Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – June 2020

The Corps Network is excited to share about progress in the U.S. House and Senate on several bills that could benefit the Service and Conservation Corps Community. Read below to learn more about the bills, where they stand, and what they could mean for Corps.

Photo in banner: June at the Capitol, credit: Architect of the Capitol

 

21st Century Conservation Corps for Our Health and Our Jobs Act (21CCC Act)

 

Status

 

Highlights: What would it do to help Corps & young people?  
    • Click for a fact sheet from the office of Sen. Wyden.
    • Click for a fact sheet from the office of Rep. Neguse.
    • Scale up existing Service and Conservation Corps: The bill would appropriate $9 billion in supplemental funding to the Department of Labor appropriations to be granted to qualified Conservation Corps, to increase job training and hiring for resources management jobs. The funding will help restore public lands and address this rise in unemployment due to COVID-19.
    • Increase funding for public lands maintenance and wildfire management: The bill includes a $10 billion increase to the National Forest System and $6.9 billion in additional funds for the Department of the Interior. Much of this funding would go towards hazardous fuels management and maintenance projects, which could be completed in partnership with Corps.

 

What’s Next?

There are broader conversations underway to establish a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps including the possibility of a “Restoration Jobs” initiative to meet employment and environmental needs. Our hope is to successfully incorporate elements of the aforementioned legislation into such an effort.

 

Cultivating Opportunity and Response to the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act

 

Status
  • Introduced in the Senate on June 16 by U.S. Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE.), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jack Reed (D-RI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Angus King (I-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME)

 

Highlights: What would it do to help Corps & young people?  

The CORPS Act is based on the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, introduced by Sen. Coons in May. Specifically, the CORPS Act would:

    • Expand national service positions for a three-year response and recovery period. The number of positions could grow from 75,000 to 150,000 the first year and then steadily to 250,000 by year three.
    • Provide flexibilities for national service programs to grow and respond quickly to dynamic local recovery needs.
    • Prioritize funding for activities directly related to response and recovery, such as:
      • Public health services
      • Programs that support economic opportunity
      • Education support (including for adult learners)
      • Services that combat nutrition insecurity
    • Prioritize expanding programs and services in rural and high poverty communities.
    • Help organizations that have not previously hosted AmeriCorps members access the program.
    • Ensure that individuals’ financial resources do not limit participation by temporarily increasing the AmeriCorps living allowance to 175 percent of the federal poverty line and tying the value of the Segal Education Award to twice the value of the maximum Pell grant, harmonizing the treatment of both with other programs by making them nontaxable.
    • Fund new online tools for Senior Corps to safely move to a teleservice model.
    • Encourage participation by members of low-income and underrepresented communities and extend priority enrollment to Peace Corps, U.S. Fulbright, and AmeriCorps participants whose service or grants was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Invite participation by a diverse range of Americans by launching an awareness and outreach campaign on response service opportunities and supporting the Volunteer Generation Fund.

 

What’s Next?

The strategy and path forward for the CORPS Act is to try and get supplemental funding and provisions from legislation into the next COVID relief package which may move mid to late July. It all depends on Congressional action and whether they have an appetite for another stimulus bill.

 

Great American Outdoors Act

 

Status
    • Introduced in the Senate on March 3 (S.3422) by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (D-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV)
    • Passed in the Senate on June 17 with a bipartisan vote of 73-25. Now moves to the House for a vote.

 

Highlights: What would it do to help Corps & young people?  
    • Fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The bill would permanently dedicate $900 million per year into the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Created by Congress in 1964, the LWCF uses revenues from resource extraction to fund the conservation of natural and cultural heritage sites and expand recreation access across the U.S. Fully funding LWCF could mean more project opportunities for Corps in rural and urban communities alike.
    • Address the ~$20 billion maintenance backlog: The bill includes the Restore Our Parks Act, which would invest $1.9 billion annually for the next five years in addressing deferred maintenance on lands managed by the National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education. This could also create new project opportunities for Corps.

 

What’s Next?

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced on Monday, June 22, that the House will consider the Great American Outdoors Act under a rule on the Floor during the work period at the end of July. Efforts are underway to shore up cosponsors of the legislation as well as to support a clean bill (no amendments) to expedite the process and limit the chances of the bill failing.

