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Lashauntya Moore, Technical Assistance Coordinator at The Corps Network, Speaks at Event with Second Gentleman Focused on Collaborative Efforts to Expand Access to Nature

The Corps Network applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on advancing environmental equity and investing in decreasing barriers to safe, accessible spaces to enjoy the outdoors.

On Friday, September 23, Lashauntya Moore – Technical Assistance Coordinator at The Corps Network and an AmeriCorps alumna of Earth Conservation Corps – spoke about her service experience at an event with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff at Benning Stoddert Recreation Center in Washington, DC. Hosted by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the event celebrated the collaboration of 10 federal departments and agencies on signing the United States Government Interagency Memorandum of Understanding on Promoting Equitable Access to Nature in Nature-Deprived Communities.

This new MOU is part of America the Beautiful: the Biden-Harris Administration’s initiative “to conserve, connect, and restore 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.” The vision of the MOU also aligns with the goals of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments in climate and clean energy to “disadvantaged communities.”

The event started with a roundtable discussion among stakeholders about implementation of the new MOU. The roundtable was followed by a tree planting outside the recreation center. Lashauntya helped open the tree-planting portion of the program by speaking about her time in Earth Conservation Corps, a Washington, DC-based organization that engages young adults from under-served communities in environmental education and local conservation projects that benefit people and nature.

Among other activities during her term of service, Lashauntya and her crew helped address pollution of the Anacostia River, restore nesting habitat for the Bald Eagle, and build a river walk around the Anacostia. Related to her service, Lashauntya has been featured on 60 Minutes, NOW with Bill Moyers, and People Magazine. Lashauntya was asked to join Earth Conservation Corps’ staff as a Site Manager and was later promoted to a Youth Program Coordinator. She joined the staff of The Corps Network in 2016.

Lashauntya was accompanied at the event by her son, who recently served two terms of service with DC River Corps, a program of Latin American Youth Center. As a child, he sometimes accompanied Lashauntya on projects and was inspired to serve his community as well.

“Having access to nature is a privilege that some folks take for granted. Imagine a world where you don’t know the benefits of being able to be in a place that could calm a stressed mind and body. Before becoming an AmeriCorps member, many years ago, I didn’t realize how much I was missing out on by not taking advantage of all the outdoor spaces DC has to offer,” said Lashauntya. “Today I’m excited to be here to advance the goals of the America the Beautiful initiative. I truly appreciate your focus on local parks and expanding access to the outdoors.”

Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network, provided the following statement in support of the vision of the Nature in Communities MOU.

“On behalf of our country’s Service and Conservation Corps community, I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for making equitable access to nature a priority. In particular, I appreciate the Second Gentleman’s attention to the critical role of national service in helping steward America’s green spaces. Nature is good for our health and our spirits. Unfortunately, access to safe parks, shade trees, and clean air is a privilege in too many parts of our country. I applaud all the young people in Corps programs serving their communities and improving our local parks and waterways. I applaud Lashauntya Moore and other leaders who are inspiring the next generation of environmental and climate justice champions. Thank you to all the entities participating in this interagency MOU. The Corps community looks forward to supporting implementation of this initiative through engaging diverse young Americans in national service and job training.”

The White House published a fact sheet about the MOU, highlighting certain existing federal programs, funding streams, and initiatives – including AmeriCorps – that will help deliver the goals of the MOU.

This event took place one day before National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands in the U.S. The President’s Proclamation on National Public Lands Day included the following statement: “Through the Civilian Climate Corps, we hope to put Americans to work conserving public lands across our Nation. And with our America the Beautiful Initiative, my Administration is working with State, local, and Tribal governments, as well as private landowners, to voluntarily conserve 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030.”

Among others, attendees at the event included officials from the White House, the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, AmeriCorps, DC government, and various local organizations and schools.

Impact Story: Training Arborists in San Diego

By: Emma Fantuzzo

The Corps Network is collecting short stories from Corps about their projects and Corpsmembers that put them into action. Read our “Impact Stories” collection for a picture of the people and hard work behind the Corps movement. This story is about Urban Corps of San Diego’s Utility Line Clearance Arborist Training Program.

About the Program:

Utility Line Clearance Arborists work to clear vegetation around utility lines to maintain electrical safety, an increasingly important job as wildfires continue to worsen throughout California. This program enables Corpsmembers to gain skills to become safe and productive arborists over the course of five weeks and 200 hours. These skills would normally take six months to learn as an apprentice on the job.

