EarthWays Center

JOB ALERT! Are you or someone you know looking to engage and learn more about conservation and community beautification in St. Louis? Join our Outdoor Leadership Corps program! In partnership with Great Rivers Greenway, crew members have the opportunity to gain hands on conservation and stewardship skills, attend professional development workshops, and explore green career paths. Make a real impact while growing your skills and connecting with like minded individuals. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gcPKcaGP

We are so incredibly thankful for the talented interns that we cross paths with. Take a moment to read more about our Outdoor Youth Corps intern, Nora Jennings and our Sustainability Education intern, Joseph Caya! https://lnkd.in/g5wCSDPz

There is another fabulous work anniversary among us! Fletcher celebrated her one year anniversary with the Missouri Botanical Garden as our Community Programs Supervisor earlier this month! This is still her dream job and she couldn't be happier to support and mentor the youth and young adults of the greater St. Louis area to explore green career paths. Within the year, Fletcher has impacted seven Restoration Assistants in the Outdoor Leadership Corps program, 30 participants in the Outdoor Youth Corps program, and two Community Programs interns. She is a part of six St. Louis community groups to promote green workforce development, including the role of Chair for the St. Louis Green Teen Alliance. She loves working with her community partnerships within the Missouri Botanical Garden and throughout St. Louis. Her programs participants have removed trash, invasive species, planted trees and native species, help build glass bottle retaining walls, attended education workshops and tours, and even went on Missouri River canoe trips! Fletcher is appreciated for her goofiness and go get em' personality traits, allowing her staff and participants to feel they work in a safe and inclusive environment. Outside of work you can find Fletcher continuing to explore and learn about the St. Louis community, being outside, making friends, and embroidering.

Our colleague Olivia Dove celebrates her ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY as Conservation Education Instructor at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It was a fast-paced year full of learning new skills, connecting with many amazing staff members at the Garden, and mentoring participants of the Outdoor Youth Corps/Outdoor Leadership Corps programs. During her first year, Olivia led two cohorts of Outdoor Leadership Corps to complete restoration projects across Great Rivers Greenway project sites; these projects included: invasive species removal, native plant installation, and greenway beautification. Olivia also instructed FIVE SEASONS of the Outdoor Youth Corps Program; engaging youth of the St. Louis area with green careers. "The program participants often joke which program is my favorite, while both programs have similar focuses in green workforce development, they also have many differences. I really enjoy this because it means I get to share in different skillsets while also learning something new every day! I love working with the participants of each program, they are all bright and engaging individuals and they bring me a lot of hope to the future of sustainability and land stewardship." Olivia has greatly enjoyed working with all the staff members of the EarthWays Center, especially her supervisor, Fletcher. Both Fletcher and Olivia started at the Garden last July and have been a dynamic duo leading the OYC and OLC programs! When Olivia is not instructing programs or photo bombing OYC photos she often finds herself out wandering on one of Missouri's beautiful hiking trails, biking along the Katy trail, or enjoying a good read outside.

Are you passionate about the environment and eager to make a difference in your community? Join the Outdoor Leadership Corps! We're looking for dedicated individuals to help protect and beautify our natural spaces along the Great Rivers Greenways. Participate and gain hands on skills while performing conservation and stewardship projects. Gain experience working with the community while leading volunteer events. Help maintain and improve local green spaces for all to enjoy! Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gcPKcaGP

Our colleague Angelina O'Donnell celebrates FIVE years working with the Missouri Botanical Garden's EarthWays Center! Angelina started as an intern in January 2019 and began her journey as a staff member that same year in July. Below are just a HANDFUL of Angelina's recent accomplishments within these five exuberant years: -Coordination of five Green Living Festival events (from in-person to virtual and even a series of pop-ups) -Since 2023 recruited and trained 144 Zero Waste Ambassador volunteers for nine annual Garden events -Assisting in Garden Signature event waste diversion efforts and contributing to keeping 5.87 tons of food waste and compostables plus 6 tons of recyclables out of the landfill in 2023 -Revamping our Sustainability division web pages within the Garden website for easier navigation and improved aesthetic -Two live TV news appearances highlighting ways to be more sustainable We appreciate Angelina's creativity, laid-back attitude, quirkiness, and dedication to making our planet a better place! Outside of work at the Garden, you can find Angelina visiting antique stores, styling vintage clothing, trying new restaurants with her partner and capturing pictures of nature. Thanks for your contributions, Angelina! We are so fortunate to have you on our team and excited for what the future holds.

The Missouri Botanical Garden's Sustainability web pages received a major makeover! Get a better understanding of how our division supports the Garden's mission and what we can offer YOU! We only have one planet, and she could use some love. Learn more today: https://lnkd.in/gchu-iq9

There are two priorities for facing the heat of a St. Louis summer: keeping ourselves and our homes safe, healthy, and comfortable. As the Missouri Botanical Garden's Sustainability Division, we have some ideas of how to do just that, while also keeping energy efficiency in mind. https://lnkd.in/gr5-Vhrw

Happy Meet the Staff Monday! Join us in welcoming our new Rainscaping Coordinator, Taylor Heuermann! "I am looking forward to supporting our local community in their efforts to protect their homes and watersheds from stormwater by installing functional and beautiful rainscaping features. I have had just a taste so far, but I see so much love and creativity from our neighbors as they work on these rainscaping projects. It brings me so much joy, hope, and inspiration, and I can't wait to see what we accomplish together!" Outside of work, you can find Taylor spending time outside working in her garden, birding with friends, and exploring green spaces around the region! "I spend WAY too much time in thrift stores, and I try to keep my hands busy with all kinds of crafts, like quilting, sewing, and knitting."

BiodiverseCity St. Louis, led by the Missouri Botanical Garden's sustainability division, brings together community partners to work toward a common goal: enhancing biodiversity in the greater St. Louis area. https://lnkd.in/gdmY3XrW