Author Archives: Hannah

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Gaby Gerken of Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC). Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa is a 21CSC program operator. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here.

The following story was written by Gaby Gerken and was originally posted on the Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa website.

During my time with Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa we have worked entirely with plants. We’ve cut buckthorn and cleared firebreaks, planted natives and picked weeds. It’s been great learning to identify things we haven’t seen or heard of before but one thing we have all been missing is wildlife.

That said, we have recently had the opportunity to rescue some animals! First there was the turtle incident at our work site next to a few lakes. Between the roar of the semi trucks we managed to save three painted turtles that were attempting to cross the road. Would they have made it on their own? Probably, but there is always the chance that they could have been accidentally (or intentionally…) run over and, trust me, seeing a crushed turtle could make you cry. Always break for the turtles and, if it’s safe, try stopping to help them across quick!

The second incident came when I found a monarch caterpillar. I’ve become a bit obsessed with saving them this year and I definitely have the Corps to thank for that. Months ago we stumbled upon a plant that we identified as milkweed. Technically it is a weed and does not belong in the rain gardens we were maintaining, but according to the invasive species handbooks we should take measures to leave it when possible. Across the U.S. monarchs are dying, probably the result of habitat loss due to urban sprawl and pesticides. Therefore, when we see milkweed we leave it.

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Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Lydia Gallegos of New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg

L. to R. Lydia (holding Eli the Elk) with her fellow Crew Member Tabitha, and Program Coordinator Katie Sullivan at Bread Lock Park in Warren County, NJ.

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC). New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg is a 21CSC program operator. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here.

Lydia Gallegos had never heard of New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg before dropping out of high school, but it seemed appealing to her once she learned about it. She could earn her diploma, get help finding a job, and get help getting her driver’s license – everything she was looking to do. Since joining the Corps, Lydia has also discovered that the Corps helped her with some of the challenges she faced in public high school.

Lydia explains that “One of the biggest problems I dealt with was my social anxiety. I had trouble dealing with crowds of people. When I came here I was surprised to find out classes are smaller. This was great for me- it wasn’t overwhelming. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve really gotten to know my fellow classmates and make friends. Also, the staff are great too. Everyone on the staff work so great together and just fit perfectly.”

In addition to earning her High School Equivalency (HSE) while at the Corps, Lydia has gained a significant amount of experience with different kinds of work. Over her time at the Corps, Lydia has helped mow grass, build trails, complete tasks at an organic farm, and has worked on aquatic restoration projects while putting her recently obtained “Waders in the Water” credential to use after participating in the two-day training in April earlier this year. Of all the things Lydia has done through the Corps, her favorite moment is pretty definitive. She notes “My favorite project that I worked on was the First Book sorting we did in conjunction with our sister NJYC program at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, NJ. It sounded so simple, you know? Sorting books to be distributed to children in need – it’s such a small act, but I feel that I helped make a huge difference in each child’s life that those books reached. It felt great to be a part of that!” Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Chris Wilson of Community Training Works’ Young American Conservation Corps

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here.

Chris Wilson had a history of wanting to protect natural resources. He completed 1700 AmeriCorps hours for the Florida Conservation Corps where he surveyed and eradicated invasive species and also assessed and repaired trails in the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee.

Chris wanted some additional training, so he joined the Community Training Works/Young American Conservation Corps (CTW/YACC) in Melbourne Beach, Florida, a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps operator. He assessed and repaired bridges and boardwalks over streams & marshes and also assessed and repaired trails. During his seven month stint at CTW/YACC he took the Waders in the Water (WitW) aquatic restoration and green jobs training class offered by Trout Headwaters, Inc. in partnership with The Corps Network. He earned the certification and enjoyed the course as part of his Corps experience. Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Michelle DiMeglio of Maine Conservation Corps

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here. The following story was provided by Maine Conservation Corps, a 21CSC program operator.

The Maine Conservation Corps’ Alumni are spread far and wide and often continue to work in conservation long after their time with us is done. Recently the MCC heard from Michelle DiMeglio whose life has been shaped by AmeriCorps and the MCC in many positive ways. Michelle currently works as a Youth Program Assistant for The Corps Network in partnership with the National Park Service. Her program works to expand opportunities for youth in National Parks.

