Impact Story: Alli Riebel – Utah Conservation Corps

“Working with conservation corps has helped me to become the absolute best version of myself.”

This story was adapted from Heal the Planet, Heal the Self: One Conservationist’s Journey — a profile by David Mallery, originally published by Utah State TODAY, April 5, 2022. Read the full, original article here.

Alli Riebel has served several terms with various Conservation Corps and is currently a field logistics technician with Utah Conservation Corps. Through her service terms Alli has developed conservation skills, led groups of new Corpsmembers, and served as an inspiration for those seeking to join Corps. But it wasn’t always this way for Alli.

Before joining the Corps movement, Alli struggled with her mental health and was in search of a path that would help her forward. Encouraged by an interest in the outdoors and a friend who’d served as a Corpsmember, Alli applied to a one-month term with Minnesota Youth Corps. Initially, Alli says she struggled to gain her footing. She faced challenges in the immersive Corps environment that pushed her out of her comfort zone and eventually, helped her to thrive.

After her term ended, Alli attended trade school where she became an auto technician but realized her true passion lay in conservation. She applied to Wisconsin’s WisCorps where she learned about invasive species removal, tree planting, and more, before becoming an assistant Crew Leader with the Corps.

Alli says, “I realized that I was free to travel the country, meet new people, and face whatever challenges that nature and human nature might throw my way.”

Alli’s next step was with Utah Conservation Corps. She served as a Crew Leader where she was able to lead groups of new Corpsmembers and share her passion for conservation. Today, Alli serves with Utah Conservation Corps as a field logistics technician. She manages crews, supports project management, and makes sure equipment and vehicles are working properly.

Alli hopes to continue working in the field of conservation. Her path serves as an example of a successful trajectory for young people seeking a career in conservation, and her story shows the transformative effect Corps have on the lives of young people.

Read this article from Utah State Today to learn more about Alli’s story.

Climate Action Through National Service: The Corps Network Convenes Federal, Nonprofit, and Foundation Partners to Discuss Future of Corps Programs

Event in Washington, DC, highlights opportunities to train workers, complete conservation projects, and address workforce and climate inequity through Conservation Corps programs

 

Nearly 90 years ago, faced with the Great Depression and environmental challenges, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps. By putting millions of young men to work building parks and infrastructure we still use today, the CCC saved families from poverty and gave a generation a sense of purpose.

In January 2021, within one week of taking office, President Biden signed an executive order on tackling the climate crisis. Among other measures, the order calls for the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps.

Backcountry members with the California Conservation Corps use a crosscut saw in a project with the U.S. Forest Service.

Over the past year, a growing number of leaders in federal, state, and local government have called for investment in a Climate Corps. A 21st century CCC is viewed as a tool to build America’s climate resilience by completing priority projects and providing equitable access to job training in fields like energy efficiency, resource management, and wildfire response.

“The Corps Network stands in the great American tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps—putting millions of Americans to work in the cause of conservation. In that same spirit, The Corps Network is confronting the greatest conservation challenges of our time while also developing and diversifying the workforce,” said Chief Randy Moore of the U.S. Forest Service. “Through the Civilian Climate Corps, we anticipate dramatically increasing the scale of fuels and forest health treatments over the next decade as we tackle the effects of a changing climate.”

From March 15 – 16, 2022, The Corps Network – the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps – convened leaders from several sectors for a Climate Action Summit. The event focused on exploring opportunities to meet the goals of a Civilian Climate Corps by expanding and evolving the community of national service programs that do conservation work. The Corps Network currently has a membership of 145 Conservation Corps programs that annually engage more than 20,000 diverse young adults in conservation service projects and workforce development.

AmeriCorps members and an instructor at Fresno Local Conservation Corps installing solar panels.

“AmeriCorps has invested in environmental stewardship for nearly three decades, and we are excited to continue collaborating with The Corps Network on the future of conservation,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO. “Last year, more than 15,000 AmeriCorps members provided environmental conservation and disaster response services to hundreds of communities across the nation. As we grow our conservation corps, we will continue to improve parks and public lands, increase energy efficiency, strengthen rural and urban economies, expand opportunity for young people and veterans, and create the next generation of conservation and climate resilience leaders.”

Participants at the Climate Action Summit included leaders from dozens of Conservation Corps programs across the country, as well as leaders and representatives from  the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, AmeriCorps and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Labor, and Transportation.

Presenters also included leaders from the National Park Foundation, the National Forest Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the JPB and William Penn Foundations.