This program is in partnership with the San Diego College of Continuing Education and aligns with other programs offered by UCSD. Urban Corps has received funding for a workforce program in the Urban Forestry field from CAL FIRE and San Diego Gas and Electric. CAL FIRE’s grant is paying for stipends received by Corpsmembers who are taking the training.

Corpsmember Benefit:

Corpsmembers receive training in safety and learn the industry best practices in a classroom and in the field. Students will have received training in First Aid/ CPR, OSHA 10, fire safety prevention, chippers, chainsaw, knots, climbing and more. Corpsmembers also receive certification and college credit.

Impact Story: Kupu Hawaii

Kupu, a multi-program Corps with over 500 participants per year, has had great success in Hawaii. Founded in 2007, Kupu embodies its name, which in Olelo Hawai’i means “to grow”. Kupu currently has over 100 partner sites, and has programs ranging from its Hawai’i Youth Conservation Corps, to its individual programs like Kupu ‘Āina Corps. The Corps mission is to “Preserve land while empowering youth.”

Program Overview:

Kupu runs several programs, some are team based, like Hawai’i Youth Conservation Corps, while others focus on individual placement, like Kupu ‘Āina Corps. Kawika Riley, the Senior Director of External Affairs at Kupu, says; “the dual focus of building potential of youth and caring for the environment are the common thread in all of them.” The variety of programs have empowered over 5000 young people to find their place in conservation and service. Here are a few of them:

Hawai’i Youth Conservation Corps is a summer program for teens and young adults interested in conservation work. Corpsmembers serve outdoors with various environmental organizations and get to explore their passion for conservation while earning a stipend and potential AmeriCorps education awards. Members serve in the field with a team of other Corpsmembers completing work at their assigned site.

Kupu Culinary Program is a program focused on empowering young adults to learn about sustainable food sources and culinary practices in a real-world, hands-on service environment. Participants must be 16 years or older and gain job skills they can bring into their future career path.

Kupu ‘Āina Corps is an initiative of the state of Hawai’i for a Green Job Youth Corps and, according to Riley, one of the biggest Kupu programs. Positions in this program are partnered across Kupu’s expansive network in areas from conservation to agriculture to clean energy. Corpsmembers are given a chance to serve and dive into the conservation field before they start on their career paths.

Kupu’s programs partner with a variety of organizations. They work with the state of Hawaii, the federal government, Volcanos National Park, and even smaller organizations within the community. Making these connections and doing projects within the community will hopefully be reflected on a larger scale. “Ultimately it’s what we need to do worldwide” says Riley.

Corpsmembers:

Kupu regularly has around 500 Corpsmembers, though it varies from year to year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kupu ‘Āina Corps helped provide employment for many individuals facing hardship because of the pandemic’s effect on Hawaii’s largely tourism-based economy. Since Kupu began, they have had over 5000 young people serve as Corpsmembers who have done astonishing work.

Riley shares, “It’s a pretty neat thing, based on our reports going back all those years we can track over 1.5 million native species that have been planted by our members and over 151 thousand acres of invasive species that have been removed.”

He also notes that the Corps estimates that they have had 153 million dollars in positive socio-economic impact. Riley believes that “Hawaii is economically dependent on tourism, and while that will never go away, [Hawaii] should not be as dependent as [they] are.”

Most Corpsmembers seek a position at Kupu to foster a pre-existing love for the environment and to explore related career pathways. Riley notes that 80% of participants report that they are working in an environmental related field after completing the program.

As the world begins to come to terms with the environmental crisis of climate change, Corps like Kupu are already doing the work and preparing the next generation to be stewards of the environment.

What’s in a Corps Name? Understanding Different Terms.

If you’re new to the Corps world – or even if you’ve been in the Corps community for years – you might have questions about different terms used to describe Corps programs. What’s a Public Lands Corps? Is there a difference between a Service Corps and a Conservation Corps? What is the Civilian Climate Corps? We’ll provide clarity below.

[Banner Photo: New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg]

Wyoming Conservation Corps

Corps

First, the basics. Here’s how The Corps Network defines a Corps: Corps are…

Locally-based organizations that engage young adults (generally ages 16 – 30) and veterans (up to age 35) in service projects that address conservation, disaster response, and community needs.
Most Corps are nonprofits, but some are operated through state or local governments or by universities.
Through a term of service that could last from a few months to a year, Corps participants – or “Corpsmembers” – gain work experience and develop in-demand skills.
Corpsmembers are compensated with a stipend or living allowance and often receive an education award or scholarship upon completing their service.
Additionally, Corps provide participants educational programming, mentoring, and access to career and personal counseling. Some Corps help participants earn their high school diploma or GED.