The legislation is expected to pass (although it is Congress and anything could happen) and if/when it does, The Corps Network will be working with agency partners and our champions on Capitol Hill to ensure every effort is made to engage Corps on relevant projects to the maximum extent practicable. We’re also pursuing report language (specific instructions from Congress on how they view the bill being implemented) to that effect.

 

 

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A Message From Our President & CEO: Update on Corps and COVID-19 Response and Relief, April 30, 2020

Dear Friends of the Corps Community,

I hope this message finds you well.

At this point, most of us have been practicing social distancing and sheltering at home for more than a month. Like most organizations and institutions across the country, and across the world, Service and Conservation Corps have been forced to rethink how they operate. At The Corps Network, we are inspired by the way our member organizations have confronted tough decisions about whether and how to continue engaging in projects. I want to provide an update on how Corps are responding to this crisis, as well as how we, as the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, are supporting the Corps movement through today’s challenges.

 

Corps on the Frontlines

Several Corps continue to engage Corpsmembers in service. Some Corps that traditionally engage Corpsmembers in providing certain “essential services” have been able to continue these projects through instituting new health and safety protocols. Examples of such projects include removing hazardous fire fuels, trimming vegetation to keep streets and powerlines clear, collecting recycling, and providing emergency home repairs for the elderly and low-income households.

Some programs have diverted crews to COVID-19 response efforts. For instance, Civic Works in Baltimore and Conservation Corps of the Forgotten Coast in Florida are having Corpsmembers deliver food and other essentials to high-risk, home-bound individuals and families; Conservation Corps of Long Beach helped construct several temporary medical facilities; and the California Conservation Corps has helped manage distribution centers for emergency medical supplies, including helping the National Guard pack and ship hundreds of ventilators.

A number of Corps are providing their Corpsmembers with access to online education and training while they shelter in place.

 

Assisting Corps through Operational Challenges

Many Corps are operating at significantly reduced capacity or have been forced to cease programming. Corps often complete work through a “fee-for-service” model: project sponsors–such as city governments or public land agencies–compensate Corps to do specific projects. Because so much of our country is closed, many projects are not possible. Some Corps have received funding through Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

In addition, The Corps Network is working diligently with our federal land management partners at the Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture to help Corps access administrative funding attached to fee-for-service projects that have been postponed or cancelled. To date, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service have agreed to let Corps access project-related administrative funds. Access to this funding will be critical for the Corps should they have to remain at reduced operation beyond the term of their PPP loans.

Likewise, The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps team has been working with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to help organizations in our Opportunity Youth Service Initiative (OYSI) program gain access to the full amount of their fixed-cost grant awards. As a result, 13 Corps have been able to draw down more than $1.2 million in AmeriCorps funding.  These funds will help those Corps keep their doors open until they can resume regular programming (hopefully in early summer).

 

Information

The Corps Network is working to provide our member organizations with timely information. We continue to send newsletters and regularly update a resource library of relevant information. One resource is a new catalog of more than 100 online training and certification courses Corpsmembers can do from home.

In addition, we have hosted weekly town hall discussions for our membership on a range of topics. We are grateful that our federal partners and Corps have made themselves available and joined these calls to share their insights.

Lastly, The Corps Network launched a new online platform – Corps Connect – to provide a space for Corps staff across the country to communicate and share ideas.

 

Recovery: “A New Civilian Conservation Corps”

In opinion columns across the country, there have been numerous calls to revive the Civilian Conservation Corps of the New Deal Era. Given the growing unemployment rate, many are drawing comparisons between this current economic crisis and the Great Depression. The Corps Network has been contacted by officials in the Administration and Congress about what it would take to bring the existing network of Service and Conservation Corps to scale. For example, The Corps Network provided input on a jobs-creation package currently in development in Senate. We have also communicated with a group of Democratic Senators preparing to introduce legislation that would increase the number of AmeriCorps positions from 75,000 annually, to 150,000. Service and Conservation Corps are referenced several times throughout the draft bill.

 

Working from home, The Corps Network team remains busy. We aim to provide our member organizations access to funding and resources that will keep them afloat during this phase of the pandemic, while also positioning Corps for significant expansion should a federal investment in service and jobs come to pass.