Among other topics, the sessions at the Summit looked at a variety of options for funding climate service projects; opportunities to engage new partners; priority projects to address; barriers to expanding Conservation Corps; and the necessity of centering equity and environmental justice in efforts to meet the goals of a Civilian Climate Corps. While the original CCC of the ‘30s was not accessible and fair to all, today’s Corps enroll young people representing different backgrounds and life experiences. A theme of the Summit was the critical importance of prioritizing projects and service opportunities for communities that have experienced discrimination and disinvestment.

The Climate Action Summit also provided an opportunity to celebrate successes in the Conservation Corps field. Among others, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ed Markey (D-MA) attended and were recognized for their leadership on legislative efforts to fund national service and a Civilian Climate Corps.

The Corps Network thanks Sen. Ed Markey (left) and Sen. Chris Coons (right) with our 2022 Congressional Champion Award for their work in support of national service and a Civilian Climate Corps. The Corps Network also recognized Congressional staff members for their exceptional work: Hannah Vogel, Office of Sen. Markey; Corey Linehan, Office of Sen. Coons; Chris Fisk, Senate HELP Committee.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join the Climate Action Summit and was impressed by the breadth of engagement from service and conservation corps across the country and agencies across the federal government to confront the climate crisis and its impact on our communities head-on,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE.). “I look forward to working with this dedicated community, President Biden, and my colleagues to deepen our investment in these corps’ transformational work.”

A summary report with action items will be published by The Corps Network in the coming weeks.

“The Corps Network is grateful to everyone who lent ideas and expertise to the Summit. We extend deep appreciation to those who helped make this event possible,” said Mary Ellen Sprenkel, President and CEO of The Corps Network. “The Corps Community is positioned to utilize our existing infrastructure, capacity, and decades of experience as a foundation for growth. With trained leaders, a presence across the country in urban and rural areas, and a proven track record of getting quality work done safely and effectively, the Corps community stands ready to anchor broader climate action. We look forward to collaborating with our federal, foundation, and nonprofit partners to meet our mission to advance programs that transform young people’s lives and communities.”

 
 
 

Impact Story: Civic Works – New Landscape Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Based in Baltimore, MD, Civic Works offers young adults the opportunity to gain work experience by engaging in conservation service projects ranging from weatherizing homes to growing fresh produce for communities experiencing food inequity.

The Civic Works Landscape Pre-Apprentice Training Program offers hands-on technical and pre-employment training to individuals interested in working in the horticulture trade. Training focuses on identifying and cultivating plants, landscaping, and irrigation systems.

Through a partnership with The Corps Network, the program is supported by the Jobs for the Future (JFF) Apprenticeship Expansion and Modernization Fund (AEMF), designed to strengthen and expand existing pre-apprenticeship-to-registered apprenticeship pathways. Due to the success of their Community Lot Team, Civic Works was identified as a viable AEMF partner to help establish a nationwide network of pre-apprenticeships in natural resources and landscaping.

The pre-apprentices will work directly with experienced landscapers and irrigators to improve the functional or aesthetic value of an outdoor space. They may create or enhance lawns, gardens, decks, patios, and other landscape features and work on irrigation systems.

Successful completion of the three-month program, pre-apprentices will be paired with a local landscape employer and enter a Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program overseen by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).

On January 31, 2022, the inaugural Landscape Pre-Apprentice Training Program cohort got off to a fantastic start, with the six -apprentices completing orientation and reviewing tools of the trade. Four of the inaugural cohort members are enrolled in AmeriCorps. A second cohort will launch in April 2022.

To learn more about Civic Works, please visit their website at https://civicworks.com

 

 

Impact Story: Sustainability Institute – Surveying & Addressing the Energy Burden of South Carolina Residents

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 a project completed by the Environmental Conservation Corps (ECC), a program of The Sustainability Institute in North Charleston, SC. This project engaged seven AmeriCorps members supported by The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program (EAP) and Opportunity Youth Service Initiative (OYSI). The Sustainability Institute partnered with Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC), Union Heights Neighborhood Association, and Charleston Climate Coalition (CCC) to complete this project in 13 months. 

 

Project Name:

Surveying & Addressing the Energy Burden of South Carolina Residents 

Project Description:

The Environmental Conservation Corps at The Sustainability Institute honored the great legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by furthering the efforts of the 30 organizations of the South Carolina Energy Justice Coalition in a 4-phase project. ECC officially launched the project on January 17 to recognize the MLK National Day of Service. 

