2023 APPROVED PLACEMENT SITES
Cache Makers (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based at Cache Makers in Logan, UT. Cache Makers is the STEAM side of the USU Extension 4H program. Cache Makers works with students K-12 from poverty to low- and middle-class income, Latino, Hispanic, etc. The students Cache Makers works with may not have access or are lacking opportunities to enhance skills associated with science, technology, electronics, art, and math (STEAM.) Cache Makers provides hands-on experiences so that youth can grow in the ever-changing world of technology and learn the skills required to progress comfortably and with confidence. 
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LCSD English Summer Learning Program (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  We invite students learning English as a second language from each elementary school in Logan District. Our priority goes to the students with the least amount of English. We look at their English Language testing to do this. Associates will be trained with educational programs we use to teach English and literacy skills to our students. They will teach small groups of students using these programs. Associates will also help manage students while riding the bus to lunch at the high school. They will help track data to show educational gains made by students. 
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​Cache Humane Society (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  As Cache Valley’s only brick and mortar animal shelter, Cache Humane Society (CHS) hopes to provide all of the valley’s youth with a thoughtful and thorough understanding of animal care and the opportunity to grow into responsible, empathetic, care-minded individuals. CHS wants all of Cache Valley’s youth to feel like they can learn, reach their potential, and grow by engaging with animals. CHS hosts Youth Education Camps during the summer that offer scholarships to kids who are experiencing a financial disadvantage, with the hope that all kids can interact with animals, learn more about animal shelters, and engage in a risk-free, interactive learning environment during the summer months. Additionally, CHS strives to give every child that is interested in attending camp the opportunity to interact with and learn from animals, as research has shown that interacting with animals is beneficial for mental health.
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​Cache County 4-H (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  The VISTA Summer Associate will be assisting with the community garden to provide food and opportunities for community members in financial difficulty. Through the regular 4-H program protocols we reach and include a wide and diverse range of community members. The vista will be able to assist in many 4-H camps/clubs and community outreach opportunities. Specifically, the Summer Associate will assist in creating 4-H clubs, attending horse and livestock education nights, attending shooting sports camps county-wide and state-wide, planning activities for clubs, finding volunteers, and assisting at the county fair.
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​​USU Center for Community Engagement (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT. Summer Associates will address food insecurity among college-age populations at Utah State University (USU). The Summer Associates shall complete service activities that shall include food recovery, gleaning, and vegetable production at the Urban Community Farm. The food that is recovered, gleaned and produced shall be distributed to the USU Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC). The Summer Associates shall recover, glean and produce food that shall be distributed to SNAC. SNAC serves the USU student population and is used by a wide range of community members. 
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​Davis County 4-H (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Kaysville, UT. The summer associate will have a focus on camps/events for members of the community who may be experiencing poverty. Summer associate will work with our teen council on a service project to help members of the community who are less fortunate. We also partner with a low-income housing community to provide their youth with a positive learning environment. 4-H offers programming to a wide range of youth from the county. We offer many summer camps to bring the youth together and give them a place where they belong. The summer associate will work closely with the youth at these camps and will be right at the center of leading by example to make camp a safe place for everyone.​
Common Ground (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based at Common Ground Outdoor Adventures in Logan, UT.  Approximately 79% of the individuals with disabilities Common Ground Outdoor Adventures (CGOA) works with fall in the low- to very-low income categories and CGOA offers summer intensive programs for youths with disabilities (Youth Adventure Leadership Program (YALP) and Jr. Adventurers). The Summer Associate’s work will help promote inclusion of a wide range of community by ensuring that outdoor recreational activities are offered and are accessible to individuals of all abilities. Programming is made accessible to anyone with the use of specialized adaptive equipment, financial support, and staff who are trained specifically to work with a variety of individuals with physical, cognitive, and mental disabilities. ​
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​The Family Place Utah (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  In Utah, many families still experience hunger and food insecurity. According to Utah Food Bank, 1 in 9 children in Utah face the stress of hunger which creates physical pain and hardship to concentrate in school and affects their future. The Family Place Utah provides services in Cache and Rich Counties, UT, and Franklin County, ID. Summer Associates will address the focus areas in Cache, Rich, and Southern Idaho, as our center provides a free food pantry and garden share that can be accessed by anyone who attends our organization for the services. The Summer Associates will provide the children with snacks, food, and will promote and advocate our services at The Family Place Utah which often includes meals.

