Get Involved with Energy Express

Opportunities with Energy Express

The best gift that you can give to Energy Express is the gift of your time. Energy Express needs college students interested in serving through AmeriCorps, educators looking for summer employment, and volunteers willing to read to children or perform other tasks. Community organizations can also sponsor an Energy Express site.

Learn More About Energy Express

WVU Extension Site Coordinators

Energy Express relies on the dedication of experienced school professionals to facilitate the work of teams at all Energy Express sites. Education professionals interested in serving as Energy Express site supervisors are encouraged to apply for these paid positions. Site supervisor applications are available online, or by calling 304-293-3855.

AmeriCorps Community Coordinators & Mentors

In your role as an AmeriCorps member within the Energy Express program, you'll dedicate your summer to supporting the youth of West Virginia and fostering community engagement. You'll engage Energy Express participants in various educational and creative pursuits, including reading, writing, art, drama, and enjoyable, non-competitive recreational activities. Applications open in November, with a March 1 priority deadline and a May 1 application deadline. Interviews begin after the priority deadline and end when all positions are filled, so it is best to get your applications in early!

• AmeriCorps Mentor: Each site will have four AmeriCorps Mentors for summer 2026. AmeriCorps and WVU Mentors share the same job responsibilities, but AmeriCorps Mentors receive a federal education award and may qualify for the West Virginia tuition waiver.
• WVU Mentor: WVU Mentors receive additional compensation equivalent to an education award.
• Community Coordinator: This position is no longer filled by an AmeriCorps member and is now a designated budgeted role.

AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive a $1,565.08 educational award,  

$4,050  living allowance and 300 service hours.  

Volunteer Opportunities

From planning, recruitment and funding, to reading aloud – there’s always a task to be completed if you’re willing to share your time. Some volunteers serve daily at Energy Express sites. They assist with art, drama and one-on-one reading. Other volunteers might show up less frequently, serving as “guest readers” or helping with a specific project.

Volunteers also help serve meals, take dictation from children, staff school offices, offer art activities, listen to children read, and share their special interests and experiences.

For information on how to volunteer with Energy Express, contact your local WVU Extension office.

Sponsor an Energy Express Site in Your Area

To sponsor an Energy Express site, a community coalition of parents, groups and organizations develops a proposal, generates a required local match and fills a variety of support roles—resulting in shared ownership, diversified funding and program sustainability.

To apply for a site, more than 50 percent of the children in a school community must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Energy Express is typically housed in school facilities that otherwise would stand empty during the summer. However, community centers and churches are also used in some areas.

During Energy Express, parents and community members are encouraged to support children in a variety of ways. Through home visits and personal contacts, Energy Express mentors and volunteer coordinators invite parents to volunteer during the program. Some sites offer parents learning opportunities in supporting children’s learning, family nutrition and parenting skills.

Many community members and service organizations donate their time and talents. Volunteers read aloud, help serve meals, take dictation from children, staff school offices, offer art activities, listen to children read, and share their special interests and experiences. To learn more about sponsoring and starting an Energy Express site in your community, contact your local WVU Extension office.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.