In Phase 1, ECC partnered with the South Carolina Energy Justice Network, including LAMC and CCC, to collect survey responses regarding home energy costs to help identify key opportunities and challenges related to household energy use. In Phase 2, the Sustainability Institute facilitated a hybrid energy+water efficiency workshop for community members, physically hosted at Gethsemani Community Center in Union Heights Neighborhood in North Charleston, SC. In Phase 3, Corpsmembers volunteered during the North Charleston Community Resource Center’s weekly food distribution and shared the survey with interested persons. Residential energy burden surveys, personal care kits, energy+water efficiency workshop flyers, and 400+ food boxes were distributed. In Phase 4, Survey results will be collected until mid-February. The survey results will be analyzed by the University of Maryland and will provide key information on how to best provide weatherization resources, address critical home repair needs, raise awareness around energy equity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In the future, ECC will continue to address energy-related concerns by offering weatherization services to low-income families, leading energy+water efficiency workshops, and gathering survey data in partnership with local leaders and organizations. Together, these activities effectively address climate change and contribute to building a more sustainable city and community.  

Relevant Stats

  • 60 energy surveys were hand-delivered to local residents by Environmental Conservation trail built, # of hours Corpsmembers worked on this) Corps Service Members. 
  • Home Conservation Kits and raffle prizes were distributed to Workshop participants to increase access to energy-saving devices and information. 
  • 400+ food boxes were distributed to individuals and families in need. 
  • Personal care kits were distributed during all phases of this project. 
  • Weatherization service applications were given to local residents during each phase of the project. 
  • 1 energy+water efficiency workshop was facilitated by ECC Members and SI Staff on January 20 with two other local workshops on the calendar with secured co-sponsors. 

Corpsmember quotes: 

“As low-income North Charleston residents face a disproportionally high energy burden compared to the state average, we aimed to find out how we could help residents lower their bills and learn what common issues were found in the homes during surveying. We got to know some of the residents, learning their stories and how they watched their neighborhood change over time. Many residents did not know that they could weatherize their homes and that there were organizations out there that could help them. Equity plays a big part in our service work. Union Heights Neighborhood is a predominately Black community. Many of the residents are retired and are on a fixed income. If we’re able to help them lower their energy bills, it would take one less burden off their plates.” ~Analyssa Keo (she/her), Crew Leader, Environmental Conservation Corps 

“This project taught me the importance of committing to a community rather than a one-day limited service day to be truly sustainable and have a lasting impact, which is why I was so excited to learn that we were going to continue our multiphased project to ensure our resources were reaching people effectively. Participating in the survey also taught me how my interests in anthropology and public health could be actively applied to real-life scenarios in a way that provides a voice to an entire community. By assisting in workshop preparation, I have also learned how to reduce my own carbon footprint and the importance of energy equity.” ~Laura Joaqui-Alizander (she/her), Crew Member, Environmental Conservation Corps 

Why was this project impactful?

  • Provided an opportunity to directly engage and learn from local residents to better 
  • understand their needs 
  • Offered the Corps Members an opportunity to participate in multiple phases of the survey roll-out, including community leader engagement, survey organization and logistics, while learning about survey design and effective interview techniques 
  • Provides multiple pathways for mitigating anthropogenic climate change on a local level with measurable outcomes 

What were the project goals?

  • Distribute a minimum of 40 South Carolina Energy Justice Coalition Surveys through direct engagement. 
  • Gain a better understanding of current challenges and opportunities associated with residential energy to inform future service activities. 
  • Share tips and tricks to help low-income families save money on their utility bills and enhance the health of their homes. 
  • Teach the Corps Members best practices when interacting with the public, especially in an information-gathering capacity. 
  • Strengthen local partnerships across the pillars of sustainability. 
  • Disseminate information pertaining to the ECC’s weatherization services and history of community service. 
  • Introduce the newest members of the Crew. 
  • Honor Dr. King’s legacy 

Challenges/Rewards of this project?

Rewards 

  • Opened the door to conversations about pressing needs from the community’s perspective (Some personal accounts were difficult to hear but necessary.) 
  • Opportunity to introduce new Corps Members to local residents after months of pausing 
  • energy-related activities during the COVID-19 surges and offering direct assistance during a period of peak energy use 
  • Partnering with multiple organizations, including the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC), the Union Heights Neighborhood Association and the Charleston Climate Coalition, to paint a clearer, more holistic picture of the key challenges and opportunities associated with access to and use of household energy. 
  • Train Corps Members how to respectfully engage community members and share their energy efficiency knowledge 
  • Encourage confidence-building in Corps Members 
  • Corps Members were actively involved with each phase of this project, learning about the interconnected layers of community-focused service in the process. 

