Written by Kendall Peacock, Head of Field Education
In 2007, I zipped up my tent in a downpour, hoisted a rock bar over my shoulder, and hiked into the Wyoming wilderness as a member of the Wyoming Conservation Corps. I was a junior in college, unsure of what came next, but certain that I wanted to be outside, doing something that mattered.
That AmeriCorps season changed my life.
It gave me calluses, a fierce farmer’s tan, and a love for early mornings with cowboy coffee. It also gave me purpose. I learned how to lead from behind and how to follow with intention. I learned to find joy in physical labor, and even more joy in shared mission.
That term of service laid the foundation for everything that has followed. It’s what led me to education, to graduate school, and ultimately to Teton Science Schools, where I now serve as Head of Field Education. And it’s what keeps me grounded in why this work matters.
At Teton Science Schools, AmeriCorps has not just played a role– it has been the heartbeat of our field education program. Since 2009, more than 500 AmeriCorps members have served alongside us. That’s 500 people who showed up–often in snow, sometimes in wildfire smoke–with open hearts, muddy boots, and a willingness to give of themselves.
These members have taught glaciology on frozen lakes, water ecology in late summer creeks, and stayed up late looking at stars and calming homesick students. They’ve brought new perspectives to our team, new energy to our trails, and new ideas to our work. They’ve been scientists, artists, dreamers, doers, and mentors– and they’ve made us better in every way.
At Teton Science Schools, our mission is to inspire curiosity, engagement, and leadership through transformative place-based education. That’s a lofty vision. And it’s our AmeriCorps members who so often bring it to life on the trail, in the dining halls, and through their everyday presence.
Many of them come to Teton Science Schools unsure of their next step, just like I was. And many leave with a renewed sense of who they are, what they value, and what kind of leader they want to be in the world. That’s the beauty of service, it transforms not only the communities it touches, but the individuals who choose it.
Today, as we face the unexpected termination of the AmeriCorps program nationally, we’re holding so much: grief, uncertainty, and also immense gratitude. The impact of AmeriCorps at Teton Science Schools is not something we can quantify easily– of course we can point to thousands of students served, hundreds of stewardship projects completed, and an entire generation of educators who got their start through this program.
But what we feel is even greater. We feel awe. We feel love. We feel so, so lucky to have known and worked alongside these extraordinary humans.
To every member who has ever served with us: thank you. Thank you for your laughter, your strength, your questions, your leadership, and your heart. You have left an indelible mark on Teton Science Schools and on me. You’ve helped build this place into what it is today, and you’ll be part of our story forever.
Were you an AmeriCorps member at Teton Science Schools? We’d love to hear your story.
Share your AmeriCorps story with us here! → https://forms.gle/unTNuaKJcaPgvap38
