NOWCORPS: Building Skills, Strengthening Communities
From 2019–2025, NOWCorps, a ServeOhio AmeriCorps program sponsored by Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners, placed over 120 members at 17 host sites across Northern Ohio. Members worked alongside local organizations, parks, and watershed groups restoring habitats, planting trees, leading education programs, and supporting community-based conservation. With hands-on training and supervisor mentorship, members made a tangible impact in their communities, while gaining the skills and experience to grow as environmental leaders.
Expanding Conservation Capacity
NOWCorps strengthened host organizations by providing skilled, motivated members who increased project capacity, expanded community engagement, and enabled host sites to accomplish work that would not have been possible otherwise. Host sites consistently described NOWCorps as a vital resource:
“Having a NOWCorps member allowed us to increase the quantity and quality of our environmental education outreach programs in our region… We have been delighted to see our impact blossom as more and more young people are introduced to nature at their schools, in their own backyards, and at our nature preserves.”
— Dr. Lara Roketenetz, University of Akron Field Station
“NOWCorps has been an amazing asset for my department! We have been able to expand capacity and complete projects more efficiently with the extra help. We have additionally been able to do projects that would not be possible without the help of our member… I also enjoy mentoring the member as our next generation of environmental stewards and making sure they get the development they want and need to become successful individuals in the field after they exit the program.”
— Rebecah Troutman, Holden Forests & Gardens
“Cleveland Metroparks benefited greatly from being a host site with the NOWCorps program. Our members have helped to effectively manage and steward our natural resources through assisting in tree planting efforts, invasive species removal, and forest health projects… They gain skills and certifications for their future career path.”
— Josh Phillips, Cleveland Metroparks
“…NOWCorps members…work very hard and bring valuable perspective to our programming. Our tree giveaway and tree steward training programs have significant contributions from our past and current NOWCorps members. The influence of these members continues to serve our target communities even after the completion of their service.”
— Tom Schreiber, Western Reserve Land Conservancy
Member Experiences
Though federal funding for NOWCorps concluded in 2025, TCWP is proud to have sponsored this program. Over six years, NOWCorps strengthened local organizations, restored ecosystems, and launched a new generation of environmental leaders. Its legacy continues through the work of alumni and the communities they serve across Northern Ohio.
Check out our NOWCorps 2024-25 Annual Report to learn more about our members and their service year experience!
Northern Ohio Watershed Corps (NOWCorps) was an AmeriCorps program funded through ServeOhio and sponsored by Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners (TCWP) to restore watershed health in Northern Ohio by conserving natural resources, educating communities, and cultivating the next generation of environmental leaders. NOWCorps members supported this mission in many ways including:
- Ecological Restoration
- Supervising/recruiting Volunteers
- Education and Outreach
- Research and Data Analysis
- Building and Restoring Trails
- Empowering Communities
Members received 1:1 mentorship while serving at host sites throughout Northern Ohio including watershed groups, soil & water conservation districts, local government, & other nonprofits. Additional benefits of serving included:
- Semi-monthly living allowance
- Segal Education Award
- Loan forbearance
- Individual training stipend
- Monthly trainings at host site partners
- Professional development opportunities
- Paid orientation
- Healthcare for full-time members
- Member Assistance Program
NOWCorps focused on four major activities to promote environmental conservation.
Conservation: Improving water quality is the heart of the collective mission. Our members enact strategies and techniques to support conservation initiatives including stormwater mitigation, erosion reduction, soil health, and more.
Stewardship: Engage in water quality testing and data collection, tree plantings, native plant installations, invasive vegetation removal, and more.
Education: Assist our partners with program design, implementation, and follow up. Certain programs will facilitate new relationships with schools, youth groups, public engagement groups, and volunteers.
Capacity Building: Support concrete strategies for volunteer recruitment, program expansion, and consistency among outreach. As a member you will obtain, improve, and retain the skills, knowledge, tools, equipment and other resources to be a true environmental steward.