being in joplin is still kind of crazy to me. i can't really believe that i'm a part of this massive effort. every single time i ride through the disaster zone it's just mind blowing to see the destruction. it's something i could never get used to. but the locals and the volunteers that are here helping to clean up are just amazing. it's so horribly sad to ride through the area and see nothing but piles of debris but it is uplifting to see how many people are coming out to help.
the missing persons center is closed. everyone is accounted for which is a blessing. that was emotionally draining for me. i might talk to 45 people in an hour and hear all these stories that are just horrible but how these people amazingly survived. but to just have that one phone call an hour where the people still couldn't find family members that just made everything so much harder. that was one of the hardest jobs i've ever had.
now, i'm working at the vrc- volunteer reception center. i'm the food poc here (just like i am on my team!) except i'm feeding every single americorps person (over 100) and the different volunteers that come through here everyday. this is a seriously stressful job too! having to make sure we always have a meal and snacks and water and gatorade is a challenge but it's wonderful to hear everyone say how good the food is. i'm getting the hang of it and have this weekend and all of next week planned but after that i'm kind of in the dark. trying to get everything sorted out. if anyone is willing to donate any meals or snacks or please please PLEASE let me know. we could really use it. we're all out of gatorade and our snacks are beginning to run low and a lot of places have been repeatedly donating to us and everyone else so donations are kind of dwindling.
anyways, that's about all i have for now. gotta go get back to work!
hope all is well with everyone
keep praying for joplin
xoxo,
B
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
disaster relief in joplin, ms
hey yall
i'm in joplin currently
was first in ruidoso, nm for two weeks doing trail work, yard work and in the caves. then i went to alamogordo, nm for a week and a half painting the historical buildings at white sands national monument. it was awesome working at such a beautiful place.
we were told on tuesday after work last week that we had been called to go on disaster and so we packed up that night and headed out in the morning. it took us two days to arrive and once we did the first thing we did was check in with the other americorps groups and then go on a tour of the part of the city that got hit.
it was horrible. the land is literally flat. just flat. there's debris and knocked over trees. one tree had a piece of metal that had literally sliced through the tree and was hanging half way through the tree. we saw pictures before the storm and afterwards and it's just insane to see the difference but to literally see it not just through a picture but in real life. and to watch the people in their yards. it was so horrible.
we arrived on friday night and got all unpacked and went grocery shopping and saturday morning we started work. i've been working these two days in the missing person call center. hey tell you hearing how happy people are when they tell you not to worry because they've found their loved ones. but it's heartwrenching to hear the stories. especially the ones from people who have lost loved ones and people who are still missing loved ones.
i find myself praying constantly. it breaks my heart to hear these stories. i keep getting people telling me how thankful they are for me and americorps and what we're doing for the city and it makes me so proud to say that i am a part of an organization that is making such a massive impact on this town. there's americorps nccc and americorps state and national teams here so it's just a huge gathering of us getting things done.
a couple of people on my team went into the city yesterday that wasn't affected and handed out information to people. the rest of my team working in the field cleaning up debris. there's tons of debris. we were told there's more debris here than there was after the attacks after 9/11. and after seeing it i can believe it. it's overwhelming. i keep thinking about when i was working in nola for two months and how it was five years after the storm and how people are still without houses and how houses still haven't even been gutted. it blew my mind then to see all that damage and to realize that it would probably be another five years before more houses were fixed. to have experienced that and then to experience this has been i don't even know. it's overwhelming seeing all this distruction. and having that first hand experience breaks my heart because i can see the destruction and i know it's going to take years and years to get things back up. it's so sad to know that.
but on the other hand, i've talked to every person who called with missing family members or friends if their names fell under a's or c's and everyone was so thankful and so positive and thanking god. it was very uplifting.
i'm kind of in a trance like status currently. i'm not too sure how to feel or how to act. i'm proud to be working for such an amazing cause. i'm so glad i can know i'm helping as best as i can. but it's exhausting both physically and mentally.