Wishing you health and safety,

Mary Ellen Sprenkel
President & CEO, The Corps Network

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A Message From Our President & CEO on COVID-19

Dear Friends of the Corps Community,

As is the case for people around the world, we at The Corps Network are concerned about the coronavirus pandemic; we are closely following the changing recommendations from health officials and the government.

This is a challenging time for many people and organizations, including Corps and the young people and communities they serve. Due to social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, most Corps have needed to suspend or reduce operations.

However, in collaboration with state and local officials, some Corps are providing essential services to those in need. This includes activities such as managing distribution centers for medical supplies, delivering food to seniors, collecting recycling, constructing tents to be used as temporary health care facilities, and providing home repairs so vulnerable populations can safely shelter in place. We are incredibly grateful for the important services these Corps provide and we are proud of the way these programs quickly adapted to new regulations in order to promote the safety of Corpsmembers and staff.

Through this evolving situation, The Corps Network team is working remotely. Our Government Relations Team is promoting the interests of Corps on Capitol Hill. We are also working closely with many of the federal agencies that partner with Corps—including the Corporation for National and Community Service and several public land and water agencies—to ensure Corps’ challenges are heard. In addition, The Corps Network created an ever-growing library of resources related to COVID-19 response and relief, as well as a new online platform for Corps staff to share information. We are also sending regular emails and hosting weekly virtual town halls to provide pertinent information to our member organizations.

In good times and in bad, we will continue to do everything we can to support the wellbeing of the Corps community. The coming weeks and months might seem scary and uncertain, but, if we work together and support one another, I feel confident there is a bright future ahead.

We wish you health and safety,

Mary Ellen Sprenkel

A Statement from The Corps Network on COVID-19

UPDATE – March 16, 2020: This blog post has been adapted into a page on The Corps Network’s website where we will continue to post updates related to the coronavirus outbreak. Please refer to this page for the latest information.

The Corps Network is committed to the safety and well-being of our staff, member organizations, and partners. Public health agencies are closely monitoring the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

This document from the World Health Organization (WHO) elaborates on each of the following points in more detail, but, at a minimum, your organization should prepare as follows:

  • Develop and implement ways to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, you prevent the spread of COVID-19 at your Corps;
  • Develop and implement plans to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at events for which you are responsible or at meetings and events you plan to attend. Whenever possible, it is advisable to move meetings and events online;
  • Develop and implement clear travel policies to reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure for your staff, Corpsmembers, and your community. Many organizations have cancelled all staff travel for the coming weeks as we learn more about the impact of this virus; and
  • Develop a plan with the steps your Corps will do in the event COVID-19 arrives in your community or at your organization.

We also encourage you to take a look at this comprehensive Business Checklist to help you conduct a self-assessment of your readiness to deal effectively with this crisis.

The Corps Network recognizes that each of your situations will be different depending on your organization’s location, size, the community in which you operate, and the types of projects you complete. We STRONGLY encourage you to consult with and coordinate with your local public health agencies and your partners about your approach to this public health crisis. The Corps Network will provide additional updates and guidance as we learn more. We wish you health and safety.

Please Note:

From March 13 until March 20, The Corps Network staff will work remotely. We are monitoring the situation and may continue to work remotely for a longer period of time if necessary. We are well-equipped with the technology to ensure our team is as accessible and responsive off-site as we are in the office. You can find email addresses for all our employees here.

 

Additional Resources:

Printable Signs
Download printable signs from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

English
Spanish

 English

 

Information from CNCS:
Please see here for information from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 

Webinar from Willis Towers Watson:
Please see here for a webinar conducted March 10 by Willis Towers Watson on the implications of COVID-19 for employers. Note this webinar is only accessible with a login. Please use btillett@corpsnetwork.org.

Here is the timing breakdown for the webinar:

2:30 – Covid-19 Facts & Figures

5:25 – Covid-19 Economic Impact

7:00 – What should employers do to prepare for Covid-19?

