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EcoAmbassadors (Formerly Energy Masters)

EcoAmbassadors

This exciting new voluteer program is launching in Fall 2025!

WHAT IS THE ECOAMBASSADORS PROGRAM?

EcoAmbassadors is a new climate and energy-centered volunteer training and community engagement program. This program is an evolution of the award-winning Energy Masters Program that conserves energy, helps local families, and benefits our planet. Building on the 14-year legacy of Energy Masters, the EcoAmbassador program will bring together a community of volunteers who are passionate about helping neighbors and their communities to commit to personal activities to make our neighborhoods and homes healthier and more livable. The EcoAmbassadors training is centered on the City of Alexandria Climate and Energy Plan and the Arlington County Climate Action Plan. Specific focus areas include reducing energy use in the home, shifting to eco-friendly transportation choices, minimizing waste, and increasing tree canopy and conservation landscaping.

Modeled after the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Masters model and evolving from the Energy Masters program, volunteers make an annual service commitment after completing training and participate in a variety of projects in the community to hone their skills, serve tenants and homeowners, and disseminate information throughout the community.

Thank you to the City of Alexandria Office of Climate Action and the Arlington County Climate Policy Office for supporting this program.

WH0 Can Become An EcoAmbassador?

  • Adults in the DMV area interested in climate action and helping their neighbors.

  • High school and college students ages 16 and up.

roles and responsibilities

The EcoAmbassador program has two training pathways with different levels of involvement.

  • EcoAmbassador Master – this pathway consists of 8 weeks of training leading to becoming an EcoAmbassador Master. The Masters pathway consists of a deeper study of policy, sustainability systems, and community engagement. This pathway includes hands-on training related to energy conservation. Volunteers also build skills in community outreach, presentations, and door-to-door canvassing.

    After training, Masters volunteers commit to 25 hours of service throughout the year.

  • Community Connections – a 5-week training regimen that focuses on community engagement, grassroots education, and behavior change. The Community Connections pathway focuses on direct interactions with neighbors and the community to include community outreach/tabling, presentations at civic and community organizations, interactions with schools, and door-to-door dissemination of information.

    After training, Community Connections volunteers commit to 10 hours of service throughout the year.

    Students – high school and college students can sign up for either pathway and will have tailored opportunities for volunteering including engaging school communities and student groups

    After training, student volunteers commit to 10 hours of service throughout the year.

VOLUNTEERS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO:

  • Critical goals of the Arlington County and Alexandria City’s Climate and Energy Action Plans

  • Building Science and its impact on energy use

  • The value of tree canopy, understanding tree deserts, where and how to plant new trees

  • Training on providing climate-related information, energy efficiency and water conservation education and outreach in schools, to community groups, and to individual tenants and homeowners

    VOLUNTEER SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

    • Improving local homes through the installation of programmable thermostats, sealing air leaks, installing faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads, and replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with more efficient, long-lasting LED bulbs.

Program DAtes

Training sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. from October 1 through November 19 plus Saturday, October 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • The first training will be held in person on Wednesday, October 1, and is required for all volunteers.
  • The volunteer graduation and celebration ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 19.

Masters Training Dates: 10/1 (in person), 10/8 (virtual), 10/15 (in person), 10/22 (virtual), 10/29 (in person), 11/5 (virtual), 11/15 (in person), 11/19 (in person)

Community Connections Training Dates: 10/1 (in person); 10/8, 10/22, 11/5 (virtual); and 11/19 (in person)

The training will take place at an Arlington Community Center location (TBD).

The deadline for applications is September 20, 2025. Apply by September 6, 2025 and receive an early bird discount on the training tuition.

Applications Open July 2025

Applications will open in July 2025

Training and Application Information

If you have any questions about the program, please contact our Program Coordinator, Bill Campbell, at bill@ecoactionarlington.org

Eco Ambassadors is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex or age, or other status protected by law.