we live in a gym with the other americorps teams and it gets really loud at nights with all the guys snoring! we have three toilets, three sinks and 9 showers (only 7 work) for all the girls. it's a lot of waiting and not a lot of space. but luckily, by the time we're off pretty much everyone has ran to their sleeping bag to nap.
i need to go for now but i wasn't sure how much more time i'd have working here inside so figured i should go ahead and update this.
i hope all is well with everyone. please pray for joplin. pray for peace, strength, happiness and recovery. and be thankful for how blessed we are. god is good.
xoxo,
B
i'm in joplin currently
was first in ruidoso, nm for two weeks doing trail work, yard work and in the caves. then i went to alamogordo, nm for a week and a half painting the historical buildings at white sands national monument. it was awesome working at such a beautiful place.
we were told on tuesday after work last week that we had been called to go on disaster and so we packed up that night and headed out in the morning. it took us two days to arrive and once we did the first thing we did was check in with the other americorps groups and then go on a tour of the part of the city that got hit.
it was horrible. the land is literally flat. just flat. there's debris and knocked over trees. one tree had a piece of metal that had literally sliced through the tree and was hanging half way through the tree. we saw pictures before the storm and afterwards and it's just insane to see the difference but to literally see it not just through a picture but in real life. and to watch the people in their yards. it was so horrible.
we arrived on friday night and got all unpacked and went grocery shopping and saturday morning we started work. i've been working these two days in the missing person call center. hey tell you hearing how happy people are when they tell you not to worry because they've found their loved ones. but it's heartwrenching to hear the stories. especially the ones from people who have lost loved ones and people who are still missing loved ones.
i find myself praying constantly. it breaks my heart to hear these stories. i keep getting people telling me how thankful they are for me and americorps and what we're doing for the city and it makes me so proud to say that i am a part of an organization that is making such a massive impact on this town. there's americorps nccc and americorps state and national teams here so it's just a huge gathering of us getting things done.
a couple of people on my team went into the city yesterday that wasn't affected and handed out information to people. the rest of my team working in the field cleaning up debris. there's tons of debris. we were told there's more debris here than there was after the attacks after 9/11. and after seeing it i can believe it. it's overwhelming. i keep thinking about when i was working in nola for two months and how it was five years after the storm and how people are still without houses and how houses still haven't even been gutted. it blew my mind then to see all that damage and to realize that it would probably be another five years before more houses were fixed. to have experienced that and then to experience this has been i don't even know. it's overwhelming seeing all this distruction. and having that first hand experience breaks my heart because i can see the destruction and i know it's going to take years and years to get things back up. it's so sad to know that.
but on the other hand, i've talked to every person who called with missing family members or friends if their names fell under a's or c's and everyone was so thankful and so positive and thanking god. it was very uplifting.
i'm kind of in a trance like status currently. i'm not too sure how to feel or how to act. i'm proud to be working for such an amazing cause. i'm so glad i can know i'm helping as best as i can. but it's exhausting both physically and mentally.
we live in a gym with the other americorps teams and it gets really loud at nights with all the guys snoring! we have three toilets, three sinks and 9 showers (only 7 work) for all the girls. it's a lot of waiting and not a lot of space. but luckily, by the time we're off pretty much everyone has ran to their sleeping bag to nap.
i need to go for now but i wasn't sure how much more time i'd have working here inside so figured i should go ahead and update this.
i hope all is well with everyone. please pray for joplin. pray for peace, strength, happiness and recovery. and be thankful for how blessed we are. god is good.
xoxo,
B
Monday, May 30, 2011
heading to alamagordo, nm tomorrow!
well, today is memorial day and we had a MASSIVE lunch with all the good stuff- burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, watermellon, cherries, beans, chips, sweet tea and cake:) i'm so thankful for my little brother weldon and all he is doing for our country. soon he will leave for afghanistan and risk his life for our freedom and i am so proud to say he's my little brother.