Urban Corps of San Diego County

Service and Conservation Corps

All Conservation Corps are Service Corps; but not all Service Corps are Conservation Corps. The Corps Network was formerly known as the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps (NASCC). Is there a difference between a Service Corps and a Conservation Corps? Yes…and no. The majority of organizations in The Corps Network’s membership prioritize conservation-focused service projects and career training, but some Corps also operate programs focused on construction, health care, food access, or meeting other community needs. While all Corps engage participants in service, most, but not all “Service Corps,” do conservation work. We might not be called NASCC anymore, but The Corps Network continues to collectively refer to all our member organizations as “Service and Conservation Corps.”

Northwest Youth Corps

Youth Conservation Corps

“Youth Conservation Corps” can have a couple different meanings…

The United States Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a federal summer youth employment program that engages young people ages 15 – 18 in “meaningful work experiences at national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries.” The YCC program allows federal lands to operate their own summer Corps programs in-house. Note that many parks and forests that have their own YCC program also contract with local Corps to do year-round projects or more technical work.

“Youth Conservation Corps” is also a term used by some Service and Conservation Corps to refer to their programs for people below age 18. It is common for the same Conservation Corps to operate both a “Youth” program for people under 18 and an “Adult” program for people 18+.

Montana Conservation Corps

Public Lands Corps (Public Lands Service Corps)

The short answer is that a Public Lands Corps is a Corps that completes resource management projects on federal and Tribal lands and waters.

The long answer….

The Public Lands Corps Act passed in Congress in 1993, giving federal bureaus under the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior (DOI) flexibility to enter into cooperative agreements with “qualified youth or conservation corps” to complete “appropriate conservation projects.”

What does that mean? The Public Lands Corps Act opened opportunities for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies within DOI to partner with Corps to address priority projects on our parks and forests.

The federal government has a specific definition for a “qualified youth or conservation corps,” but essentially it’s a Corps that:

engages young people ages 16-30 and veterans up to age 35 in conservation and restoration service projects on “public lands, Indian lands, and Hawaiian homelands,”
and “gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services.”

The Public Lands Corps Act was amended through the Dingell Act in 2019 to also open opportunities for partnerships between Corps and the Department of Commerce (i.e., NOAA). Additionally, the Dingell Act raised the age eligibility to receive the Public Lands Corps hiring authority from 25 to 30 (and veterans up to age 35).

When a young person serves in a Corps and completes at least 640 documented service hours on federal lands or waters, they can receive the Public Lands Corps hiring authority. This is a special “noncompetitive” hiring status that allows someone to apply for federal jobs not open to the general public. Essentially it makes it easier for a Corps alum to transition into a full-time job with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, or another federal agency.

Note: Each participating federal agency has its own process for identifying partner Corps and entering into Public Lands Corps contracts or agreements with “qualified youth or conservation corps.” In addition, each agency has a slightly different process for tracking Public Lands Corps hours and administering hiring certificates.

Fresno Local Conservation Corps

Civilian Climate Corps

The Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) is a concept to expand national service programs doing conservation work with the goal of engaging more Americans in making our communities greener and more climate resilient.

On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. Section 215 calls to create a “Civilian Climate Corps Initiative, within existing appropriations, to mobilize the next generation of conservation and resilience workers and maximize the creation of accessible training opportunities and good jobs.”
Funding to support a CCC has been included in the President’s FY22 and FY23 budget proposals.
As of July 2022, it does not appear funding for a CCC will pass as part of the FY22 reconciliation process. However, the Biden administration and many champions in Congress remain committed to supporting the development of a CCC.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

What’s the difference between a Climate Corps and a Conservation Corps?

The Corps Network does not define any difference between a “Climate Corps” and a “Conservation Corps.” They are the same thing.

In recent years, several states, cities, and local organizations have launched new Corps programs that are labeled as “Climate Corps.” For instance, there are Climate Corps initiatives in Maine and California. These newer programs focus on climate resilience projects that are exactly the same or very similar to projects that “Conservation Corps” have been doing for years. This includes projects like home weatherization; installing solar panels or energy and water efficiency measures in homes and public buildings; conducting energy audits; collecting data; disaster preparedness; educating the public, etc.

At The Corps Network, we believe the majority of projects that Service and Conservation Corps complete are related to sustainability and climate response and resilience. A Climate Corps is a Conservation Corps and a Conservation Corps is a Climate Corps.

