Green Neighbors Program Lead
Hello! My name is Camille Shelton, and I am excited to be the new Clark County Green Neighbors coordinator.
I got my start in the solid waste industry and environmental education realm in 2015 when I became an intern for Clark County's Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach team, with the former Clark County Department of Environmental Services. I served as a general education support team member for all of the solid waste outreach programs (Green Schools, Green Business and the Composter Recycler Volunteer program).
In 2017, I graduated from Washington State University Vancouver with a BA in Anthropology, a BS in Psychology, a minor in Environmental Science and a minor in Critical Culture, Gender and Race Studies. After graduating college, I took a brief hiatus from the solid waste industry. I moved to Texas to serve as the Volunteer and Education coordinator for a small non-profit providing wildlife rehabilitation and sanctuary residence for animals deemed not fit for release. After serving in that role for several years, I moved to serve on the education team as the Volunteer Coordinator for the largest animal shelter in South Texas.
I moved back home to the Pacific Northwest in 2021 and was happy to serve in a familiar role on Clark County Public Health's Solid Waste and Environmental Outreach team. Last month, I transitioned into my new position as the Green Neighbors program coordinator. I am excited to continue to serve the Clark County community by providing residential outreach about environmental sustainability, recycling contamination and food waste reduction!
Green Neighbors AmeriCorps Member, 2023-2024 Service Term
Hello! My name is Bethanie Collette, the newest AmeriCorps Member for Clark County Public Health. I'll be serving as the Green Neighbors Community Outreach Coordinator!
I was raised in Juneau, Alaska and have lived in Southwest Washington for over 13 years. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, I spent every daylight hour I could exploring the forests and rivers that surrounded me.
I received my B.A. in Anthropology, Political Science and History with a minor in Environmental Science from Washington State University Vancouver. Throughout my undergraduate years, I worked as a journalist and editor for the student newspaper, the Vancougar, and the literary journal, the Salmon Creek Journal. I covered stories about climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. As an undergraduate researcher, I served in two labs, where I studied the effects of recurrent forest fires on soil microbial communities and helped calibrate methane detection systems to be deployed at water reservoirs to test for methane ebullitions. I've also worked with the Collective for Social and Environmental Justice to implement a community and learning garden on the WSU Vancouver campus while serving on student government.
Throughout my life, it became increasingly apparent that I was born to work in environmental advocacy. With the utmost joy, I begin my service term with the Green Neighbors program and continue to serve a community I care for deeply through outreach, education, events and volunteer initiatives.
To read previous stories I've wrote, visit the following links:
How to practice sustainable living as a college student - The VanCougar
5 pollinating plants to get this Earth Day - The VanCougar
The absence of Indigenous representation on campus - The VanCougar
To view a free digital version of the community literary journal, click here.