  • Protect workers at the workplace
  • Exclude workers/visitors who are ill or at risk for Covid-19
  • Provide accurate & timely communication to employees
  • Provide resources to supervisors to address employee concerns
  • Consider alternative approaches to work arrangements & meetings

15:25 – Taking Actions to Restrict & Monitor Business Travel

17:40 – Prepare for Impact on Expatriates

20:20 – Pay & Benefits Implications & Employee Wellbeing

31:00 – Reviewing Business Continuity Plans

33:00 – Worker’s Compensation Claims with Covid-19

40:25 – Are You Ready for COVID-19 Checklist

43:45 – Q&A

  • What to do in the instance of someone with Covid-19 having been in the workplace

 

Resource Folders:

To The Corps Network’s Member Organizations:
In response to your requests, The Corps Network created a space to compile resources related to how Corps and our partners are responding to the global coronavirus outbreak. Sharing these resources is not an endorsement. For current and pertinent information regarding COVID-19 concerns and response efforts, organizations should turn to their local public health departments and consult general recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you would like to share your COVID-19 response plan, follow the link above and click the “Individual Corps Resources” link. Next, create a folder and upload documents or contact information.

Please be aware that specific response plans are influenced by local conditions including restrictions set by state government, local government, or grantors. Organizations should prioritize guidance from their local public health departments or the CDC prior to finalizing a response plan.

Veterans Fire Corps Program Profile: Southeast Conservation Corps

By Sydni Dobson

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) launched its first Veterans Fire Corps (VFC) program in 2018. What started as a short-term pilot is now a comprehensive 10-month-long program designed to prepare young veterans for full-time jobs in wildland firefighting. The program just finished its first full season.

“Instead of them getting the basic skills and then seeking some seasonal employment in wildland fire, they will actually be lined up to find permanent jobs,” said James Gasaway, Field Program Coordinator at SECC.

All of the participants in the VFC are post-9/11 veterans under age 35. The 2019 cohort had five members, joined by two SECC Staff Crew Leaders.

The VFC operated from January to October, beginning with Corpsmembers undergoing basic fire training. During this initial phase, Corpsmembers obtain enough knowledge to receive their Red Card (S130 and S190). A Red Card is a certification that allows a person to participate in wildland firefighting activities on federal lands.

Following this training, the veterans served out of the Villanow Work Center, located within the Conasauga Ranger District of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Georgia.

Corpsmembers gained hands-on experience by participating in different forms of firework throughout the forest. These duties ranged from working on prescribed burns, monitoring land to track its recovering after a controlled burn, or digging fire lines and cutting down trees for fire prevention.

The Corpsmembers are thoroughly trained on how to handle and care for the land in the event of a fire. The program is constructed so that Corpsmembers can temporarily pause their AmeriCorps service and work directly under the Forest Service if they are needed for fire duty.

In addition to earning credentials and learning “hard skills,” Corpsmembers in the VFC also receive training in decision-making, risk management and personnel management.

The appeal of the program is that it helps veterans fast-track their careers. In many other Corps, most members have to go through a number of positions before making the jump into a position with a public land agency such as the Forest Service. That isn’t the case in this program, however. Tyler Welch, a VFC Corpsmember, says the tempo of the program is what makes it most enjoyable.

“We’re not having to sit in an office. Literally 90 percent of the time, we’re out in the woods doing some type of project or burning, or fighting wildfire,” said Tyler.

A majority of the participants joined the VFC in part because of a personal love of the outdoors. Studies suggest spending time outdoors can be particularly beneficial for veterans, but another intangible benefit of the program is simply spending time learning and serving alongside fellow veterans.

“As they’re going through it, it really helps them transition from more of that very direct communication inside the military to more of that general civilian communication,” said James.

The VFC participants come from all branches of the military, some with previous leadership experience and others with none. Most of the participants have a similar interest in conservation but many haven’t done this type of work before. As they join the program, they soon discover a direction for their career. Wildland firefighting gives veterans a chance to transfer skills and discipline learned in the military into a civilian career that, while intense, offers the opportunity to continue to serve our country.

The collaboration from the Southern Region (Region 8) of the U.S. Forest Service, was vital to the success of this program. Forest Service staff assisted in ensuring the veterans received training, supervision, and mentoring. They also provided a space to house all of their tools.