AmeriCorps St. Louis

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a federal agency that “funds organizations to make positive impact in communities.” AmeriCorps annually provides more than $800 million in grants to nonprofit, community, Tribal, and state organizations and places 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers across the country. AmeriCorps awards grants to national organizations (like The Corps Network), as well as local non-profit organizations (including Corps), to support the recruitment of service members and provide them modest financial compensation and an Education Award. Many Service and Conservation Corps are AmeriCorps programs; many young people who serve in Corps are AmeriCorps members.

Job Corps CCC

Job Corps

Job Corps is an education and job training program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Program participants must be between ages 16 – 24 and, among other qualifications, must meet certain low-income criteria. There are more than 100 Job Corps Centers across the country. Some of these locations, known as Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers (Job Corps CCCs) are operated by the U.S. Forest Service. These Centers – which are residential – focus on training young people in conservation and resource management skills. The JCCCCs are members of The Corps Network.

American Conservation Experience

21^st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC)

The 21^st Century Conservation Corps (21CSC) was an initiative launched under the Obama Administration to grow the Corps movement by expanding private-public partnerships. The vision was to have 100,000 young people and veterans serving in Corps every year. By giving more young adults and returning veterans the opportunity to work and serve on America’s public lands, the 21CSC initiative sought to improve our infrastructure, boost local economies, and train a new generation of conservation workers. The term 21CSC is still used by some to refer to member organizations of The Corps Network, but the term is now outdated and should not be used to avoid confusion.

Impact Story: Celebrating Three Cohorts of Build It Green Graduates

Contributed by Jaclyn Lewis
Outreach and Communications Coordinator, green|spaces

Based in Chattanooga, TN, green|spaces is one of the newer member organizations of The Corps Network. Their mission is to “work toward regional sustainability by progressing the way we live, work, and build.”

Last month, green|spaces hosted a graduation ceremony to honor 20 young adults for completing the organization’s Build It Green program. Made possible with support from The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Opportunity Youth Service Initiative (OYSI), Build It Green is a full-time national service program that empowers young adults to make an impact in communities across the greater Chattanooga area while gaining skills in green building and weatherization.

The graduating Build It Green class completed over 12,370 service hours and supported the community through various local enrichment projects and providing home improvements at no cost to low-income households.

The June graduation ceremony at the green|spaces office on Main Street celebrated the achievements of three Build It Green cohorts, as COVID-19 had delayed the graduation ceremony for two previous cohorts.

Speakers included green|spaces Executive Director Michael Walton, Build Me a World Executive Director Chris Woodhull, and Build it Green Program Director Christian Shackleford. In addition, the Rev. Brandon Malone gave remarks about the dedication and impact each member displayed during their service commitment.

It was an especially celebratory night, as many of the Build It Green members had not seen each other in up to two years. This multi-year reunion allowed new graduates to speak with senior alumni, whereas previous team members traded stories and reconnected.

With friends and family in attendance, the celebration not surprisingly saw a full house.

Build It Green is a green|spaces program. Photos courtesy of green|spaces.

Impact Story: Utah Conservation Corps Galena Soo’nkahni Preserve Project

This story highlights Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), a program of AmeriCorps dedicated to community and the environment. UCC is committed to projects that address goals relating to environmental conservation, leadership, education, and sustainability.

Utah Conservation Corps worked with the Utah Department of Natural Resources – Forest, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) at the Galena Soo’nkahni Preserve, along the Jordan River, to weed out invasive species, plant native trees, and improve the habitat of the wetland.

Corpsmembers waded through mud and wet grass while working with power tools. By the end of November 2021, the UCC crew was able to accomplish 1.77 acres cut and raked, 1.35 acres of native trees planted, 70 pounds of seed mix spread, and more.

Their efforts make the area more accessible. Pedestrians, dog walkers and bird watchers all frequent the area for weekend activities.

Before and After from Nov 9th, 2021

#DayInACorps Video Challenge

WHAT?

The Corps Network is hosting a Corps and Corpsmember-led video challenge campaign this August to raise awareness about what Corps are and what a Corpsmember experience looks like. See details about the contest in this fact sheet.