for the past two weeks we've been in ruidoso, nm. it's been a big adventure! i've done a ton of trail work, spent a day making a garden at a local boys and girls club, cleaned up around the fort AND been caving (which was AMAZING!!!). i've had a great time here and can't believe how fast these two weeks went by. my next door neighbor is a local cop and he has a horse named tater so i've been able to ride him and i go visit him every day and brush him and give him peppermints and so that's a great break from everything. i'm more sad of leaving tater than leaving the city!
tomorrow morning we leave for white sands national monument in alamagordo, nm. we'll be there for one month camping and doing maintenance and trail work at the park. i've seen lots of pictures and it looks beautiful there. i've heard from locals that it's a good 20 to 30 degrees hotter there than it is here and you get burned easier so i've invested in more sun screen:)
i'm sure everyone knows about the storms in missouri. well, americorps nccc focuses on disaster relief so i've been informed by my team leader that if headquarters sends a call to my campus saying send teams then our team is at the top of the list to be sent. so far we don't know for sure if we'll go or not but the funds have been transferred to our account in order for the travel and hotel stays so my team leader says the chances are huge that we'll get sent. i'll let yall know as soon as i find out.
i can't believe i only have two more months in americorps. it's crazy how time flies!
hope all is well with everyone else
all my love
xoxo,
B
for the past two weeks we've been in ruidoso, nm. it's been a big adventure! i've done a ton of trail work, spent a day making a garden at a local boys and girls club, cleaned up around the fort AND been caving (which was AMAZING!!!). i've had a great time here and can't believe how fast these two weeks went by. my next door neighbor is a local cop and he has a horse named tater so i've been able to ride him and i go visit him every day and brush him and give him peppermints and so that's a great break from everything. i'm more sad of leaving tater than leaving the city!
tomorrow morning we leave for white sands national monument in alamagordo, nm. we'll be there for one month camping and doing maintenance and trail work at the park. i've seen lots of pictures and it looks beautiful there. i've heard from locals that it's a good 20 to 30 degrees hotter there than it is here and you get burned easier so i've invested in more sun screen:)
i'm sure everyone knows about the storms in missouri. well, americorps nccc focuses on disaster relief so i've been informed by my team leader that if headquarters sends a call to my campus saying send teams then our team is at the top of the list to be sent. so far we don't know for sure if we'll go or not but the funds have been transferred to our account in order for the travel and hotel stays so my team leader says the chances are huge that we'll get sent. i'll let yall know as soon as i find out.
i can't believe i only have two more months in americorps. it's crazy how time flies!
hope all is well with everyone else
all my love
xoxo,
B
Saturday, May 21, 2011
ruidoso, nm
well, i'm here in ruidoso new mexico finally! my last project round in americorps nccc. i can't believe my ten months are almost over. it truly flew by.
ruidoso is SO small. smaller than hartsville because most people live in the mountains. the city is so small and all the stores close by 8 except walmart. it's beautiful up here though. we're higher here than we were in denver, co. it's SO sunny and i'm already sun burned:( the work is super hard but rewarding seeing the trails we've made so far in just two days. it's hot up here but the wind is always blowing so it always feels pretty good. at night the stars are AMAZING. i tried to take a picture but it just didn't work out. we live at fort stanton which is a super old fort from the mid 1800's and it's on private land in the mountains with our only neighbors being the local police who live there for cheap. we never lock doors and always leave windows open. it's very freeing and open. the fort is fascinating to me and i've loved exploring it. they used it to chase indians away, then to protect the towns around it, then it was taken over by the south during the civil war, then it became a camp for captured germans during the world wars, then it became a hospital for tuberculosis patients, then it became a women's prison and then a youth prison. all that history and i'm loving it! i sometimes get one bar of service but usually it's temperamental. internet is out of the question! we're about thirty minutes from town and so luckily we can drive in on the weekends, i'm currently at the library. let's seeeeeeee i'm not sure what else to say at the moment. my mind is kind of fried because i'm so tired lol i'll update again soon!