Over their term, the Veterans Fire Corps 2019 class completed prescribed burns on 64,980 acres and each participant received ten certifications. Since the completion of the program, many of the members have continued working around the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. SECC is currently accepting applications for the 2020 VFC season.

Rediscovering Your Purpose: A Marine’s Journey to the Veterans Conservation Corps

By Sydni Dobson

Entering just his third month with the Delaware State Parks Veterans Conservation Corps, Bradley Melson has already earned the title of Assistant Team Leader, received his fleet driver certification and is currently working on becoming a certified wildland firefighter. Since enrolling in the program, Melson has acquired a new quality of life by rediscovering his purpose, all while battling through his recent diagnosis of PTSD.

Bradley grew up in Simi Valley, CA and joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school. In his five-year contract with the Marines, he served two combat deployments in Afghanistan as an Infantry T.O.W. Gunner. Just two months shy of his contract ending, Bradley sustained a football injury that would change his life forever. To ease Bradley’s physical pain, the doctor prescribed opioid pain killers. Upon recovering from his injury, and after the prescription expired, Bradley continued to seek out drug use as a way to cope with stress.

“I realized that it [opioids] not only blocked my physical pain, but my mental pain as well,” said Bradley.

After failing a routine drug test, Bradley was dismissed from the Marine Corps.

“When I first got out, I was pretty much lost in the beginning and didn’t really know what to do,” he said.

Faced with the reality of not receiving an honorable discharge or veterans’ benefits, Bradley knew he had to find work as a civilian. For the next few years, Bradley worked in the service industry in Hollywood, CA. During his tenure as a bartender, Bradley found himself at a low point. He was unfulfilled and surrounded by alcohol and drug use in a triggering environment.

After four years in Hollywood, Bradley drove from California to Delaware to reunite with his father, in search of a fresh start. Unsure of what to do next, he spoke with a friend who informed him of the benefits of volunteering. In his search for local volunteer options, he discovered the Delaware State Parks Veterans Conservation Corps.

The Veterans Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program focused on engaging military veterans and military family in environmental stewardship activities and trail work throughout Delaware State Parks. As an outdoor enthusiast, Bradley saw this as an ideal opportunity. He saw this program as a way to give back to Mother Nature.

Since starting the program in September 2019, Bradley has fully immersed himself in the conservation of state parks. His hard work paid off, earning him a promotion to Assistant Team Leader and his fleet driver certification. Upon completing the program and earning his wildland firefighter credentials, Bradley plans to go back out West and fight wildfires. In the future, he wants to go back to school and study archaeology.

There are many Veterans like Bradley who often miss the lack of comradery they felt in the military. Bradley recommends that all Veterans who feel unfulfilled to “volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!” Many Veterans are selfless people by nature, and programs like the Delaware State Parks Veterans Conservation Corps help them feel that purpose again.

“Having a purpose really helps me with my PTSD,” said Bradley. “The program has helped me a lot, even with the short time that I’ve been in it.”

 

Photo Contest: Which Corps will be on The Corps Network FY19 Cover?

 

We want to see your best photos!

As the year comes to a close, we are busy preparing The Corps Network FY19 annual report. Every year, the cover of the report features a photo from one of our member organizations. Throughout the coming year, the annual report will be widely distributed and used as a tool to raise awareness about the importance of America’s Service and Conservation Corps (view past annual reports).

We encourage our member Corps to submit photo options for the cover. Even if your photo doesn’t make it to the front of the report, there’s a good chance we might use it elsewhere in the document or in various future publications. The deadline to submit photos is Friday, January 3, 2020. The report will be published in February.

Criteria/Suggestions

  • Each Corps may submit up to 6 photos.
  • The deadline to participate in the contest is Friday, January 3, 2020.
  • Photos must be high resolution (300 dpi preferred).
  • Please provide a few details about the photo (where was it taken, who is in the picture, etc.).
  • Let us know if there is a specific person who should receive photo credit. Otherwise, we will credit your organization.
  • Preferred file formats are .jpg, .jpeg, .png.
  • Please no posed group pictures or images that don’t include people. We want to see great photos of Corpsmembers at work.
  • Landscape-oriented pictures preferred, but portrait photos also accepted.
  • Please no photos that have an obvious filter applied.
  • Photos taken within the past year would be great!
  • Remember – even if your picture is not chosen for the cover, we may use it on the inside of the document.

