Students can volunteer with the EC

By volunteering, students can work hands-on with various projects like maintaining the campus garden, supporting sustainability events, or assisting with the recycling program. Our programs are designed to foster meaningful experiences that contribute to a more environmentally and socially responsible world, all while building practical skills and connections.

Learn about the latest volunteer opportunities on SkyHub, sign up for the EC Digest, or drop by our office in the Student Union.


Lead a sustainability project

As an EC Project Lead, you’ll oversee key sustainability projects on campus. You’ll develop leadership skills while making a lasting impact on campus and in the community and work alongside EC professional staff and fellow students to identify, develop, and implement projects with a real impact. Along the way, you’ll receive coaching, mentorship, and training for both personal and professional growth.  

Applications are typically open during the first week of each semester. Applications closed for Fall Semester. Reach out in January 2025 for spring semester opportunities! 

EC members complete trail work in Horse Gulch

Project Lead job description

EC Project Lead - Environmental Center

Job Summary:

The FLC Environmental Center (The EC) is a student-driven organization that works to promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility on campus and throughout our region. Students who work with us gain valuable experience in how to create positive change. EC Project Leads are responsible for overseeing one or more projects/programs for our center. These efforts support our sustainability work in areas like food systems, climate/energy, waste/recycling, lands/ecology, etc. Students in this role are asked to work between 4-8 hours per week, which includes planning meetings, project work, office tasks, and attending occasional all-hands-on-deck events. Weekly schedules are flexible to cater to school/life commitments.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

  • Attend weekly meetings with professional staff to plan and coordinate project work.
  • Complete project duties and attend planned commitments on time and with high-quality effort.
  • Attend all mandatory trainings, retreats, and center-wide meetings.
  • Complete any assigned office tasks on a regular basis.
  • Complete your end-of-semester reflection and feedback form and attend a reflection and feedback meeting with professional staff.
  • Keep office spaces and digital files organized, clean, and tidy.
  • Use your FLC email and Outlook calendar for communications and scheduling with Environmental Center professional staff.
  • Foster a welcoming and supportive community throughout your work at the EC.

Required Education, Specialized Skills, and Experience:

  • Must be enrolled at Fort Lewis College while holding this position.
  • Interest in environmental and/or social sustainability issues.
  • Ability to set priorities, self-direct your workload, and adapt to changing circumstances.
  • Willingness to work both individually and with fellow students depending on project needs.
  • Willingness to learn new things, challenge your own views, and listen to others’ perspectives.
  • Positive attitude.
  • Basic communication skills (e.g., email and document writing).
  • A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities.

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills, and Experience:

  • Previous experience working on environmental or sustainability projects at a previous institution.

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

Sadie Magnifico, Environmental Center Assistant Director

Work Environment:

  • Moderate noise (e.g., business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
  • Ability to work outdoors (e.g., in the campus growing spaces), sometimes in cold or inclement weather.

Physical Demands:

  • Regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer.
  • Light to moderate physical labor and lifting (up to 40 lbs) may be required.

FLSA Status / Position Type / Expected Hours of Work / Salary Range:

  • Hourly range: $15.00 per hour starting pay; $0.50 pay increase for every year of previous work at the Environmental Center.
  • Part Time – variable: 3 hours per week minimum, 10 hours maximum.
  • Temporary.

Equal Opportunity:

Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment.

To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, See www.fortlewis.edu/CARE

Contact Information:

Questions about Title IX sex discrimination?
Office of the Title IX Coordinator
230 Skyhawk Station
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7241 wieser_m@fortlewis.edu

Other discrimination questions?
Office of the Equal Opportunity Coordinator
David Pirrone
192 Education Business Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7182 djpirrone@fortlewis.edu

Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.    

* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLC's Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. 

ADAA Accommodations 

Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Kristin Polens by phone 970-247-7459 or email kpolens@fortlewis.edu at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date. 

A FLC student doing ecology fieldwork

Study our environment at Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College prides itself on its variety of environmental and sustainability learning opportunities. Please explore our  Environment & Sustainability  Department for more information on Academic majors and programs.

Use the Environmental Center for coursework

Students are encouraged to tap into the knowledge and expertise of our professional staff for class projects and research. Email us to schedule a meeting to see how we can help!

Faculty who are interested in utilizing the EC to support their courses or research can connect with us to discuss applied research opportunities, guest lectures, connections to community organizations, use of our campus growing spaces, or any other creative teaching ideas.