Instead of the 13 AmeriCorps volunteers Teton Science School expected to host this summer, there will be eight.

The school is going out of its way to continue the program, even at reduced capacity and without typical funding help after the Trump administration cut funding for over half of AmeriCorps programs nationwide earlier this month.

Executive Director Wane Turner is trying to stay optimistic and said it’s a chance to evaluate how effective the early-career educators teach and are taught.

“That the work still needs to get done. Young people obviously are still enthusiastic about joining this kind of a program,” he said.

For now, the school is pausing work with partner organizations, like the county’s Rec Center, the school district, the Art Association of Jackson Hole and Teton Literacy Center. But Turner said he’s ready to partner if those other organizations have funds. Since 2009, the science school has hosted about 40 volunteers annually, spread out over the year.

Turner says volunteers who get room and board at TSS make up about one-third of the 40-member staff. The school teaches locals through Mountain Accademy and about 10,000 other students through week-long camps, he said.

“We rely on these young, energetic, enthusiastic people who are just starting out their careers, he said.

Turner said TSS is still searching for how to fill the funding gap for the future of the program.