Challenges: 

  • Such a collaborative project requires clear communication, careful coordination, contingency 
  • planning, patience, and ample time to prepare, execute, and assess. (~Good life lessons!) 
  • Presenting the survey in a clear manner to initiate the trust-building process 
  • Gathering this critical information about the residential energy burden of South Carolina residents involves trust-building and is essential to informing future community-focused activities. 

Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – February 8, 2022

By Meghan Castellano & Danielle Owen

Read this blog from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team on what recent updates from Washington mean for the Service and Conservation Corps community.

Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations

As of right now, we are currently operating under a Continuing Resolution that expires on February 18. The House is expected to vote on a third Continuing Resolution that would extend current spending levels through March 11. House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3), believes appropriators are close to reaching a framework government funding agreement, but will need additional time to complete the legislation in full. We expect a Fiscal Year 2022 ominous bill to be developed and passed by Congress soon. President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget could be released sometime in March. He is scheduled to give the State of the Union on March 1, 2022.

Build Back Better Act

The Build Back Better Act, which contains Civilian Climate Corps provisions, is still in a holding pattern but we remain hopeful. While the bill passed the House, due to the rules of the reconciliation process and tight numbers in the Senate (with both parties having exactly 50 members), every Democrat needs to vote in favor of it to pass. Although Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has expressed concerns regarding the overall text of the Build Back Better Act, he reportedly is not concerned with the Civilian Climate Corps provisions in the bill. The Corps Network’s Government Relations team continues to meet with our Civilian Climate Corps champions to get feedback on how negotiations are proceeding to ultimately bring the Civilian Climate Corps over the finish line.

Climate Resilience Workforce Act

On January 25, 2022, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), introduced H.R. 6492, the Climate Resilience Workforce Act. The Climate Resilience Workforce Act focuses on the creation of a skilled, equitable, and necessary workforce that our country needs to achieve climate resilience while creating good-paying jobs. The Corps Network’s Government Relations team met with Rep. Jayapal’s staff to discuss the legislation and they have agreed to work with us to develop it going forward. They are hopeful that it can eventually build off of the future Civilian Climate Corps.

Corps Story – Corps in Puerto Rico: The People and Meaning Behind BoriCorps

When Joe Taylor received a call about an opportunity to do a Corps project at the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico, his first thought was, “let me call my wife.”

This was a prudent decision. Under the umbrella of Franklin’s Promise Coalition, Joe and his wife, Jeanette Taylor, launched Conservation Corps of the Forgotten and Emerald Coasts in the Florida Panhandle. Jeanette is a native of Puerto Rico.

“Well, you go to your expert! You have to,” said Joe. “We do asset-based community development. You can’t helicopter in and try to fix someone’s problems and then leave. You really have to come in and engage the community in the process. That’s a priority for us. So, the first thing I would do, of course, is ask a Puerto Rican.”

The project opportunity – which was presented by The Corps Network via a request from our partners at the National Park Service – was to help restore the turf at El Morro: a fortress established by the Spanish in the 1500s. While the opportunity was interesting, the Taylors knew they didn’t want to start a crew in Puerto Rico for just one project. Hence the creation of BoriCorps: a new program based in Puerto Rico that seeks to engage local young people in conservation service and job training.

“When this opportunity presented itself to give back to the island, immediately I said yes,” said Jeanette.

The name BoriCorps is a reflection of the organization’s mission to be by and for Puerto Ricans. “Boricua” is a term for someone from Puerto Rico. The word is derived from “Borikén,” what the island was called by the Taíno, the Indigenous inhabitants of Puerto Rico. The logo for the program is a coquí, a beloved tree frog that is native to Puerto Rico.

“For us to explain what Boricua means, it’s just the essence of Puerto Rico,” said Génesis Torres Resto, a BoriCorps Crew Leader. “We take pride in our heritage and our roots. We have lots of different races in our veins. Boricua means our culture and everything we do.”

While Franklin’s Promise Coalition will work in partnership with BoriCorps and support the program for as long as necessary, the Taylors’ goal is that BoriCorps will be operated by local young people within the next three to five years.

 

The Corpsmembers and Crew Leaders

BoriCorps programming officially started in October 2021. The interview process was challenging considering the overwhelming response.

“One of the things that immediately stood out to me is that most of the young people that applied were either in college or had finished and had degrees,” said Jeanette. “These young people are very highly educated and have very diverse backgrounds. We had folks with biology backgrounds, archaeology, marine biology, history…as I started getting to know the Corpsmembers, it was clear a lot of them – even with this education – were underemployed.”

