The Poets of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – Haikus from the Trail

Nature’s beauty serves as the inspiration for many great works of art — including these haikus from the Corpsmembers of Rocky Mountian Youth Corps in Colorado.
Well…maybe these poems weren’t exactly inspired by nature’s beauty. Being out on the trail for days at a time can make you appreciate some of the more subtle “joys” of nature.

Haiku from Trail 4
Originally posted on RMYC: The Conservation Chronicles

Mosquitoes are out
Buzzing in my ear won’t stop
Die die die die die

Bacon grease for days
Chillin in the cup holder
My hair has more grease

In the hills with nerds
Showing off our Magic skills
Where is the walmart?

Sawing back and forth
Woodchips flying in my face
Help! It’s stuck in place

Building a turnpike
Giant rocks won’t move themselves
Bra-a-a-a-d

Rendezvous cook off
For your sweet tooth and meat tooth
Deep fried bacon balls

Digging a cathole
Out in nature feels so nice
Uh-oh, have to wipe

Not oatmeal again
Maybe I’ll add more sugar
Nope, still tastes nasty

Squatting in the woods
Found a nice secluded spot
Oh hey, a hiker

Been out in the woods
Starting to lose sanity
Refrigerator

Hikers can’t make jokes
Building an escalator?
Heard that one before

Hiking 14ers
Why did I sign up for this
That’s not the summit?

Morning before work
Troy’s hair looks magnificent
What is his secret?

We all need our meds
Haven’t seen Nathan in weeks
Mail is like Christmas

California Conservation Corps Crews Sent to Silver Fire and Six Other Fires

More than 300 members of the California Conservation Corps — including 100 on Riverside County’s Silver Fire — have been dispatched to assist Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Services on fires throughout the state.

On Southern California’s Silver Fire near Banning, there are eight CCC crews, providing both firefighting assistance and logistical support at the fire camp.  The corpsmembers are working under the direction of Cal Fire.

The CCC is also assigned to the Aspen Fire (Fresno County); Butler Fire (Humboldt County); Dance Fire (Humboldt County); Falls Fire (Riverside County); Power Fire (Tuolumne County); and the Salmon River Complex (Siskiyou County).  These crews are working under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service.

The crews are from 15 different CCC locations: Camarillo, Chico, Fortuna, Fresno, Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, Pomona, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Stockton,Ukiah, Watsonville and Yreka.

This has been a busy fire season for the CCC, with corpsmembers providing more than 40,000 hours of assistance during July.

Corpsmember Health Insurance Plan

Arranged by  

IMPORTANT UPDATES RE. TCN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
August 1, 2013

The Corps Network’s Health Insurance Plan is designed for AmeriCorps programs with full time members.  Click here for the full Plan Overview.

Update from Chris Rooney at Willis: 

The 2012-2013 policy for The Corps Network Plan has been extended through December 2013.  The current rates and benefits will apply until January 1, 2014.  In the meantime, we are seeking designation for the plan as Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) through HHS for coverage beyond January 1.  We will continue to provide updates as developments occur.

Health care reform has created confusion around coverage for AmeriCorps members and we are aware that at least one insurance plan has communicated its intent to cease providing benefits beyond December 2013.  We’ve been attempting to provide education regarding the issues and available options to state commissions and programs, most recently through webinars hosted by America’s Service Commissions.  We’ve also presented on program director calls to spread the message more directly.  If you are interested in scheduling a similar call or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or my colleague Julie Nelson at 1-800-456-1415.

A webinar hosted by America’s Service Commissions is available here.

Update from Carol Huls, TCN’s Member Relations Manager:
September 2013

In order to participate in The Corps Network’s Health Insurance Program you need to be a Member of The Corps Network. Our member categories include Service and Conservation Corps, Affiliate members and AmeriCorps Basic members.  

For the Health Insurance only – you would want the AmeriCorps Basic membership level. Here is the current form: AmeriCorps Basic Membership FY14

Once you have sent the membership form to me, contact Wills directly for complete information on the plan (including enrollment materials).  Contact Chris Rooney (chris.rooney@willis.com) or Julie Nelson (Julie.nelson@willis.com).  1-800-456-1415.

NOTE:  If your State Commission is an Affiliate member of The Corps Network, their membership will extend such that the AmeriCorps members in your state may join The Corps Network as an AmeriCorps Basic Member with no membership dues.  

Check Here to see if your State Commission is already a member.