 

How to submit your photos

Please email your entries to Hannah Traverse, htraverse@corpsnetwork.org. Don’t forget to include a few details about each photo and if a specific person should receive credit. If your photos are too large to send in one message, feel free to send in multiple emails or use a file sharing service like Dropbox, Google Drive or WeTransfer.

We can’t wait to see your best pics!

Celebrate National Public Lands Day 2019 with Corps!

This Saturday, September 28, marks National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands. Hundreds of events will take place at federal, state and local lands across the country, engaging thousands of people in activities ranging from pulling invasive species to building new trails.

Every year, Service and Conservation Corps facilitate or participate in NPLD activities. Here’s a snapshot of how some member organizations of The Corps Network will observe NPLD 2019.

As a proud nonprofit partner of NPLD, we encourage you to get outside this weekend and give back to our public lands. Maybe you can even serve alongside Corpsmembers!

 

California Conservation Corps

Yosemite Facelift
The CCC’s Fresno Energy Crew will participate in Yosemite Facelift, a largescale service project coordinated by the National Park Service, Yosemite Climbing Association and The North Face. The event will involve a range of activities, including litter abatement, trail maintenance and habitat restoration

Pine Flat Lake and Dam
CCC members from the Fresno area will join the Army Corps of Engineers, Kings River Conservancy, and many other volunteers to help in the redevelopment and reopening of a public access area along the Kings River.

San Bernardino National Forest Mountaintop Restoration
CCC members from the Inland Empire District will join the U.S. Forest Service to help restore monarch butterfly habitat through planting native milkweed and removing invasive species.

 

Los Angeles Conservation Corps

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (CA)
The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City – also known as the “Culver City Stairs” – is a current project site for Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) in collaboration with California State Parks and the Audubon Society. Here, Corpsmembers are creating uniform step heights and conducting trail maintenance. For NPLD, the Corps invites the community to join them in habitat restoration at the park.

 

Montana Conservation Corps

Northern Rockies Service Project in Kalispell
This project will involve doing trail work and weed pulling at Lone Pine State Park. All volunteers should wear weather appropriate clothing, long pants, closed toe shoes, and gloves. Tools and lunch will be provided, but please bring water! After lunch, there will be a free guided hike at Herron Park. This project is hosted in partnership with Lone Pine State Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (Region 1), and Foy’s to Blacktail Trails. Lunch provided by Daybreak Rotary Club.
Date and Time: Saturday, September 28 (9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Meeting Point: Lone Pine State Park, 300 Lone Pine Rd. Kalispell, MT 59901
RSVP: Secure your spot at (406) 755-2706

MCC will continue the NPLD celebration into October with additional service events!

Sunday, October 6 – Western Wildlands Service Project in Missoula, MT
Project will involve making some flow adjustments to the Lower Fenceline reroute trail in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. Work will entail primarily digging, along with some transplanting. All volunteers should wear weather appropriate clothing, long pants, closed toe shoes, gloves, and bring water & snack! Tools will be provided. This project is in partnership with MTB Missoula.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Meeting Point: At 9am at the Main Rattlesnake Trailhead, to carpool or bike/hike up to Sawmill Gulch.

Saturday, October 12 – Central Divide Service Project in Helena, MT
Project will take place at the area informally called ‘The KMart Ponds’and will involve creating access to several ponds for wildlife viewing, by removing brush, removing invasive species and potentially building small trails. All volunteers should wear weather appropriate clothing, long pants, closed toe shoes, and bring water! Gloves, tools, and snacks will be provided. This project is in partnership with the City of Helena, 6th Ward Neighborhood Association, and the Last Chance Audubon Society.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meeting Point: 1700 Cedar St., Helena, MT, 59601 (old Kmart parking lot)
Questions: Call the MCC Helena office at (406) 495-9214

 

Northwest Youth Corps

NPLD at Mount Rainier
Northwest Youth Corps is partnering with Washington Trails Association, the National Park Service and National Park Conservation Association for an event to engage the public in routine maintenance of the popular Wonderland Trail and other nearby trails. Learn more here.