FAQs

How many videos can my organization post?There is no limit. Your Corps can enter as many videos as you’d like.
What if a Corpsmember published a video entry from their personal Instagram account?That’s okay — we’ll still count their entry — but we encourage Corps to collect and post videos from the Corps’ Instagram account.
Can you clarify how the prizes will be distributed? We intend to announce the winners next week (week of August 8). We’ll share the news on our social media channels and via The Crewleader newsletter. We’ll also reach out through Instagram and email to the Corps that posted the winning videos. We will send the prizes via electronic payment or check directly to the Corps that posted the winning video, not to an individual Corpsmember/Individual Placement. We will leave it to your organization to determine how best to use or distribute the prize.
Our organization has multiple different programs and it would be hard to capture a #DayInACorps in just one video. Can we publish/enter multiple videos that each show a different aspect of our program?Yes – definitely! Multiple videos from the same Corps are more than welcome.

WHY?

The focus is recruitment. We hope this campaign will generate fun, easily-shareable, Corpsmember-created content that will demonstrate the Corps experience. We also hope this effort will help current Corpsmembers learn about the broader Corps movement and gain exposure to other programs.

CRITERIA TO WIN

Meet Basic Requirements:

1 minute or less
Invite @thecorpsnetwork to be a post collaborator on Instagram
Tag @thecorpsnetwork and mention

#DayInACorps in the caption

Interest: Would this video inspire someone to learn more about Corps and the opportunity to serve in Corps?
Creativity: Is your video unique? Does it use humor, interesting camera angles, original choreography, a fun “plot line” or concept?
Quality: We’ll take note of extra effort the creators put into getting quality footage, editing clips, and making a visually appealing, well-packaged video.

HOW?

Steps to participate:

1. Invite your Corpsmembers and individual placements to create videos! Each video should encapsulate “a day in a Corps” in less than 1 minute.

2. During the week of August 1 – 5, Corps should share the content directly on your organization’s Instagram:

Invite @thecorpsnetwork to be a post collaborator. On the screen where you add a caption, choose Tag People >> Invite Collaborator.
Write your caption. The caption should use hashtag #DayInACorps and tag @thecorpsnetwork. Also mention any important descriptive info (who’s in the video, where they are, who made the video, etc.). See below for a sample caption.
We will accept all the Collab requests as we receive them! The videos will simultaneously post to our Instagram page and your Instagram page.

3. Corps should also share videos directly to this Google folder. Label videos so we know which organization they’re from. If you’re having trouble with Google Drive, other file sharing methods work, too – like iCloud, WeTransfer, Dropbox, etc. Just let us know.

Example Caption: Thanks to @americorps members Jane, Joe, and John from our Blue Crew for showing what a #DayInACorps looks like with #XYZCorps! They’re serving with @parksdepartment at #greenpark, helping remove invasive species and improve #picnic areas. Glad to join other member organizations of @thecorpsnetwork to highlight the #CorpsExperience #CivilianClimateCorps #CorpsWork #NationalService

HOW WILL THESE VIDEOS BE USED?

Following the initial campaign, we will do a secondary campaign to repost the submitted videos across The Corps Network’s social media channels (we will share your caption and add tags/ mentions to give credit). We will also create short highlight reels of our favorite clips.

CONTACT US

Email our Communications team with any questions.

Impact Story: Cadastral Land Surveyors with Great Basin Institute

The Corps Network is collecting short stories from Corps about their projects and the Corpsmembers that put them into action. Read our “Impact Stories” collection for a picture of the people and hard work behind the Corps movement.

This story features the Great Basin Institute (GBI), an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service throughout the West. Founded in 1998 at the University of Nevada, GBI advances applied research to support science-based adaptive management of public lands. The Institute is dedicated to the promotion of science through field studies programs, conservation practices, and public outreach.

From June 2021-October 2021, the crew conducted property boundary maintenance and posting for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in the Tahoe, Plumas, Stanislaus, and El Dorado National Forests, & the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This project has a long-term impact on these forests, as the boundary line is used for all sorts of projects within them.

For instance, a forester stumbled upon the crew placing a boundary line in the Stanislaus NF and he thanked them for their work. He was doing tree stand surveys so that a logging company could treat the area, reducing the risk of wildfires and generating revenue for the USFS so they’d have funds available for other conservation projects. He mentioned that knowing exactly where the boundary of the USFS land was made his job easier and more efficient so he could move on to other projects.

An example of tree blazing.

In a way, all USFS projects begin with what was completed; one cannot begin work if the location of the work is unknown. The crew helped delineate the location of USFS land.

This position helped Corpsmembers gain experience in land surveying that will help them to qualify for future positions. They also gained experience working independently, in small crews (2-3 people), and in remote locations. These conditions can cause confusion and disagreement, two things of which the crew learned to overcome as a team.

