options for third round (shuffle round)

so, my third round is coming up which is really hard to believe. time has truly flown by. 

third round for the denver campus is a shuffle round which means they shuffle all the teams up. each corpsmember gets a new team leader and new teammates as well as a new location.

it works a little differently because each team leader picks a project that they want and then the corpsmembers get to rank the projects from 1-7 not knowing which team leader is with which project. when we figure out what project we got we'll know who else is on our team and who our team leader is.
i figured i'd post the seven different options we were given so yall can see.

beside each project title there is KBB and a number. obviously the kbb is my initials and the number is my ranking. 1 being the most desirable and 7 being the least. 

Fire Unit Shuffle Round Project Descriptions

KBB1- Project # 1  Garden Place Academy, Denver, CO; Housing: NCCC Dorm

The Garden Place Academy (GPA) literacy project will place NCCC members in an urban public elementary school in Denver; CO. NCCC members will be assisting Early Childhood Education – 5th grade teachers in a variety of ways to increase the academic performance of the students and the school.  Corps Members will work one-on-one, in small groups, and with the whole class in the areas of reading, writing, math, and English Language Development. Along with the classroom assistance, Corps Members will plan and staff after school programs, which can be athletic, educational or artistic in nature.  

KBB4 Project #2-- Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center; Little Rock, AR  Housing: Cabins/Bunk-beds

Ferncliff began in 1937 as a camp and conference center for Presbyterians in Arkansas. In 1985 it was incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 organization with a Board of Directors. Ferncliff’s mission is “to make a positive impact in the world by opening eyes, minds and hearts to God’s transforming love.”  Ferncliff operates inclusively and hosts many different church groups and non-profits.  In 2010, Ferncliff registered 798 summer campers, hosted 130 different groups with about 6000 guests.  Ferncliff has conducted special camps for children such as children with parents in prison, foster children, evacuees, children of homeless family and students who were victims of school violence.  Ferncliff built a 10,000 sq ft disaster assistance warehouse in cooperation with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Church World Service.  Last year the center processed 132,000 pounds of disaster materials.

The NCCC team will get involved in a wide variety of outdoor grounds, maintenance and construction projects.  The group will help prepare for and conduct a week long sawmill operation.  They will make some modifications on existing cabins to prepare them to become straw bale insulated cabins.  The team will help design, prepare and plant a large garden that will supply vegetables for the dining hall, serve as a site for hands-on education by campers, and produce food for a local food pantry.  They will help design and install a rain barrel catchment system and a setting tank system that will prepare used cooking oil to be used for vehicle fuel.  The team will do some trail repair/improvement work, paint a residence, build and repair campfire pits, and help prepare the site summer camp.

Inclement Weather Plan includes:

• Woodworking projects that can be done in Ferncliff's disaster center woodworking area
• Working at a local food warehouse
• General organization of Ferncliff’s Disaster Assistance Center; assisting in warehouse operations  
• Continued compilation of technical information on structures, fixtures, vendors, and equipment to make Ferncliff more sustainable.

KBB7 Project #3  Big Bend National Park  Big Bend, TX  Housing: Camping/Backcountry Camping

This project is perfect for the outdoor oriented team who is open to working and living in primitive camping conditions while engaged in rigorous outdoor work. 

The AmeriCorps NCCC team is invited to join in concert with the trail crew to accomplish the following well-defined and tangible service projects in Big Bend National Park.

1 – Work with the Trail Crew to conduct general maintenance along trails park-wide which would include general repairs, proper pruning of vegetation and cleaning of drainage systems along the trail corridors.   The desired outcome is that we will provide well-maintained trails for visitors to safely hike, learn about Big Bend’s natural and cultural resources, and participate in interpretive guided walks and at the same time preserve the environmental integrity for future generations.

2 – Work with the Science and Resource Management department on fence construction along the Rio Grande corridor to mitigate resource damage by trespass livestock and conduct non-native vegetation management and grasslands restoration.  The desired outcome of the fence construction is to protect the land, vegetation and resources against livestock damage and prevent situations in which the park would become responsible for loose livestock in the National Park.  The desired outcome of non-native vegetation management and grasslands restoration is to prevent the ability to displace native plant and animal species, and prevent disruptions to nutrient and fire cycles.  The team will also at times have the opportunity to interact with visitors, assist with the National Parks recycling program and learn GPS/GIS skills.  The team will be camping at a base-camp and may participate in a multi-day wilderness camping trips.  The team should be prepared to execute physically strenuous work, and camp and hike in remote backcountry areas under uncomfortable climactic conditions (heat and rain).  In the event of inclement and unsafe weather the team will refurbish and sharpen tools, attend an Interpretive Ranger Program, assist with the park recycling program or change work location to be in a safer environment.

KBB2 Project #4  City of Casa Grande Casa Grande, AZ

Housing:  City Facility (Carpeted floor/cots or sleeping bags outside)

The City of Casa Grande, Arizona is the largest in Pinal County with over 42,000 residents within its104 square mile boundary.  Seventeen percent (17%) of Casa Grande families live under the poverty level compared to only 9.6% of families nationwide and over 60% of students at Casa Grande schools are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program.  These economic times increase the need for low to no cost recreation alternatives.  The need for recreation trails drove the formation of the Casa Grande Mountain Trails Steering Committee, a volunteer group charged with planning volunteer trail build events.  Volunteer events are held once a month from October through April.  To date, the Committee has hosted over 65 volunteers and built over 1,600 feet of trail on Casa Grande Mountain.  At this rate, Casa Grande volunteers would take approximately 2 years of events to finish just one trail.  This means the entire system could not be open to the public until at least 2015. 