If you are a representative of a State Commission who is not yet an Affiliate member, please contact me (chuls@corpsnetwork.org) for more information.

70% of DC Green Corps Graduates Find Employment


Left to right: Travis Marcus Freeman, Turrell Antonio Smith, Carl Jackson Jr., RonDell Pooler
 

Congratulations to Travis Freeman, Carl Jackson, and Turrell Smith – the graduating members of Washington Parks and People’s DC Green Corps Cohort #5. The graduates were honored at a ceremony held on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at the Riverside Center, Washington Parks and People’s location in Northeast Washington, DC. The ceremony included remarks from the trainees, as well as from Washington Parks and People staff, grantors and partners.

The three graduates of Cohort #5 each received a certificate acknowledging their completion of DC Green Corps’ 12 week training program. Over the course of the program, Corpsmembers are instructed in tree planting and maintenance; invasive species removal; stream restoration strategies; storm water mitigation techniques; and urban agriculture. The graduates – all of whom are DC residents – leave the program with job readiness skills and a working of understanding of landscaping and urban forestry.

More specifically, the members of Cohort #5 planted 11 native trees at Brookland Manor, in Northeast, DC; and they planted 10 native trees at Kimball Elementary School, in Southeast. They also constructed 24 raised garden beds and completed extensive invasive plant removal at Marvin Gaye Park, in Northeast, and Walter Pierce Park, in Northwest, DC.

According to RonDell Pooler, a Washington Parks and People Field Coordinator, about 70 percent of the 128 trainees that have graduated from DC Green Corps found employment upon completion of the Green Corps training program. Pooler says the graduates have migrated into a wide range of career fields.

“Some are in child care, retail, security, landscaping, maintenance, and a few have started small businesses. Some have even continued their education through college or other vocational training.”

Of the three graduates from Cohort #5, Travis Freeman is enrolled in another training program; Turrell Smith is working as a freelance artist; and Carl Jackson has three part-time jobs, including a position as a host at the Josephine Butler Parks Center, Washington Parks and People’s headquarters. The Cohort started with nine members, but two found employment before the end of the program. All graduating members were unemployed at the start of the program. 
 


The Corps Network’s Carol Huls with the graduates and RonDell Pooler, WPP employee
 

Please join us in welcoming Members who have joined The Corps Network in FY13!

Service and Conservation Corps

Anchorage Park Foundation/Youth Employment in Parks   
Larimer County Conservation Corps            
WisCorps / Wisconsin Conservation Corps  
YouthBuild Lake County                                    
YouthWorks (Santa Fe)               

For a full list of Members by State – click here.  

Affiliate Members – non-profit youth, service and conservation programs

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps   
Montgomery County Conservation Corps / Latin American Youth Center  
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference  
Repair the World   

Affiliate Members – State Commissions

Office on Volunteerism & Community Service/Virginia DSS    

Affiliate Members – Business Supporters

Green Piranhas /5604 LLC 

For a full list of Affiliates – click here. 
 

thumbnail

Photos from the Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative Day in West Virginia

Check out these photos from last week’s Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative. The project, led by Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia, involved the completion of 350 service projects in five days throughout southern West Virginia. Held in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America’s annual Jamboree, the event brought together Corpsmembers from CCCWV, KUPU – Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps, Northwest Piedmont Service Corps, and AmeriCorps NCCC.

Click here to read more about the event. 
 

 

 

 

Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia Enlists Help from Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps NCCC for Boy Scout Jamboree, 2013 Reach the Summit Initiative

West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin takes a moment for a photo with Corpsmembers and staff from Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia and KUPU / Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps.

Click here to see more photos from the event

For one of their most ambitious projects to date, the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) agreed to lead the 2013 Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative, which will see the completion of over 350 service projects in southern West Virginia this week. According to the organizers of the initiative, “it’s the nation’s largest community service project of its kind in U.S. history.”

“The Initiative is remarkable and the most significant project of its kind in our nation’s history,” said Robert A. Martin, CEO, Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia. “Moving forward, what we accomplish over these five days of service will be a shining example of what can be accomplished when we all work together.”

So who’s helping out? The Boy Scouts of America are hosting their annual Jamboree in conjunction with the event, with an estimated 40,000 scouts descending upon West Virginia for fun and service. Most of the approved work includes outdoor construction, renovation, painting, landscaping or clean-up efforts. The projects are located at cemeteries, parks, schools, humane societies, historic landmarks, ball fields, and other community gathering places.

