North Idaho Outreach & Events: An Update from AmeriCorps Member, Erica Jansen

Coeur d’Alene Home and Garden Expo

AmeriCorps Member Erica Jansen recently attended the Home & Garden Expo in Coeur D’Alene (March 4th – 6th). There, she was a part of a collaborative exhibition with Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and Next Generation Logging. Erica described it as “A great experience working alongside Jen (with IDL) and Kody and his team (Next Generation Logging). The combination between a private company, state agency and a non-profit was a dream team!” Together they helped answer questions from land owners about wildfire preparedness. Next Generation Logging is based out of Northern Idaho and their company focuses on providing landowners the landscape services they need with a Firewise mentality. Overall the weekend was a success with an estimated 3,000 visitors passing through!

Idaho Non-Profit Conference, Moscow, ID

AmeriCorps Member Erica Jansen attended the Idaho Non-Profit Conference in Moscow, ID on March 10th, 2022. There, she engaged with other local non-profits in the Moscow area to discuss topics such as Volunteer Tools and Management, Passionate Donors and Staff, Resources for Idahoans, Advocacy and Lobbying, and listened to other non-profits share their success stories. “It was a room full of passionate people sharing tips and tricks, successes and hardships, I definitely walked away with some newfound wisdom.” Erica was able to attend the conference free of charge with the support of Serve Idaho and AmeriCorps. 

Better Together

We all know the saying, “It takes a village.” Here at Idaho Firewise, we are constantly collaborating with new businesses and other non-profits around the state to gain awareness, support, and foster a Firewise adapted culture. Idaho Firewise Executive Director Ivy Dickinson and AmeriCorps Member Erica Jansen have been working collaboratively with Executive Director Lovina Englund and AmeriCorps Member Marcel Robicheaux of the Palouse Land Trust. Current projects include finalizing interpretive signs for a community green space on Land Trust property located in Troy, ID. This parcel should be open to the public by summer of 2022! In the meantime, Erica and Marcel have been working together to run volunteer events to maintain Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve.