Celebrating 25 Years with Florida Conservation Corps | Florida State Parks

Tyler Byrd teaching park visitors about springs protections.

2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the partnership between Florida State Parks and the AmeriCorps/Florida Conservation Corps program.

Over the past 25 years, more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members have served over 772,000 hours in our parks. Their work includes treating more than 26,000 acres of non-native plants on 100,000 gross acres as well as improving more than 3,000 miles of trails. They’ve also worked to recruit more than 27,000 volunteers. Their outstanding efforts have made a lasting impact on our state’s natural places.

For many members, serving with AmeriCorps or FLCC led to a career with Florida State Parks. These staff members serve in a variety of roles, such as park rangers, environmental specialists and park managers. The skills they learned in AmeriCorps are still applied today as they work to ensure that Florida’s award-winning state parks remain the best in the nation.

Enjoy these spotlights of park employees who started with the AmeriCorps/Florida Conservation Corps program.

Spotlight on Nicky Aiken

Nicky served three terms with the AmeriCorps program before joining the Florida State Parks team. Today, she is the assistant park manager for Silver Springs State Park.

Spotlight on Salena Alberti

Salena served two terms in the Florida Conservation Corps before joining the Florida State Parks team as a wildlife biologist.

Tyler Byrd teaching park visitors about springs protections.

Spotlight on Tyler Byrd

Tyler Byrd served with the Florida Conservation Corps before joining the Florida State Parks team as an interpretive specialist.

Andrea Henry with a group of coworkers.

Spotlight on Andrea Henry

Andi served 1.5 terms with the Florida Conservation Corps before joining the team. She is now the park services specialist at Lake Kissimmee State Park.

Anna Kellner poses with an alligator sign used in one of her programs.

Spotlight on Anna Kellner

Anna served two terms with AmeriCorps, one in New York and one in Florida, before joining Florida State Parks as a park services specialist.

Alexa Kurowski attends a briefing for a prescribed fire.

Spotlight on Alexa Kurowski

After one term with Florida Conservation Corps, Alexa's next job was as a park ranger at Oscar Scherer State Park.

Spotlight on Jessica Bickell

After two service terms with FLCC, Jessica loved her host park so much she took on an environmental specialist position.

Spotlight on Tess Busch

Tess served two terms in the Florida Conservation Corps before joining the Florida State Parks team. Today, she serves as the assistant park manager at Sebastian Inlet State Park.

Spotlight on Megan Greene

Megan served one term with the Florida Conservation Corps before joining the Florida State Parks team and supporting current FLCC members.

Spotlight on Bill Gruber

Bill discovered a passion for prescribed fire while serving a term in FLCC.

Allison Callis works on a prescribed fire at Myakka River State Park.

Spotlight on Allison Callis

Allison enjoyed her time with FLCC and developed skills that led her to join the team at Myakka River State Park as a biological scientist.

Lauren Natwick works to remove non-native plants.

Spotlight on Lauren Natwick

Lauren loves AmeriCorps so much she served four terms, two of which were with the Florida Conservation Corps before she became an FLCC staff member.

Emily Price works on a prescribed fire.

Spotlight on Emily Price

Emily joined the Florida State Parks community after serving two terms with the Florida Conservation Corps.

Spotlight on Marrietta Partrick

Etta served with FLCC before joining the team at the district office in Central Florida.

Spotlight on Heather Goston

For Heather, three terms with AmeriCorps prepared her for a career managing public lands and fostering a love of natural places.

Spotlight on Diana Stinson

Diana found her experience with FLCC to be fulfilling and rewarding. Now she devotes her time to outreach and managing volunteer activities at Oscar Scherer State Park.

Spotlight on Alex Creager

Alex served two terms with the Florida Conservation Corps at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Today, he is the park's manager.

Spotlight on Karen Strawn

After 1.5 terms at Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Karen joined the team full time to help manage the park's volunteer efforts.

The Florida Conservation Corps Wants You!

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps National Service Program that recruits members to work on essential projects in Florida State Parks. Do you want a great opportunity to learn about biology, land management, volunteer recruitment and park outreach? FLCC is recruiting for the upcoming term of service!

Becoming a Park Ranger

Do you enjoy working outside? Do you want your work to make a difference? Are you looking for a professional adventure? Working for Florida’s state parks might just be the right opportunity for you.