Impact Story: Virginia Service and Conservation Corps

The Virginia Service and Conservation Corps (VSCC), an AmeriCorps member program, has been around for 10 years and began as a way to expand opportunities given to Virginia State Park visitors. VSCC runs several programs and has a unique focus on interpretation through their ongoing Interpretation/ Trails Project. VSCC also has a more traditional Resource Management program, and popular Individual Placement Programs.

Program Overview:

VSCC is based out of Richmond, VA but has placement opportunities for Corpsmembers to serve in all VA State parks. The Corps is recruiting around fifty-two members for the upcoming season to serve in three different hour options. These include a 1200-hour option from January to September, a 675-hour option, and a 450-hour option which runs through the summer season. VSCC recruits Corpsmembers ages eighteen and older. They focus on all aspects of conservation work taking a well-rounded approach to fostering the future of environmental stewardship.

VSCC’s Resource Management Program gets into the weeds of conservation work. Corpsmembers serve in groups of two-three members assigned to a VA State Park resource management specialist. Corpsmembers travel throughout their district doing conservation work including prescribed fires, invasive species removal, habitat restoration, wildlife surveys, and more.

The Interpretation Trails Program also places Corpsmembers individually into VA State Parks to do visitor experience work. Corpsmembers engage with visitors to teach them about the park, resources, and management. The program is popular with college students and individuals looking for a career path with VA State Parks and conservation.

Corpsmembers come from all over VA. VSCC recruits from colleges and universities and does promotions at community events. They target VA’s rural areas to connect with local populations and communities.

COVID-19 Impact:

COVID-19 had a curious impact on outdoor recreation. While the rest of the world was shutting down, trails and parks were more utilized than ever before. People seeking a way to be active and social without fearing infection took advantage of their outdoor resources. This made Corps like VSCC an asset.

Kellie Mattingly, the AmeriCorps Program Coordinator for VSCC says, “I think COVID really showed the importance of outdoor recreation and being able to take advantage of that…VA State Parks saw record numbers of visitation during that time”

Due to the Park’s popularity VSCC Corpsmembers were able to keep running as normal to help increase people’s access to the natural world, and even expand the services that they offered through the help of Corpsmembers.

Corpsmember Take-away:

VSCC’s goal is to develop the next generation of environmental stewards. Corpsmembers gain a deeper understanding of what goes into running, operating, and managing a state park. Mattingly notes that while many Corpsmembers realize, after completing the program, that they want to do conservation work, others realize that while they are glad to have the experience, conservation work is not for them.

“I think a good takeaway is that this really gives a well-rounded experience of what it’s like to work in the conservation field,” says Mattingly.

A well-rounded program includes access to certifications including, wildland firefighting certifications, chainsaw certifications, CPR, First Aid, and AED. For members of the Interpretation Trails Program, there is a Certified Interpretive Guide Program or an intensive Spring Interpretive Guide Workshop, which teach members everything they need to know about interpretation in VA State Parks.

VSCC also equips Corpsmembers for their futures through interviewing workshops that teach members how to apply to VA State jobs, perform mock interviews, and give Corpsmembers tips and suggestions for success.

VSCC’s unique focus on interpretation allows Corpsmembers to be more marketable to future employers, including VA State Parks. Many members return to the parks to work after their programs. Members also go on to work for the VA department of Wildlife Resources, the VA department of Forestry, and more. Mattingly notes that every year one or two members will go on to use their fire experience and certifications in wildland firefighting positions.

“It’s a great opportunity for individuals to share and learn about conservation within Virginia” says Mattingly.

Impact Story: Restoring Trails with AmeriCorps Members from NY-NJ Trail Conference

Participants featured in this story are supported by AmeriCorps.

The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Morris County Fall Crew spent the months of November and December 2021 working on the Blue Trail at Schooley’s Mountain Park in Long Valley, NJ. The AmeriCorps members were tasked with installing stone stairs to improve a section of the Blue Trail. The existing stretch of trail, located next to a popular waterfall destination, was extremely steep and eroded, making it difficult for hikers to traverse.

Stone for the staircase was quarried from the surrounding hillside and split on site. A total of 22 stone stairs were installed, with two additional steps carved into the bedrock. The crew also closed off a stretch of unofficial trail above the existing trail that hikers were frequently mistakenly walking up.

Feedback from passing hikers was overwhelmingly positive. Many said they looked forward to returning with pets or family members who had previously been unable to hike there. Overall, this project was an excellent learning experience for the crew and allowed them to continue to hone their stone working skills.