 

Rocky Mountain Conservancy

Rocky Mountain National Park Clean-Up
Rocky Mountain Conservancy is partnering with the National Park Service to engage volunteers in cleaning up the area approaching the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.

 

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps – NM
Student Conservation Association
Southwest Conservation Corps

Build Your Refuge Day – Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is partnering with several member organizations of The Corps Network to help set up and lead volunteer activities at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque. The event will include planting native species and educational activities.

 

Wyoming Conservation Corps

Pole Mountain Trail Naturalization
Wyoming Conservation Corps is one of several organizations partnering with the U.S. Forest Service’s Laramie Ranger District to facilitate a NPLD project in which volunteers will help reroute a popular multi-use trail. Learn more here.

 

Conservation Legacy

Conservation Legacy is a national nonprofit partner of NPLD. Corpsmembers and interns from several organizations within Conservation Legacy will participate in or facilitate events throughout the country.

 

Student Conservation Association

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a national nonprofit partner of NPLD. For the first time ever, they are organizing an “Alumni Engagement Week” around National Public Lands. Current and former SCA members will participate in or facilitate events throughout the country.

 

 

GulfCorps Year-3 Kicks Off in Alabama

Read about what Corpsmembers learned during the week-long GulfCorps orientation

Image above by Mike Dumas for The Nature Conservancy

 

More than 100 young adults from across the Gulf gathered in Mobile, AL last week for GulfCorps orientation. The multi-day event offered an opportunity for Corpsmembers to network, learn tangible job skills, and work on their career goals.

Now starting its third year, GulfCorps is a collaborative initiative to support Corps along the Gulf of Mexico in engaging young people in job training and coastal restoration. Made possible by a RESTORE Act grant administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the initiative is primarily led by The Nature Conservancy, The Corps Network, and the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

“With each new group of GulfCorps participants, we see amazing potential,” said Marie Walker, COO of The Corps Network. “Many of the young people who enter this program have little experience with conservation work. Through their service, however, they not only learn the importance of protecting our coastal environments; they build confidence in their abilities to be change-makers. The Corps Network is proud to contribute to this effort to restore Gulf Coast habitats, and create opportunities for the Gulf’s youth.”

To date, GulfCorps has engaged over 150 participants in a range of projects, including wetland restoration, prescribed burns, invasive species removal, and living shoreline installation. Corpsmembers have completed thousands of hours of training and tens of thousands of hours of service in the field. Many GulfCorps alums have already secured full or part-time jobs in conservation.

In addition to the lead organizations, GulfCorps involves several local and national Corps responsible for recruiting participants and engaging them in projects throughout the five Gulf states. The Corps assisting in year-3 of GulfCorps include: American Conservation Experience; American YouthWorks (Louisiana Conservation Corps and Texas Conservation Corps); Climb CDC; Franklins Promise Coalition (Conservation Corps of the Emerald Coast and Conservation Corps of the Forgotten Coast); Limitless Vistas, Inc.; and the Student Conservation Association.

At orientation, which lasted from September 15 – 20, each lead partner organization had a role to play. The Corps Network focused on professional development. This included hosting a career center where Corpsmembers polished their résumés, explored job boards, and took a survey to assess their abilities and interests. Corpsmembers also began building their individual development plans; through an online platform, they will track their skills attainment and goals throughout the program and beyond.

The Student Conservation Association and The Nature Conservancy focused on skills training. Corpsmembers and Crew Leaders rotated through a range of modules. Some sessions – such as those covering risk management and group dynamics – focused on program operations. Other trainings focused on project skills Corpsmembers will use during their service. Topics included Leave No Trace, herbicide application, GPS, data collection, tool maintenance, invasive species removal, and how to monitor canopy cover and ground cover. Corpsmembers also had the chance to apply these new skills, spending the majority of Thursday in the field.

To conclude orientation, The Corps Network hosted a professional development day on Friday, September 20. Corpsmembers went through four different workshops aimed at encouraging them to take ownership of their careers. The topics ranged from interview and cover letter tips, to setting goals and building a personal brand.