Génesis Torres Resto and her fellow Crew Leader, Karen Herrera Valencia, are examples of this. Génesis studied environmental science at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and is serving in the National Guard; Karen studied archaeology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.

A main goal of BoriCorps is to help address the lack of jobs and internships for young people on the island. The program also provides compensation that is above average for entry-level positions: the minimum wage in Puerto Rico only recently increased to $8.50/hour. The poverty rate in Puerto Rico is over 43 percent, far higher than the 2020 overall U.S. poverty rate of 11.4 percent. All the BoriCorps Corpsmembers and Crew Leaders are part of The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Opportunity Youth Service Initiative: a program designed to provide education and conservation work experience to young people facing barriers to work and school.

“We have a lot of opportunities to study, but we don’t have a lot of opportunities to work,” said Génesis. “A young person goes to study for four years and when they look for a job related to that study, it’s a hassle because you don’t have experience. Either you work and not have the education, or you study and then you’re reprimanded for not having the experience. That’s why we are so excited about this opportunity.”

For this initial cohort, the Taylors see great possibility.

“This first group of 10 showed us there is a lot of potential to grow the program by empowering these folks because they will take it forward,” said Joe. “They’re very passionate about their island and these issues. While we will dig deeper in future cohorts with young people who have more limited resources and more limited education and opportunities, it was, I think, a smart choice to have these folks in the first cohort.”

 

The Work and Training

While BoriCorps plans to engage additional partners and start new projects in future cohorts, this initial crew is primarily focused on the turf restoration at El Morro. The site includes The Esplanade – a grassy expanse of more than 20 acres, similar in concept to the National Mall in Washington, DC. The area is a popular recreation destination. The site has suffered over the years from erosion, wear, and weeds.

The Esplanade. BoriCorps members are helping address drainage and erosion issues, divots, and other inconsistencies in the surface.

Because El Morro is part of a national historic site, there are strict protocols around this project. The crew can only dig down two inches and cannot use heavy equipment. Even still, the crew has found bits of pottery and other artifacts that they have helped inventory with the National Park Service.

While El Morro tells a complicated history of colonization and conflict, serving there is a point of pride for the BoriCorps members.

“Colonization is something that permeates every aspect of our lives as Puerto Ricans. El Morro itself is a monument to the Spanish colonial period,” said Karen. “We understand the importance of repatriation of cultural resources, not just for Puerto Rico, but it’s a movement that’s been going on for other cultures…(El Morro) is not owned by the Puerto Rican people, but Puerto Ricans have taken this space – this symbol of colonization – and made it our own, made it our pride. People go with their families and fly kites, have picnics. We took this space that was for war, and made something for recreation, something that has purpose.”

The Civilian Conservation Corps works on El Morro. Photo courtesy of the archives of the San Juan Historic Site and park historian Dr. Eric J. Lopez, PhD.

 

The Civilian Conservation Corps works on El Morro. Photo courtesy of the archives of the San Juan Historic Site and park historian Dr. Eric J. Lopez, PhD.

A main reason the park chose to partner with a Corps on this project was to limit disruption for visitors. The BoriCorps members serve on one small section at a time. When visitors come by, the crew enjoys interacting and informing the public about the restoration process and how to help maintain the site. While the crew can’t use heavy equipment, they are efficient and well-trained. They are ahead of schedule and, as Génesis noted, better informed than the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) crews that served on this site during the Great Depression.

“Technically we are having it easier since we have tools and technology they didn’t have access to…We’re hoping to transcend things the CCC did in the ‘30s and hoping to make it as historically true as we can,” said Génesis. “We’re really proud of leaving a footprint behind the CCC and bettering the Esplanade and doing it with so much love and care.”

The Civilian Conservation Corps works on El Morro. Photo courtesy of the archives of the San Juan Historic Site and park historian Dr. Eric J. Lopez, PhD.

While the work can be physically demanding, it has its benefits.

“The thing I like most about our work is we’re always on our feet. And we’re always seeing the changes that we’re creating – fast. I can go on the weekend with my family and tell them, ‘I did this.’” said Génesis.

“Also the view! We are working along the sea. Everything is really pretty. In the morning we see the sunrise. Just the whole space is so important for us culturally and everyone is really motivated,” said Karen.

All the Crew Leaders and Corpsmembers completed FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. They’ve been trained in GIS, learned how to safely operate various tools, and completed OSHA trainings and courses in CPR and first aid. Additionally, the crew spent time with National Park Service staff to learn about the history and significance of the site.