Knowing they had their hands full, CCCWV also turned to some of their best friends and partners to help out. On Tuesday, the arrival of KUPU’s Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps crew caused quite a splash at the airport, where according to Charleston Gazette reporter Laura Reston, “the teenagers wore yellow leis Tuesday at the gate at Yeager and voiced a Hawaiian chant called an “Oli” to commemorate the entrance to a sacred place…” Noting the strong environmental connection many of the Corpsmembers feel coming from their state, Reston quoted Corpsmember Joshua Bailey-Belista as saying, “If you take care of the land, ‘the land will take care of you.'” They also had a chance to meet the Governor of West Virginia before heading out to Pipestem State Park.

Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National & Community Service has also headed to the event to tour sites and volunteer. Numerous crews from AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps are also there to help execute and supervise projects.

Mary Ellen Ardouny, President & CEO of The Corps Network, the national association of Service and Conservation Corps will also attend. “This is an amazing event and a large share of the credit should go to Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia which has worked for more than two years to pull this event off seamlessly and by engaging a wide number of partners.”

 

Civic Works and Student Conservation Association Partner with Johnson Controls for Conservation Leadership Corps

         +
 

“Conservation Leadership Corps brings Baltimore communities and teens together through parks work program”

Taken from DIGITAL NEWS
By PR Newswire

BALTIMORE, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This summer, 33 Baltimore-area high school students will participate in a unique employment experience through the Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC), a summer jobs program created and sponsored by Johnson Controls in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Civic Works.

In its seventh year in Baltimore, the CLC provides students with training to build leadership and professional development skills, a hands-on conservation experience and a personal sense of stewardship in completing environmental projects throughout the city.

This year, local fundraising and a grant from Northrop Grumman to Civic Works have enabled the CLC to add three additional participants to experience the program. These funds will also support an overnight camping trip for all CLC members, and for five seasoned participants to extend their work within the program for two more weeks.

“Each year our Conservation Leadership Corps provides new and interesting opportunities in the framework of environmental stewardship that expand participants’ skills personally and professionally,” said Jennifer Mattes, director, global public affairs for Johnson Controls. “This program engages students in an experience that helps make them more competitive job candidates, while underscoring the importance of environmental conservation.”

During the six-week program, one crew will conduct a special project at Herring Run Park, restoring various sections of Herring Run Park that border different neighborhoods to connect the park’s many communities. This CLC crew will also build timber steps on a washed-out portion of the Tyndale trail and add a section of turnpike, as well as construct new trails and perform invasive species removal.

Two student crews will work at Leakin Park to reroute and construct a more sustainable grade for part of the Ridge Trail. The work will involve the slope and drainage on the remaining portions of the old trail. Students will also add stone or timber steps to some sections of the park, add one section of turnpike, and close old, unused trails. Teens will also cultivate vital professional development skills, including help with resume writing, interview skills and personal finance management.

“It is important to keep high school youth engaged in meaningful activity over the summer. Only with the support of Johnson Controls and SCA are we able to offer such a beneficial program that involves job training, education and a spirit of service, while accomplishing so much for our parks here in Baltimore,” said Earl Millett, chief operating officer, Civic Works. “The partnership between our organizations has enabled us to reach so many students that would not have had any opportunities otherwise. We look forward to continuing to grow this program until everyone who wants to participate has access to it.”

On August 2, the students will participate in a professional development day – hosted by Johnson Controls at the company’s Sparks, Md. location – where they will learn the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency, and expectations of today and tomorrow’s leaders. CLC members will engage in career-focused presentations and hands-on workshops led by company experts.

The CLC participants were selected from more than 138 applicants based on their successful completion of a two-month process. Student candidates were assessed on leadership, work ethic, civic engagement, and interest and commitment to the environment. Two students shared their thoughts about the program:

“The Baltimore CLC is an important option for me over the summer so that I can have more job experience. After this summer I will have a lot of CLC experience to put on my resume. I will also have a lot of fun working outside, getting to know other students and adventures during the CLC.” – Kwamel Couther, second-year Baltimore CLC crew member 

“Baltimore CLC is important because it teaches valuable lessons on why the earth is important and why we need to keep taking care of it. It also shows people that hard work really does pay off.” – Malik Moore, third-year Baltimore CLC crew member

Additionally, the SCA, Civic Works and Johnson Controls are working in partnership with Blue Water Baltimore, the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Clyburn Arboretum and the Aquaponics Project, Real Food Farm, Marshy Point Nature Center, the Downtown Sailing Center, and the SCA’s own Urban Tree House initiative to offer further educational opportunities.

