AmeriCorps Featured Member - Megan

Megan Shank was a member of MACOG’s second AmeriCorps summer cohort serving with MACOG at Shirley Heinze Land Trust. Megan focused on the education side of what goes into a land trust. She is assisting in the creation of lesson plans to help better educate people on guided hikes or programs. She is also contributing ideas on how Shirley Heinze can better educate the youth on Nature. Megan assisted in educational programs such as Nature Play Dates, The Hourglass Museum, and tabling at the Porter County Fair.

Why did you select Shirley Heinze as your AmeriCorps service site?

I selected Shirley Heinze Land Trust as my service site for a few different reasons. The main reason is that it is right in my backyard! I quickly caught interest and wanted to learn more about the beautiful place near me!

What AmeriCorps activities have been most meaningful to you? / What project/event has been most meaningful to you?

The AmeriCorps activities that have been most meaningful to me is when we attended a Seed to Feed project in Elkhart. It was an amazing experience to be able to see exactly what goes into a food bank and just how much work they put in to help those in need. It was truly inspiring!

How has service in the AmeriCorps program at MACOG and living in our region impacted your career aspirations?

My service in the AmeriCorps program at MACOG and living in the region has impacted my career aspirations in many different ways. Coming into my role through AmeriCorps, I was not educated in land trusts. Doing serviced at a land trust has allowed me to gain knowledge that will help me as a future teacher be able to expand the brains for my students to hopefully know more than I did at their age. It has inspired me to be more in touch with nature and to include nature in my future classroom as well.

What continues to inspire you to serve in this role?

What continued to inspire me to serve in this role is all of the new knowledge I am gaining. As someone who has always loved nature but has never been too knowledgeable in different aspects of nature, I loved being able to obtain more information that I never thought I would know.

What’s next after your AmeriCorps service is completed?

After my AmeriCorps service is completed, I will be heading back into school for my third year of college!

“I loved being able to bring together two different worlds. The love of nature and the love of education. A huge thank you to AmeriCorps for making that possible.”