Franklin’s Promise hopes this new venture will also open educational opportunities for their Florida-based programs. Before BoriCorps launched, a crew from Conservation Corps of the Forgotten and Emerald Coasts came to the island in August 2021 for a service-learning trip. The crew enjoyed serving on trails built by the CCC at El Yunque National Forest, but the whole experience was truly eye-opening for many of the Corpsmembers. The Taylors hope to develop an exchange program between BoriCorps and the Florida programs.

For Karen and Génesis, however, their long-term goals are here in Puerto Rico. They see programs like BoriCorps as a path for building an economically and environmentally sustainable green career sector on the island.

“I hope we can stay on the island,” said Karen. “Some of us study and then leave to work because the wages here aren’t as good. We hope that conservation is an opportunity that young people can see as work for the long run that helps us stay on the island and improve the island for us and for our future.”

Alumni Story: Shawnee Sloat-Warren

Corpsmembers often continue to serve in additional Corps programs once their original term is over. This allows them to live in new areas or continue to develop their skills in conservation and environmental work. After serving with American Youthworks, in Texas and Louisiana and getting to experience projects on various national forests and wildlife refuges, AmeriCorps Alumna Shawnee Sloat-Warren went from a career path in the medical field to conservation. We asked about her journey and where her Corpsmember experience led her.

How long did you serve with Louisiana Conservation Corps? How did you first hear about the program?

I have served for 13-14 months as a crew lead for two crews: field crew and GulfCorps. I heard about Louisiana Conservation Corps (LaCC) through serving as a crew member in Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC). I wanted to continue working in the conservation world and have a chance to live in Louisiana. It was a win-win situation.

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background? What were you doing prior to the program and what made you want to join?

Before I joined conservation work, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the medical field. I worked in nursing homes, home health care, hospice, ER, and the liver kidney transplant unit. I wanted to join after having a talk with an ER friend who said that he worked on trails when he was younger and that was his favorite job yet. I was down in the dumps trying to figure out: if I leave the medical field what would I do? I looked into conservation jobs. I applied for the position in Texas and it was the best decision I have ever made. 

 

What projects did you work on while there?

For Louisiana Conservation Corps, we worked on a couple prairie restorations in the Kisatchie National Forest. We’d cut down small trees, like sweet gum and pines, and applied herbicide to the tree stubs. We also did a pitcher plant bog restoration in Kisatchie Forest as well. We’d also cut down trees and shrubs to help make room for the pitcher plants. 

For GulfCorps, the projects we helped in were rebuilding a boardwalk in the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge [along the] Pintail Drive. We also rebuilt boardwalks and a fishing dock in Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge. We planted 21 live oak trees in the Hollister Cheniere Preserve. 

Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana

What were some of your favorite parts about this program? What were some of the challenges?

My favorite parts are being able to work in nature, seeing the animals, and connecting with the work in a way that is so different from anything else.  The best part is getting away from the city and the people. I guess some of the challenges can be the crew not getting along or having off days, like craving a certain meal and it is too far away to get the kind of food you want.  

 

What training, resources, and support were you provided through this program?

Wilderness first aid, chainsaw training, and herbicide use. I missed out on the Red Card training, but that is an opportunity as well.  

As far as resources and support, the office staff at LaCC is phenomenal, along with TxCC. Those people are willing to try and help in any way they can. As well as the people who you connect with in the field: the forest staff, state park people, and National Wildlife Refuge folks – if you have a question or an idea of where you want go, they will give you the resources or guidance on how to get there. You just have to speak up. 

 

What skills (soft skills, certifications, etc.)did you take from this program?
  • Chainsaw S212, chainsaw maintenance, tool maintenance, the knowledge of how trails work, and how water erosion happens then the prevention. 
  • Soft skills: critical thinking whether with chainsaw, trail work, or crew dynamic. 
  • Leadership/teamwork 
  • Problem solving 
  • Work ethic 
  • Paperwork 
  • Handling of conflicting personalities 

 

What was your favorite experience during the program?

Honestly, as cheesy as it sounds, it is getting to work outside in nature. Being able to have lunches under the trees, seeing the animals and the nature views that no one gets to see often, and connecting with your co-workers in a way that creates life-long bonds. Just forgetting who society tells you to be and finding yourself, your passion, your drive, just what makes you…well, you.  

A Corpsmember from Louisiana Conservation Corps completing forestry work

What were your original goals for after the program and what resources did the program provide to help you get there?

I want to be a Wildland Firefighter and a Forestry Technician. The job allowed me to network with the right people and apply for and get the job. 