xoxo,
B
ruidoso is SO small. smaller than hartsville because most people live in the mountains. the city is so small and all the stores close by 8 except walmart. it's beautiful up here though. we're higher here than we were in denver, co. it's SO sunny and i'm already sun burned:( the work is super hard but rewarding seeing the trails we've made so far in just two days. it's hot up here but the wind is always blowing so it always feels pretty good. at night the stars are AMAZING. i tried to take a picture but it just didn't work out. we live at fort stanton which is a super old fort from the mid 1800's and it's on private land in the mountains with our only neighbors being the local police who live there for cheap. we never lock doors and always leave windows open. it's very freeing and open. the fort is fascinating to me and i've loved exploring it. they used it to chase indians away, then to protect the towns around it, then it was taken over by the south during the civil war, then it became a camp for captured germans during the world wars, then it became a hospital for tuberculosis patients, then it became a women's prison and then a youth prison. all that history and i'm loving it! i sometimes get one bar of service but usually it's temperamental. internet is out of the question! we're about thirty minutes from town and so luckily we can drive in on the weekends, i'm currently at the library. let's seeeeeeee i'm not sure what else to say at the moment. my mind is kind of fried because i'm so tired lol i'll update again soon!
xoxo,
B
Sunday, May 8, 2011
end of round 3- shuffle round
i cannot believe that i have only two months left of americorps. the time has flown by so fast it's amazing.
round three at garden place academy with my shuffle team was wonderful <3 my class was third grade and they were all so amazing. i'm really going to miss them. i taught my class social studies and history and science everyday among all the other things we did. it makes me so sad to know that after this next week i'll probably never see them again. but i know that we helped them a lot and that makes me so happy. they have a school wide dance this coming saturday and so quite a few of us are going to go to that and i know it will be awesome.
currently, this is transition week. meaning, we do a lot of nothing really in between meetings and paperwork.
next week my original team leaves for new mexico and our next and final project. here is the description i have so far and this is all i know about it for now:
xoxo,
B
round three at garden place academy with my shuffle team was wonderful <3 my class was third grade and they were all so amazing. i'm really going to miss them. i taught my class social studies and history and science everyday among all the other things we did. it makes me so sad to know that after this next week i'll probably never see them again. but i know that we helped them a lot and that makes me so happy. they have a school wide dance this coming saturday and so quite a few of us are going to go to that and i know it will be awesome.
currently, this is transition week. meaning, we do a lot of nothing really in between meetings and paperwork.
next week my original team leaves for new mexico and our next and final project. here is the description i have so far and this is all i know about it for now:
Project #20 **Note: This project is a packaged project**
EcoServants & White Sands National Monument (APD: Vicky Reinold)
Project #20a
EcoServants
Ruidoso, NM
Dates: May 16 – May 27; June 25 – July 21 (Subject to Change)
Sponsor: Stephen Carter
Housing: Dormitory
Team: Fire One
Team Leader: Tim Boyle
EcoServants has the mission “to employ, engage and educate youth to serve and restore the community and its resources.” They started as a cave stewardship organization and quickly transformed to a youth corps summer program, which has run since 2006. In 2007 EcoServants started an AmeriCorps State program which placed full time members in 4 schools and an after school program. We are now expanding the program further, and request NCCC assistance for the following project tasks:
· Corps Members (CM's) would clear, design, build, and restore trails. They would also be restoring and building park facilities such as kiosks, shelters, restrooms and outdoors education laboratories. They would be removing noxious weeds, repairing fence lines, building animal passes and watering system.
· Caves take the CMs underground where they will inventory and map the cave’s environment, helping with cave management by completing tasks such as: leading and or inspecting groups going in and out of Fort Stanton Cave (FSC), restoring formations damaged by human impact, and removing graffiti. CMs could also design and give public presentations on caves, bats and White Nose Syndrome to help protect caves. CM's would be a part of the exploration of the newly discovered Snowy River Cave by restoring and creating trails or foot steps for expedition work, hauling equipment such as gates, cement, scientific and video equipment, survey gear, metal and plastic tunnel pieces and bridges.