​Zootah (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  Cache valley area families living in poverty cannot afford to send their children to Summer camps that provide opportunities for Summer learning and social interaction. The primary focus of the Summer Associates will be to help run and promote Zootah’s Summer camp programs. There will also be opportunities to help with other education programs such as: field trips, outreach programs, and hands-on experience with our visitors.
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​​Wasatch Mountain Institute (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Park City, UT. WMI prioritizes providing outdoor education programming for school and community based groups who work with young people who have traditionally been excluded from outdoor recreation. Summer programs provide access to Utah public lands and introduce participants to a variety of outdoor activities and science learning activities. Summer Associates will help coordinate summer camp field trips for school and community-based summer camps with a special focus on Title I students. Associates will facilitate educational activities during school programs and field trips. Associates will lead small groups of students in curricular activities, large-group community development, and nature interpretation. WMI programs focus on hands-on learning and authentic problem solving, using the outdoors as a context for learning across the curriculum. This is proven to promote not just academic success, but enhance critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills.
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​Jump the Moon (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT.  Jump the Moon provides art making opportunities for individuals and other nonprofit groups like STRIDE, Common Ground, Family Place, and many others. The Summer Associate will engage with community members visiting the Jump the Moon studio, during community events, and during art lessons at other locations. The summer associate will assist where needed to help participants. A big need is to have enough trained volunteer assistants in the studio to work one-on-one with individuals to help them discover abilities as they gain knowledge of art education through our summer learning projects. The Summer Associate will be vitally important in fulfilling this need. Jump the Moon also brings summer art making programs to STEAM summer camps and assisted living centers in Cache Valley. The Summer Associate will assist with these lessons, too.
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Gardner's Market (Summer Associate position)
This 10 week, Summer Associate AmeriCorps VISTA position is hosted by the Public & School Partnership and is based in Logan, UT. The Summer Associate will support community members who may be experiencing poverty by assisting as a volunteer at the Cache Community Food Pantry one morning per week and staffing the information booth at the Cache Valley Gardeners Market (CVGM) on Saturday mornings.  We are developing a database of small farmers and gardeners that may be interested in increasing local food production to feed our Cache County community. With the help of a Summer Associate, we will be developing outreach materials to encourage those farmers and gardeners to consider selling fruits and vegetables at our local farmer’s market, to train them to meet the regulations surrounding this activity, and to let them know about resources available to them in support of this goal. Tasks will include: data entry, interviewing local agricultural professionals, identifying barriers to participation, and formulation of an action plan to overcome those barriers. Educational materials will then be developed and trialed with a group of farmers/potential vendors. Outreach materials may include flyers, web site content, other social media content, perhaps in multiple languages, to inform underserved community members of the opportunities and resources available through CVGM. ​
SUMMER ASSOCIATE PROGRAM INFORMATION*:
Summer Associate positions are a great alternative to one-year AmeriCorps VISTA positions for those who would like to serve but can not commit to a full year of service or those who would like to give VISTA a chance before making a full-time commitment.

Summer Associates serve for 10 weeks during the summer, typically starting at the beginning of June through mid August. While specific job activities vary across sites, in general, Summer Associates will support organizations in preventing summer learning loss, providing affordable and accessible meals to youth and adults, and providing substance abuse prevention resources. Associates will also contribute to efforts being made by the host organization to provide programs during the global health pandemic.

Associates will work closely with site staff and one-year AmeriCorps VISTA members to continue existing programs and to research and implement new programs that benefit community members. See the "Service Description" section of the AmeriCorps listing for information about specific activities.

​* Click here to visit the Summer Associate general-info page on the AmeriCorps website.

BASIC ELIGIBILITY & SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:
  • Associates must be at least 18 years of age at the time of placement 
  • Associates must hold U.S. citizenship or legal state residency status
  • Associates must not be listed on the National Sex Offenders Public Registry
  • Associates must serve on a full-time basis during the project period (40 hours/week)
  • Associates must commit to the entire 10-week service term 
  • Associates must commit to attending a mandatory orientation on first day of service
  • Associates may receive emergency medical leave during their 10-week service term, as long as they can make up the hours during the service term* (not counting observed holidays)

* Due to the shortened service term of the Summer Associate program, Summer Associates may only be eligible for approved emergency leave during the service term, with the condition that they make up those hours during their service term (no personal or sick leave given). Observed holidays for July 4th and 24th are approved days off.

SUMMER ASSOCIATE PROGRAM BENEFITS:
  • A living allowance for the time served, $1901 per 30 days (service term is 70 days/10 weeks)
  • A $1,495.26 Eli Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust, OR a $345.80 cash award
  • Work-related, non-commute mileage reimbursement
  • Engaging professional experience  
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APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (application deadline - TBA):
All applicants must apply on the AmeriCorps Portal at our Summer Associate service listing*. Follow these steps to apply on the AmeriCorps Portal:
  1. Click here to view the listing on the AmeriCorps search portal (TBA)
  2. On the listing webpage, click the red button indicating "Apply Now." You will be asked to register with the system. Click "OK," then follow the steps to create an AmeriCorps profile. 
  3. Once your profile is created and you are logged in to your AmeriCorps applicant homepage, create an AmeriCorps application by clicking the "Applications" tab on the left-hand menu, then "Create Application."
    1. **REQUIRED** In the motivational statement of the application, include your top TWO (2) preferred 2021 summer sites where you like to be considered for an interview. 
    2. Make sure references have active emails and are check-marked before you click "finish/submit application"
  4. ​Once your application is created, on the left-hand menu, click "Search Listings." Under "Program Name," enter "PSP VISTA" Click on the listing containing "SUMMER ASSOCIATES", then click the red button indicating "Apply Now." (you can also click the listing link in step 1, just make sure you are logged in)
  5. Make sure the application you created is listed at the top under "...application will be used to submit," read the certification statement, click the appropriate agreement buttons, then click "submit."
  6. We will be in touch soon! If we do not contact you within 3 days, this may be because your application was not submitted successfully. Please email us if you do not hear from us in that time: aubrey.call@usu.edu. 

* You may apply via Aggie Handshake or Indeed, but all successful candidates will be required to submit an additional application on the AmeriCorps Portal (following the instructions listed above). 
** If you are currently serving in an AmeriCorps service position, you will need to call VMSU and have them submit your application to this listing manually: 1-800-942-2677. 
​Application Tips
  • Update old applications if you plan on using them to apply to other positions
  • Put the email address you’ll check most regularly
  • Make sure your earliest availability date is accurate
  • Include ALL of your experience and skills (wondering if its relevant? Just put it on the application – we are using your application to screen out applicants so better to have too much detail than not enough)
  • Include correct email addresses for references
  • Follow up with your references to complete the reference email form
If you have additional questions please e-mail Aubrey: aubrey.call@usu.edu
Click here to view available one-year VISTA and PSP office team positions