’ lives.”
— Teton Science Schools Field Education
It’s clear that this AmeriCorps cohort is making an impact! They are not only affecting the Teton Science Schools community but also the wider Jackson Hole area and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for their service.
AmeriCorps at Teton Science Schools: A Snapshot
- Teton Science Schools has hosted AmeriCorps members since 2009 — over 15 years of partnership with AmeriCorps & ServeWyoming!
- We are currently hosting our 51st cohort, with more than 550 members having served over the years.
- Our current members are working with 18 organizations across Jackson/Teton Valley, spanning conservation, wildlife, arts, and social services.
- By the end of this service term, the Winter 2025 cohort will have collectively contributed over 8,000 hours to the Teton County, WY & ID communities.
Happy National AmeriCorps Week!
To learn more about AmeriCorps at Teton Science Schools, visit www.tetonscience.org/americorps