· Using ArcGIS and a Trimble Global Positioning Unit, CMs would be assisting in mapping and inventorying area trails and parks, establishing safer walking and biking routes, recording distances, slope and accessibility.
· CMs might also support preparation for and implementation of weeklong Wilderness Camp for youth.
Project #20b
White Sands National Monument
Alamogordo, NM
Dates: May 28 – June 24 (Subject to Change)
Sponsor: Bill Melendez
Housing: Camping
Team: Fire One
Team Leader: Tim Boyle
Rising from the heart of Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders- the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field. White Sands National Monument preserves a major portion of this unique dune field along with the plants and animals that have adapted to this constantly changing environment.
The NCCC team will work with the facilities maintenance department on the following infrastructure improvement projects: help to resurface stucco exterior walls on buildings in the Historic District, help prepare concrete bases to mount grills in picnic areas throughout the Park, paint vigas, window frames and doors on several structures throughout the Historic District, assist in the removal and installation of fence rail to enlarge a parking area in the Inner Dune Life Area.
overall, i think this project will be awesome. i know our team is really excited about it and from the pictures i've seen online it looks like both sites will be beautiful!
before i go, i'd like to say happy mother's day to all of the amazing moms i know especially my own amazing mother. i love you so muchxoxo,
B
Sunday, March 27, 2011
i'm alive i swear!
ok, so i officially suck at blogging. and i'm really sorry lauren for picking on you all the time about how you're bad at blogging too... it's harder than i thought! a lot of people have been telling me to blog some more so i figured it's high time i got around to it! so here yall go!
so, i don't know how many weeks i'm in anymore! but, round two is over and i'm no longer in new orleans. i'm now back in denver and in round three working as a teacher's aid in a third grade class at an underprivileged school. i guess i can do a recap on what i've been up to!
my last weeks in nola flew by. i absolutely loved it there. i loved having sweet tea, hearing ma'am and yall, listening to country music and seeing churches on every block. in all, my team worked on ten houses while working with pnola. and we finished three houses! two of those houses were sponsored by two football players from the nola saints. and the players showed up at the house dedications! it was awesome! i got my picture with them.
i also went to my first mardi gras parade! it was... interesting! it was really funny but like it's all parodies and pretty sarcastic. but it was funny and there were SO many people there. and the parades aren't like the ones in sc. you get to stand in the streets and there's no police barricades and they hand out goodies and there are bands playing music and everyone's laughing. it's just fun:)
i'm not sure if i wrote about it or not but i also got to go to the st louis cemetery number one and clean tombs! i got a tour with the head tour guide and i got to go to the building across the street and go to the top floor and see the cemetery from above right next door! hardly anyone gets to see that view but i did!!! i got to spend two days cleaning the cemetery and it was by far probably my favorite thing i did in nola! i loved it! i got to clean the voo doo priestess' tomb!!!
we left nola and had a three day road trip back to denver. we stopped in tyler, texas and then in amarillo, texas and then we were back in denver. the road trip was long and well long. that's about it! the lone star state is entirely too big.
when we got back to denver, we had a little over a week for the transition. my team turned in all of our stuff, did our debriefing with the unit leaders and finished all of our paperwork. oh and i was voted corpsmember of the round for my team! which was a really awesome honor. my team and team leader had to vote for the person they thought worked the hardest and earned it.