 

What type of work do you do now and how did your Corpsmember experience help you get there?

I work at the Dallas Zoo as a Lead Technician of horticulture. All of my Corpsmember experience has led me here. From the trail work, chain sawing, tool maintenance, tree identification, land restoration. Literally everything that I have done and allowed myself to try has led me into the position I am now.  

 

Why is it important for young people to be involved in this type of work?

I think it is important that young people get involved in conservation work because they can learn how to work, it gets them to push their own boundaries, and opens doors to a different world that they probably didn’t know existed! You also get an [AmeriCorps] education award, which is awesome and useful for when you need it. 

 

What would you say to others who are considering their next steps or a program like this? Do you have any advice?

My advice would be, do it. Take that chance, take that leap of faith, and try something that is totally out of your comfort zone. If you are open minded and willing to allow others to help and guide you in this type of field, the opportunities are endless.  

When I started this path, I didn’t expect to stay in it for four years. I didn’t think I would make the friends I did. I got to make amazing memories and have awesome experiences that led me where I am today.  

 

Civilian Climate Corps Capacity Survey 2022

The Build Back Better Act could establish a national Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) initiative. The Corps Network is collecting information about the ability of organizations to scale up and complete climate projects.
Please complete this survey by February 11, 2022.

The Build Back Better Act is the most impactful legislation proposed to combat climate change to date. If it passes, the Act will include a Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) initiative.

The Corps Network encourages all Service and Conservation Corps, as well as other organizations that are interested in being part of the proposed CCC, to complete this survey. The survey aims to collect information about organizational capacity to support climate resilience projects on public lands and in urban and rural communities around the country. Organizations with limited or no experience are also encouraged to respond and could be supported with technical assistance to increase their capacity to be part of the Civilian Climate Corps.

Information collected from the survey will be shared with federal agencies upon request. Please use this Word document version of the survey to compile your data; use this link to the CCC survey to submit your final responses. Please submit your survey by February 11, 2022. Questions about the survey can be directed to The Corps Network’s Data Coordinator, Hannah Siroky, at hsiroky@corpsnetwork.org

 

Impact Stories: Sebastian Castillo

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 is of Sebastian Castillo, an AmeriCorps member at  Civicorps, based in Oakland, CA.

What led you to join a Corps Program?

Unemployment during COVID-19 pandemic. The experience offered at Civicorps was along the lines of my college major.

 

Are you an AmeriCorps Member?

Yes – I’m part of The Corps Network’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program.

 

How do you plan to use your education award?

College tuition.

 

What certifications/ training did you earn?

Chainsaw/Sawyer Certification, Chipper, First Aid/AED/CPR, Forklift Certifications.

 

Tell us about a Project of Accomplishment from your Service Term:

I supported habitat restoration projects throughout San Francisco Bay area (East Bay), including helping Snowy Plovers and Monarch Butterflies. I also helped build shelters for the unhoused community.

 

What is your favorite memory from your Corps experience?

The best were the memories made with fellow Corpsmembers and getting People of Color outdoors enjoying nature.

 

What do you think is the biggest impact you will take away from your experience?

The experience gained in terms of field work and leading group projects.

 

What do you plan to do after your Corps experience?

I plan on getting more experience in field work.

 

Any advice for people looking to join a Corps?

Jump with both feet forward and don’t be afraid to take advantage of your resources.

 

 

Alumni Stories: Ronald Henderson

As we enter a new year, The Corps Network has asked Corps alumni to reflect on their Corps experiences. We want to know how they were impacted by their service term and how their Corps helped lead them to where they are now. Ronald Henderson is a GulfCorps alumnus of Franklin’s Promise Coalition and the Student Conservation Association. He began his Corps journey five years ago and is currently working for The Nature Conservancy Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve.

  1. What led you to initially join a Corps?

I joined the Corps in 2017. Pretty much everyone who was on the original crew of Franklin’s Promise, I played football with. So, I pretty much knew everybody that was working there. I just so happened to lose my job at a chocolate shop, and I remembered seeing Franklin’s Promise, so I applied to it, because I was tired of working in a restaurant, and that’s how I got started, and here I am five years later.

  1. What were you doing before you joined Franklin’s Promise?

I was working at a chocolate shop, I worked at a pizza shop, and I worked at Burger King leading up to that job. I decided to leave the restaurant business. Conservation originally wasn’t the main pull. Originally, I was looking at Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Walking in I thought, maybe I’ll do FWC, maybe I’ll do prescribed burns.

