Volunteers clean up river rubbish

Volunteers clean up river rubbish
Almost 150 volunteers cleaned up two miles of Mississippi riverbank on June 16. Led by Conservation Corps members, volunteers removed tires, bottles, scrap metal, styrofoam, and other trash deposited by flooding. A riverboat brought volunteers to the cleanup site south of Saint Paul where they filled a 30 yard dumpster. The Adopt-a-River event was sponsored by the DNR in partnership with Conservation Corps Minnesota and the Padelford Packet Boat Company.

Youth give back to their community
On Saturday June 5, Youth Outdoors high school students completed a variety of service projects to improve their neighborhoods. Youth built a large compost bin that crews can use next spring for garden projects. Other crews held environmental community events that featured educational games and activities focused on biodiversity, pollution, trees and gardening. Canvas, a Saint Paul teen arts program, provided singers and dancers. Youth Outdoors engages crews of six youth and two leaders each who meet at four Saint Paul recreation centers afterschool and Saturdays to complete habitat restoration and neighborhood revitalization projects. Using skills they’ve gained through the semester, youth select, design and recruit volunteers to implement end-of-semester events.

Upcoming Events

Volunteer with the Summer Youth Corps
Afton State Park,
July 24, 9 am - 12 noon
Volunteer to help youth crews wrap trees to protect them from deer, remove buckthorn and help restore this beautiful park featuring native prairie, oaks and bluff land overlooking the St. Croix River. Participants will learn about the park’s history and how invasive species and other predators have affected natural habitats. Tools and materials will be provided. A volunteer appreciation lunch will be held at 12 noon. The volunteer event is made possible by the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation. Afton State Park is located south of Afton, Minn., off St. Croix Trail S. From St. Paul, go 9 miles east on I-94, then 7 miles south on Highway 95 (Manning Ave) and 3 miles east on 50th St S. Registered volunteers will receive a free day-use park pass. To register or for more information contact Eric Antonson at
(651) 209-9900 ext. 11 or eric.antonson@conservationcorps.org.

Volunteer at the Minnesota State Fair
Promote your favorite Conservation Corps by volunteering your time at our state fair booth. Lead our invasive species game, hand out materials and get a free State Fair entrance ticket and Blue Ribbon Bargain Book (with $500 in discount coupons). Your time will be greatly appreciated! Volunteer for a 3 ½ hour shift, which start at 9 a.m., 12:30 and 4 p.m. The 12-day fair runs August 26 – September 6. To sign up, contact Emily.Groshens@conservationcorps.org. See you at the fair!

Celebrate 75-plus years of Conservation Corps
Conservation Corps Minnesota will hold its first Alumni & Friends Association event in conjunction with the CCC fall picnic on September 11, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Phalen Park Pavilion in Saint Paul. Join us for good food, lumberjack games, entertainment and a volunteer event to restore the park’s native habitat. If you would like to help, contact Emily.Groshens@conservationcorps.org or (651) 209-9900 ext. 26. Save the date and bring your cherished memories!

Corps staff changing roles
Brian Hubbard has joined the Conservation Corps as Youth Programs Associate for the summer. He is helping coordinate two new initiatives, More Kids in the Woods and I Can Camp! Brian is also assisting the Summer Youth Corps, which he served as a crew leader in 2002 and 2006 and Assistant Director in 2007. Brian previously served as an English teacher with the Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa and a ski patrol volunteer at Afton Alps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and professional writing and is certified as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic. He is currently a University of Minnesota graduate student, studying youth development and leadership.

Also, two staff have moved seats at the Conservation Corps’ central office in Maplewood. Carissa Butler, former diversity and inclusion VISTA, has been promoted to administrative associate and Yee Moua, former administrative and finance associate, will now work full-time as finance associate.