In conjunction with additional volunteer trail building events, the 2^nd NCCC crew will continue constructing trails, creating an opportunity for residents to begin enjoying the entire trail system in five months, not five years from now.  The NCCC team will be building trail for non-motorized use (hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding) in Casa Grande Mountain Park.  This will involve working with hand tools to remove/prune vegetation, construct a trail by benching into a hillside, and some crib wall construction also may be required.  The Casa Grande Mountain Park Trail System not only provides recreation opportunities for youth and adults, providing physical, educational and emotional benefits of trails and nature, but also serves as a draw for visitors, providing a much needed economic stimulus.

Inclement Weather Plan includes:

Inclement weather is rare at this time of year. Should it be necessary to stay off the mountain, the Casa Grande Parks & Recreation Department will utilize the crews to provide indoor maintenance, such as facility painting, moving and cataloging archive materials, furniture rearranging, indoor cleaning projects, etc. Additionally, the City also partners with other community organizations such as Boys and Girls Club that can use NCCC assistance during inclement weather such as tutoring, presentations or interactive games with kids.

KBB5 Project #5  USDA Forest Service, Oklahoma Ranger District Hodgen, OK  Housing: Camping

The Oklahoma Ranger District is requesting an NCCC team to assist in several major and minor trail maintenance projects, maintenance for vistas on a 44 mile scenic drive and the implementation of animal surveys (approximately 6 days) and prescribed burn preparation (approximately 2 days).  The district has over 200 miles of trails which include trails for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and off highway vehicle use (such as dirt bikes and ATV/UTV).  Team activities to address issues with these trails will include:  Re-establishing a trail corridor and tread, removing brush and downed trees that currently block trail access. Installing and maintaining water control measures such as water bars and/or changes in grade. Performing minor repairs of existing trail structures and reblazing and signing trails.

The Talimena Scenic Byway has numerous overlooks and vista points for the public to stop and “enjoy the view.”  The team’s work will include trimming back brush and small trees, mowing open areas, removing litter,making repairs to benches and signage.  In addition, The team will work with district staff on performing minor campground maintenance.  (This will be the lowest priority for the team).  The team will also  work with the wildlife department to conduct animal surveys for 6 days during the project.  In addition, they will spend approximately 1 to 2 days assisting the fire program in construction and/or improvement of fire lines for future prescribed burns.  If not already trained, team will be trained as “Leave No Trace” trainers.  In inclement weather, the team will help out making signs, organizing the work center, staffing the visitor center and preparing a seasonal visitor center for opening.

KBB3 Project #6  The Nature Conservancy/Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute/ Fort Davis Historic Site,

Ft. Davis, TX  Housing:  Lodge

Service Activities will be split between three co-sponsoring organizations; The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI), a private non-profit education and research organization; The National Park Service’s Fort Davis National Historic Site (FDNHS); and the Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountain Preserve (TNC).  Service activities to be completed at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute include trail maintenance and stair construction on the 1.75 mile Modesta Canyon Trail as well as irrigation and other maintenance work in the Nature Center’s 25 acre botanic garden.  At Fort Davis National Historic Site the AmeriCorps NCCC group will maintain 5 miles of hiking trails, as well as, reduce forest fuels from the boundary fuel break and flood mitigation works that protect the historic structures and cultural resources from flooding.  The team may potentially assist in preserving historic buildings through painting as well. 

The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve would utilize the NCCC crew for forest fuels reduction work and in the application of herbicides to invasive species as part of the forest restoration project for Mexican Spotted Owl habitat improvement.  The desired outcome of the involvement of the NCCC would be improved public access from the trail project work at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute and the Fort Davis Historic Site, improved visitor experiences and interpretation of the vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert from the work in the botanic gardens of the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and improved habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl from the forest restoration work at The Nature Conservancy’s Mountains Preserve.  The team is expected to work in strenuous physical and climactic conditions.  Inclement weather plan includes building bird houses, painting signs, repairing floors and helping out at a local food bank.

KBB6 Project #7  Arizona State Parks  Central AZ (Multiple Sites)
Housing:  Camping with support trailer (kitchen and gathering space)

Arizona State Parks are located near many small rural and suburban communities throughout the state.  The parks are vital components of the recreational opportunities for the citizens of these communities, as well as critical magnets for tourism dollars.  Therefore keeping the parks open, accessible and safe is of primary importance.  Arizona State Parks is also charged with environmental stewardship of critical, but slowing vanishing native habitats.  With the current economic climate and the drastic reduction in staffing levels, the agency has reached out to volunteers, local community groups, local governments, and the private sector to help maintain and preserve our parks.

The Americorps NCCC team will be an important component in this partnership plan.  The enthusiasm and energy of these young adults is needed to achieve trail maintenance and stabilization, invasive plant species removal, and campground, waterfront and facilities clean-up projects.  Their work will help keep these park facilities safe for visitors and will help maintain our native habitats.  But just as significant, the members will learn essential job skills – everything from great customer service to specifics of trail stabilization.  They will also be exposed to the history, geology and plant communities of Arizona.  They will learn about accessibility of trails for people with disabilities, how to work with and coordinate volunteers and how to be an effective and successful team member.  We hope that after their experience working and living at Arizona State Parks, the NCCC team members will be advocates for public lands and life-long supporters of outdoor recreation.  The team will be mobile as they conduct work in several Arizona State Parks.  This is exciting way to work and compare different landscapes, but it will require relocating camp sites and travel logistics.

Inclement Weather Plan

·         Sponsor has included average temperatures and climate for this area.  All work is to be completed in the Phoenix/Tucson area at reasonable elevations.

·         Indoor maintenance projects at several lodges.  Sponsor is also looking at the possibility of partnering with local food banks.

i'll let yall know as soon as i get my project! 

xoxo,

B