  1. What were your projects at Franklin’s Promise?

The regular Franklin Crew did a lot of slash-pile-removal, sandpile removal, we worked on boardwalks a lot. We did some work in the Air Force base doing conservation work. At Franklin’s Promise we had a food drive, we had Toys-for-Tots there, so we helped with all that. Whenever there was a hurricane, we handed out sandbags. We also had an emergency relief program emergency relief program. Whenever disasters happened, they would call on us and we would hand out sandbags, food, water, and stuff like that.

My time at the Bay Crew (a GulfCorps Crew working with Franklin’s Promise) for a good five months was strictly experimental. When I started, it was just starting so we had to hire everybody and once we got everybody on board, we got them all certified. Originally, we were going to be working in Econfina River State Park doing work out there, but I never got to because I got my first fire crew job right at the beginning of 2020, so I left, but we did a few things. We did some sand pond removal. We were cutting fire lines. Pretty much the Franklin Crew and the Bay Crew were working together on projects.

  1. How did you go from Franklin’s Promise to Student Conservation Association (SCA)?

I applied, I did the interview, got the job, and met four of my best friends – I’m still friends with everybody. The fire crew still meets up regularly. I was with the fire crew for about five months. Then we got shut down because of COVID-19.

  1. What was your experience like as part of the SCA Fire Crew?

I think that being on that fire crew taught me a lot about myself. That was right around the corner of my son being born. My son was born in July 2020, but the fire crew ended in April. I got a job that same month, but the experience was nice.

I turned 21 as soon as the crew started. I knew two people from the crew. I learned a lot. I saw a lot of pretty places. Working in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Alabama really looked good on my resume, as well. I did a lot of prescribed burns.

We did pitcher plant habitat restoration that is so sacred. They’re so endangered and rare that you can’t even pull out a phone because you don’t want anyone knowing where they are because they are some of the rarest pitcher plants.

  1. What were some of the highlights of your SCA experience?

There was this crazy 1,000-acre burn near Flag Mountain. We burned at this sacred Native American land and each crew got 200 acres to burn. I remember my crew got an extra 100 acres to do and it was awesome. I was tired, but it was awesome.

I think my favorite part of the whole thing was just camping everywhere we burned at. A prescribed burn takes more than eight hours. Depends on how many acres it is and how complex the burn is but usually 8-13 hours.

We stayed on a wildlife management area, as well, and so the hunters that came in, sometimes they would have extra meat that they wouldn’t want because they were hunting for sport, so they would give us a deer or a hog or a racoon or a beaver to skin and they just let us keep the whole thing.

On our days off we would drink beer and skin animals. We wouldn’t eat out often because our leader had a full cooler of all these wild animals. We would make our lunch for the week out of these animals. We had wild leeks growing around our house, so we picked and pickled them.

  1. What certifications did you achieve throughout your time with Corps?

Wildland Fire Certifications, Wildland Fire Certification, Aquatic Grasses Certification, OSHA, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

  1. How did your experiences lead you to where you are now?

The company I worked for after SCA is called Long Leaf Alliance, which branched off The Nature Conservancy Florida (TNC) about 12 years ago. I was doing biology work for the reticulate of the Flywood Salamander. It was technically a seasonal job. The first season was more like field work. We would go in and clear out the ponds for the salamander. The second season I worked there we did more biology work, like finding [salamanders] and counting them and counting the legs, how long their bodies are and putting them back. Or we would take some dye and inject it into the tail of the salamander so we could tell if we’d already caught them or not as they got bigger. That was when I really got into snakes. You could say I became a herpetologist through that.

I was with Long Leaf Alliance for a year and a half and now I am with TNC. What helped me get this job was being friends with all the partners I met with through GulfCorps. GulfCorps really helped me network. I am still friends with every higher-up that I met from GulfCorps. I already knew the hiring supervisor from when I worked at GulfCorps—and my Crew Leader, Brad, I burned with him, probably a few months before I even got this job. And the person that recommended this job, I burnt with him a bunch of times, so I pretty much knew everybody when I got here.

  1. What do you do in your current position?

We do native seed collection for water grass, we do native seed planting, we do prescribe burns and we do efforts to reintroduce the Indigo Snake into the population. We release a certain number of snakes a year. Basically, it is a land management job. I help manage Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravine Preserve. I do tractor work, pretty much anything you can think of chainsaw work, planting, collecting seeds, herbicide…

  1. What advice would you give people considering joining a Corps?

Network, network, network. It is one of the most important things you can get from GulfCorps. Network, and get all the certifications that you can. You never know, somewhere down the road they might be handy.