AmeriCorps Member Spotlight: Ayla

At Nevada Outdoor School, our AmeriCorps members play a vital role in connecting youth and families to the outdoors. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Ayla, an Outdoor Educator serving in our Elko office through AmeriCorps.

Rooted in Rural Nevada

Ayla is originally from McGill, Nevada. She grew up on a ranch in a small town, an experience that shaped her love for open spaces and close-knit communities. Having moved several times throughout her life, Ayla developed the ability to adapt to new environments and connect with a wide variety of people—skills that serve her well in her role today.

Finding Her Path Through Service

Ayla first learned about the AmeriCorps program through a fellow member, Bayley. With a desire to spend more time outside and engage in meaningful work, she felt drawn to the opportunity. She has now been serving as an AmeriCorps member for four months and has already made a positive impact.

In her own words, AmeriCorps is “a program where people help out in their communities by working with kids, helping the environment, or supporting local programs.” She believes the program is important because it provides communities with extra support while giving members the chance to build leadership skills and gain valuable life experience.

Growth Through Giving Back

Serving as an AmeriCorps member has been transformative for Ayla. She shares that the experience has helped her grow in confidence, responsibility, and self-awareness. Through her service, she’s discovered how small, consistent actions can make a meaningful difference in her community.

Her work brings additional support to local youth by creating fun, hands-on learning experiences that connect kids with nature, and with each other. These moments of connection are at the heart of Nevada Outdoor School’s mission.

Favorite Moments and Looking Ahead

So far, Ayla’s favorite part of serving has been meeting new people and having fun while doing work that truly matters. For her, the joy of service comes from building relationships and seeing the impact firsthand.

As for what’s next, Ayla views AmeriCorps as a stepping stone, a valuable opportunity to explore her passions and discover the path she wants to pursue in the future. While she’s still figuring out what comes next, one thing is certain: her time in service is shaping her journey in powerful ways.

We are grateful to have Ayla as part of our team and proud to support her growth as a leader in outdoor education.