The program will culminate in a graduation ceremony on August 16, where the CLC students, crew leaders and community partners will present awards to the CLC teams.

Support for the program is also being provided by the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Mountain Club of Maryland, Friends of Herring Run Park, and PNC Bank Harborside.

Established in Baltimore in 2007, Johnson Controls also sponsors the CLC in Milwaukee and Detroit, along with similar programs in China, Mexico, England, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 168,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.  In 2013, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About the Student Conservation Association:

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the only national organization that develops tomorrow’s conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with service opportunities in all 50 states, from urban communities to national parks and forests. Since 1957, SCA’s hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship and save the planet. SCA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Boise, ID, Charlestown, NH, Chicago, IL, Oakland, CA, Pittsburgh. PA, and Seattle, WA. For further information, visit www.thesca.org.

About Civic Works

Civic Works, Baltimore’s urban service corps and an AmeriCorps program, was founded in 1993 with a mission of strengthening Baltimore’s communities through education, skills development, and community service. Since its inception, Civic Works has trained and assisted more than 3,600 Baltimore area participants in performing community service projects, developing job readiness and life skills, and finding employment. Every year, approximately 200 AmeriCorps members serve on one of Civic Works’ teams tutoring and mentoring children, building community parks and gardens, making energy efficiency improvements, making home repairs for older adults, and growing food for low-income communities. Civic Works also trains 100 low-income Baltimore residents for careers in healthcare, environmental remediation, and weatherization.

Editor’s Note: To obtain images of the Baltimore CLC program, please contact Amanda Holloway at aholloway@branigan.biz or 414-459-3942.

 

 

 

 

 

Public Lands Service Corps Act Gets Revised Score From Congressional Budget Office

On June 18th, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee amended and passed S.360, the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013.  Following the committee passing the bill, the legislation was sent to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to be “scored.”  The CBO “scorekeeping” process includes calculating the budgetary effects of the implementing the legislation and impact on the current and future budget resolutions.

This week, CBO released their cost estimate of the amended S.360, the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013. CBO has now found that, “Although S. 360 authorizes a number of new activities under the Public Lands Corps Act, the bill would not increase the amounts authorized to be appropriated under that act. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would have no impact on the federal budget over the 2014-2018 period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.”  In previous Congresses, CBO estimated that implementing the legislation would require net additional appropriations of $95 million over the 5 year period.  

The Public Lands Service Coalition agrees with the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013 that implementing the legislation will not bring the need for additional appropriations and will in fact help stretch the land and water management agencies operating budgets.  In fact, research conducted by the National Park Service’s Park Facility Management Division found that using Conservation Corps to complete maintenance and trail projects provided a cost savings of over 50%. 

The legislation will next be scheduled for Senate floor consideration, expected sometime this fall. We look forward to the legislation being scheduled for floor action and signed into law by the President. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House by Representative Raul Grijalva (AZ-3) and has 32 cosponsors and awaits action by House Committee on Natural Resources. Thank you to all of the Corps that reached out to their Senators on the committee in support of the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013.   

Background on the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013

The Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2013 amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 and expands the role of the public lands corps program. The Public Land Corps program allows the federal land and water management agencies to partner with conservation and service corps on projects that rehabilitate, restore, and enhance natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources on public lands across America. An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program will provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to gain valuable workforce and career development while assisting our nation’s land and water management agencies to address critical maintenance, restoration, repair and rehabilitation needs in a cost effective manner.

The legislation will:

• Permit NOAA to work with conservation corps on costal and marine habitats,

• Establish department level corps / youth offices at DOI, USFS, NOAA,

• Extends the noncompetitive hiring authority for corps members,

• Allow military veterans up to age 35 to participate in the public lands corps program.

The legislation will allow the public land and water management agencies to engage young adults to meet our nation’s backlogged maintenance needs, address record youth unemployment, and prepare a diverse group of youth to be the next generation of natural resource employees. An expanded Public Lands Service Corps program will provide more opportunities for thousands of young Americans to gain valuable workforce and career development while assisting our nation’s land and water management agencies to address critical maintenance, restoration, repair, and rehabilitation needs.