then i met with my new shuffle team. we had a lot of paperwork to do and had to do our briefing with the unit leaders. my team is really cool. we all get along really well. we're working at garden place academy which is k5-5th grade and is mostly a hispanic school. none of the kids can afford lunch so they all get free lunch. the faculty is amazing and so nice. i love it there. i'm in a third grade class but the teacher had a baby so the class has a long term substitute who is really nice. but he's been sick all week so we had another sub this week and she was really great too. my two weeks there have been wonderful so far. the kids are pretty good for the most part. there are like four really wild ones but they've gotten better because i'm definitely a more strict person and i think it's good because i'm a constant where as the substitutes aren't. the principal told me at the beginning that i had one of the worst classes and so i've tried really hard getting them to behave. i bought candy and if they're good at the end of the day they get a piece of candy. oh, and we had to make a little book about us and so i told about my family and weldon and they thought it was so cool that he is in the army. i have one of his army hats and so i took it to class with me and i get one special helper a day and they get to wear his hat all day and help me throughout the day. they LOVE it. and when we go somewhere they march and whoever has the hat gets to be the drill sergeant. they're so cute:)
this week the kids are on spring break so we're working at a community garden and we'll be weeding and planting veggies and teaching people how to do it. it should be nice to work with people in the community again.
we've also been to the lifeline puppy rescue to do more volunteer hours and as always i've had a wonderful time. if puppies can't make you happy then nothing can!
let's see what other news??? i've been rather sick lately. my whole team has been. i'm finally getting over this stupid cold. it's already snowed quite a few times in denver. but, unlike hartsville, the whole town doesn't close down! OH! congratulations to alex and meagan! i'm so excited for you two! and the pictures i've seen of the wedding are just beautiful. meagan you're so gorgeous. alex is a lucky man!
i miss everyone tons. we have spring break the 22-25 but i'll be back in sc on the 21st thru the 26th. i hope to see everyone! it will be my last trip back until americorps in done july 31st.
hope all is well with everyone!
xoxo,
B
so, i don't know how many weeks i'm in anymore! but, round two is over and i'm no longer in new orleans. i'm now back in denver and in round three working as a teacher's aid in a third grade class at an underprivileged school. i guess i can do a recap on what i've been up to!
my last weeks in nola flew by. i absolutely loved it there. i loved having sweet tea, hearing ma'am and yall, listening to country music and seeing churches on every block. in all, my team worked on ten houses while working with pnola. and we finished three houses! two of those houses were sponsored by two football players from the nola saints. and the players showed up at the house dedications! it was awesome! i got my picture with them.
i'm not sure if i wrote about it or not but i also got to go to the st louis cemetery number one and clean tombs! i got a tour with the head tour guide and i got to go to the building across the street and go to the top floor and see the cemetery from above right next door! hardly anyone gets to see that view but i did!!! i got to spend two days cleaning the cemetery and it was by far probably my favorite thing i did in nola! i loved it! i got to clean the voo doo priestess' tomb!!!
then i met with my new shuffle team. we had a lot of paperwork to do and had to do our briefing with the unit leaders. my team is really cool. we all get along really well. we're working at garden place academy which is k5-5th grade and is mostly a hispanic school. none of the kids can afford lunch so they all get free lunch. the faculty is amazing and so nice. i love it there. i'm in a third grade class but the teacher had a baby so the class has a long term substitute who is really nice. but he's been sick all week so we had another sub this week and she was really great too. my two weeks there have been wonderful so far. the kids are pretty good for the most part. there are like four really wild ones but they've gotten better because i'm definitely a more strict person and i think it's good because i'm a constant where as the substitutes aren't. the principal told me at the beginning that i had one of the worst classes and so i've tried really hard getting them to behave. i bought candy and if they're good at the end of the day they get a piece of candy. oh, and we had to make a little book about us and so i told about my family and weldon and they thought it was so cool that he is in the army. i have one of his army hats and so i took it to class with me and i get one special helper a day and they get to wear his hat all day and help me throughout the day. they LOVE it. and when we go somewhere they march and whoever has the hat gets to be the drill sergeant. they're so cute:)
we've also been to the lifeline puppy rescue to do more volunteer hours and as always i've had a wonderful time. if puppies can't make you happy then nothing can!
i miss everyone tons. we have spring break the 22-25 but i'll be back in sc on the 21st thru the 26th. i hope to see everyone! it will be my last trip back until americorps in done july 31st.
hope all is well with everyone!
xoxo,
B
Friday, February 11, 2011
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.
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:
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.
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 2nd 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)
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
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