In addition, The Corps Network organized a “future opportunities” panel discussion. Panelists included Bob Bendick, Director of Gulf Programs for The Nature Conservancy; Marie Walker from The Corps Network; Lashauntya Moore, Member Services Assistant at The Corps Network; and Davis Calametti, a GulfCorps alumnus from SCA now working at Weeks Bay Reserve in Alabama. Crew Leaders from different Corps asked the panelists questions about their backgrounds and current roles. Lashauntya, an alumna of Earth Conservation Corps in Washington, DC, spoke about her experience as a woman of color in conservation, and about how the Corps helped her find stability and start a career.

“Service and Conservation matter – and GulfCorps matters – because they offer a way to bring communities together. When you unify under a common, positive goal, the results are stronger people and a stronger environment,” said Lashauntya. “My advice to the new GulfCorps members: keep pushing! The world needs you.”

Corpsmembers will begin project work immediately. The program runs through the end of May 2020. This will complete the third and final year of the current grant, but GulfCorps partners are actively pursuing funding to continue the program beyond 2020.

 

Image by Mike Dumas for The Nature Conservancy

9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance 2019

The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, or Patriot Day, is a time to reflect on the lives lost in the September 11 attacks and honor the bravery and sacrifices of those who responded. This is also a day when Americans are called upon to volunteer in their communities as an act of tribute, unity and peace.

Below, read how several Member organizations of The Corps Network plan to observe this day through service, education, and remembrances.

 

American YouthWorks – Austin, TX

AmeriCorps members with American YouthWorks are helping with park maintenance and beautification. They started the morning by collecting litter around the Krieg Softball Fields in Austin, TX. They will then paint the inside of the tunnel under nearby Pleasant Valley Road. This project is made possible through collaboration with Keep Austin Beautiful and the City of Austin. Corpsmembers involved included members enrolled in YouthBuild and The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program and Opportunity Youth Service Initiative.

 

 

Civicorps – Oakland, CA

Civicorps’ Job Training Center Supervisors will engage all Corpsmembers in a thorough conversation regarding the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Given that each year the Corps enrolls an increasing number of Corpsmembers who are not old enough to remember the day, the discussion will become an informative session. Supervisors will review the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy and open the conversation to all Corpsmembers. As an act of remembrance, Civicorps’ Corpmembers will dedicate a moment of silence to all individuals affected by the tragedy. They will commit their day’s service responsibilities to all living and deceased individuals who experienced the event directly.

 

 

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps – Racine, WI

Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps will recognize this day through remembrance and through education. The Corps invited W. Roger Stauffer, a chaplain who served as part of the response effort following September 11, to give a presentation about his experience and the topic of first responder stress management.

 

 

Maine Conservation Corps – Winthrop & Monmouth, ME

Maine Conservation Corps will lead AmeriCorps members and members of the community in service projects at four locations throughout Winthrop and Monmouth, ME. Activities include stacking firewood, clearing brush, removing invasive plant species and improving trails.

 

 

Northwest Youth Corps – Eugene, OR

Northwest Youth Corps will engage Corpsmembers in landscape maintenance and fence painting at the Greenhill Humane Society. They are also partnering with FOOD for Lane County to engage Corpsmembers in community garden maintenance.

Corpsmembers involved include members from The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program and Opportunity Youth Service Initiative.

 

 

Polk County Conservation Youth Corps – Des Moines, IA

Polk County Conservation Youth Corps is partnering with the City of Des Moines to engage teenagers from their Fall Crew in flood cleanup activities at Gray’s Lake, a popular urban park. The crew will walk the shoreline and pick up litter and debris along with staff from the Corps and the City of Des Moines.

 

 

Rocky Mountain Conservancy – Estes Park, CO

Rocky Mountain Conservancy will recognize the National Day of Service and Remembrance by supporting Rocky Mountain National Park’s wildland firefighters. RMC is leading volunteers in fire fuel mitigation efforts at the park. Volunteers will help remove fire fuels and construct burn piles in well-trafficked “front country” areas along roads, trails, campgrounds, and the neighboring communities.

 

 

Western Colorado Conservation Corps – Crested Butte, Crawford, and Loma, CO

Western Colorado Conservation Corps will recognize the day through remembrance and education. Corpsmembers will watch two films on the events of September 11 and then reflect as a group through a guided discussion.