meet the rescuers—ifaw and AmeriCorps

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) has been working with AmeriCorps since 2003, with 18 Individual Placements serving with the Marine Mammal Rescue and Research program over the past 19 years. 

AmeriCorps is the only federal community service and volunteerism agency in the United States, and is considered the domestic version of the Peace Corps. Its mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. We are proud to align with AmeriCorps, and particularly proud of our long-standing, close collaboration with AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC). It's a valuable and inspiring initiative to be part of, and it’s what first introduced me to IFAW. 

I came to IFAW as the very first AmeriCorps marine mammal stranding response placement in 2003. My experience and interests in the field grew during that year and after my time with AmeriCorps came to an end, I was hired as part of the stranding network staff. After working in the stranding field on Cape Cod for over seven years, I earned my veterinary doctorate degree and now serve as IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue Veterinarian—the veterinarian on scene for our nearly 260 stranding events per year. 

How does the partnership work?

Members of the 11-month residential AmeriCorps Cape Cod program serve critical environmental and disaster preparedness needs of the 15 towns within Barnstable County. Each year, IFAW Marine Mammal Rescue staff seek an AmeriCorps member to help support the work we do. A member typically serves with us two to three days per week, from October to July. 

When an AmeriCorps member begins their service with us, they complete rigorous training that includes live and dead marine mammal response, Cape Cod marine mammal life history, management of our 24-hour hotline, trailer driving and much more! 

In addition, IFAW hosts an annual stranding response training for all AmeriCorps members, providing them the opportunity to volunteer as a group. This is especially helpful during large mass stranding events. When we receive a report of multiple stranded dolphins, we need all the help we can get to rescue, treat, and release. It’s always a huge relief when AmeriCorps arrives on scene to lend a helping hand.  

Legacy of ifaw x AmeriCorps

Our ACC members often continue on with IFAW. Check it out!

• Dr. Sarah Sharp was IFAW’s first AmeriCorps placement in 2003-2004 (year 5 of the AmeriCorps Program). 
• Brian Sharp, Director of IFAW’s Marine Mammal Recue & Research program, is a member of the ACC advisory board.  
• ACC member Suzanne LaChance returned to IFAW as our Necropsy Apprentice. 
• ACC member Ben Hobbs returned to intern with IFAW’s legal team, and then continued on to earn his law degree with plans to work in environmental law. 
• ACC member Audrey White completed her Masters project “Inferring Survival and Mortality of Stranded Common Dolphins off Cape Cod, MA Using Satellite Telemetry Data” working with IFAW’s research coordinator Katherine Rose, and IFAW satellite tag data.  
• Bee Perry continued to serve as a member for another AmeriCorps Program in Maine! 
• Our last ACC member, Marta Springer, just recently obtained a job with Michigan Natural Features Inventory as a Conservation Science Technician! 
• Several members have returned as Marine Mammal Rescue & Research interns. 

IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research team cherishes its partnership with AmeriCorps Cape Cod and looks forward to many more years of successful collaboration. We’re grateful for the many ways AmeriCorps Cape Cod supports our team, stranded marine mammals and our entire community.