Michelle was first drawn to the MCC due to its Trail Training Program. Having previously served with trail crews in California and Arizona, she wanted to gain more experience as a leader. The MCC’s training program prepared her for work with chainsaws, griphoist equipment, and the dynamics of leading a field crew. She was also certified as a Wilderness First Responder. She came away from the program with the skills and confidence to lead. Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Shonto Greyeyes of Arizona Conservation Corps

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here. The following story was provided by Arizona Conservation Corps, a 21CSC program operator.

In his orange hard hat and well-worn work pants, Shonto Greyeyes leads an AmeriCorps crew of six local teens in the Youth Conservation Corps in Prescott, AZ as part of Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC). Shonto is serving his second term as a YCC mentor as follow up to experiences on the Verde Watershed Restoration Coalition crew with AZCC, a term of service with Montana Conservation Corps, and an individual placement internship with Coconino National Forest. Shonto sees his responsibility to give back to his community, and he aspires to lead an inter-tribal crew that serves Arizona’s ancestral lands and native communities.

Shonto recognizes the challenge of straddling two worlds: the traditional knowledge of his Diné culture and the opportunities of the 21^st century. Shonto grew up in the border town of Flagstaff, AZ after his family made the decision to move off of the Navajo Reservation, the largest reservation in the U.S. which reaches into three states.

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Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Ashley of Operation Fresh Start

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. To view all Faces of the 21CSC stories, please click here. The following story was provided by Operation Fresh Start, a 21CSC program operator based in Madison, Wisconsin. It was written by Ashley.

Since I dropped out of high school, I’ve been to three different high schools. None of those high schools worked out for my needs. I had no support from anyone…The only thing I had was my animals. I thought I had friends. I found out they just brought me down more. Those friends had no goals or motivation. All they wanted to do was party.

One of my friends told me about a great program called Operation Fresh Start. I looked more into the program and thought it would be a great place to go. I went to the interview so nervous wondering if they would even let me into the program. A few weeks went on after the interview and I got a call saying that ‘ I’m in’ and needed to come in to have a meeting with my soon to be supervisor. At the meeting we talked about what we would be doing. I knew this was where I needed to be. Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Jessica Gibbons of Utah Conservation Corps

Jessica Gibbons is the AmeriCorps crew leader for the Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) bike crew. Originally from the Midwest, graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Biology and Environmental Science.

Jessica learned about the UCC and the Corps movement a few summers ago through a person she worked with from Green Corps Chicago. She joined the UCC as a crew member in August 2014 and completed the fall season removing Russian olive as part of the multi-corps Escalante River Watershed Project. She stayed on for the winter season that was highlighted by a project in Bryce Canyon National Park completing corridor work felling trees for multi-use path. Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Dominick Dudley of Conservation Corps North Bay

Before coming to Conservation Corps North Bay, Corpsmember Dominick Dudley was expelled from high school and didn’t think he had much of a future. Now enrolled in the Corps’ charter school program, Dominick is only a few credits away from attaining his high school diploma. Continue reading →

Faces of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps: Jorge Lomas of Mile High Youth Corps

This summer we plan to highlight several of the participants in the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. This is the first of those stories and was provided by Mile High Youth Corps, a 21CSC program operator.

Jorge Lomas is a first-generation American, but spent much of his childhood growing up in Mexico. When he was 12 he moved permanently to Denver, CO. In 2011, he became the first of his family to enroll in college, signing up for classes at Colorado State University. As his first semester drew near, financial limitations forced him to withdraw and enroll in an Associates program at the Community College of Denver (CCD).

For the next two years, Jorge took classes and paid for school through work study and weekend jobs. After two years of school he decided to look for other ways to further his development and help the environment while still saving for his education. In the summer of 2013, he enrolled in the first term of service at Mile High Youth Corps as a member of the Summer of Service Land Conservation Program. Continue reading →

Secretary Jewell, American Express Announce Major Commitment to Increase Volunteerism on America’s Public Lands Through YMCA, 21st Century Conservation Service Corps