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2715 Upper Afton Road, Ste 100
Maplewood, MN 55119
(651) 209-9900s
info@conservationcorps.org
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| Young Adult Crew Dedicated to Pipestone National Monument |
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Pipestone National Monument will gain some new faces this spring as they become home to the newest MCC young adult crew. The four person crew will operate from May to December and complete projects within the National Monument and throughout southwestern Minnesota. Previously, an MCC crew was located out of Lake Shetek State Park, but an increase in Public Land Corps funding for Pipestone N.M. prompted the move of that crew to Pipestone. Lake Shetek State Park will no longer be a home to an MCC young adult crew.
Pipestone, located in the southwest corner of Minnesota, is an ideal site for an MCC young adult crew. Tim Johnson-Grass, MCC's Operation Manager, says "This is an opportunity MCC could not pass up. Gia Wagner with the National Park Service is happy to make room at the park for the crew and has ample opportunities for the crew to make a difference at the National Monument." |
Welcome new staff: Doug Ekstrom and Dustin Looman |
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Join us in welcoming two new staff members to MCC. Doug Ekstrom and Dustin Looman will lead the young adult program in MCC's southern district.
Doug, MCC's new district manager, is making his return to MCC after being away from the program for 11 years. From 1990 through 1995 he served as a MCC crew member and crew leader in Southern Minnesota. Doug continued on to work for the DNR and Ducks Unlimited until finding his way back to MCC. Contact Doug.
Dustin, hired as the southern district assistant manager, has been on the Rochester crew for the past three years. Starting as a crew member, Dustin returned to lead the crew for two years, and is excited to continue working with the crews as an MCC staff member. Contact Dustin.
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| Visit MCC at the Living Green Expo |
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You don't need to be a corpsmember to be an MCCer! Visit MCC at the Living Green Expo to try on a hard hat and learn how you can be involved. The Living Green Expo is May 6 and 7, 2006 at the State Fair Grandstand. The expo runs from 10:00-5:00 both days and admission is free. Learn more about the Green Expo at www.livinggreen.org. |
| Record Pack Test Time for MCC |
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 Young adult crew leader Jake Varshal completed his pack test in an astonishing 29:27 on March 23, 2006.
The pack test is the physical fitness test that involves walking three miles in under 45 minutes while wearing a 45 pound vest. The pack test is one required component to gain a "Red Card Certification". Red Card Certification is necessary to perform prescribed burns and respond to wildland fire. All MCC young adult corpsmembers become Red Card Certified during their service in MCC.
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| MCC Alumni Question of the Month: |
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April alumni question:
What was your favorite part about your time with MCC?
Send in responses to coleen.judge@conservationcorps.org. If your name is drawn, you get a prize.
Last month’s alumni question: What was the Watercraft Inspection Program?
Congratulations to Keri Hull of the Little Falls Crew 1998-2000 who answered March's alumni question correctly to win an MCC Nalgene bottle.
Answer: Watercraft inspection corpsmembers were stationed at public access sites on lakes and rivers to promote stewardship by educating and actively involving boaters in preventing the spread of exotic species. The MCC Watercraft Inspection Program ran from 1992- 2001. |
| Alumni Spotlight: Cara Anderson |
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Cara Anderson was in the MCC Watercraft Inspection Program, a part of the DNR Ecological Services Division from 1993-1999 and she also helped coordinate the program. Currently, Cara is a senior personnel aide with the DNR Bureau of Human Resources.
“As far as my favorite part of the program...that's a tough one. I really enjoyed traveling around the state, working with DNR employees on different special projects and promoting stewardship. Although it was an extreme challenge at the time, I was forced to come out of my shell and now love talking with people and helping others overcome their public speaking fears. I cannot say enough positive things about my MCC experience!”
| Spring cleaning at St. John's Landing |
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Friends and family of MCC's Summer Youth Program are invited to come and help prepare St. John's Landing for this summer's crews. You are welcome to spend a few hours or a few days between May 23rd and May 28th up at camp. Talk with Pete Bonk at (651)209-9900 ext. 11 if you'd like to be a volunteer. |
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Rochester 1’s royal leader, Sir Dustin Looman, now sits on the Assistant Supervisor throne. One of our own may be heir but as it stands, Rochester 1 is fierce, noble and heroic with a year and a half knight, Dave Olsen and three squires Mandy Webb, Kyle Martin and Brooke Tapp. Cont.
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The Duluth crew consists of Pat (from Floodwood, MN), Katie, Adam and John (all from Duluth). We love acronyms such as PPE, TSI, ATV, OHV, ERR, MUR, OPP Yeah You Know ME!
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Jessica Gerchak was a crew leader last summer for MCC. Currently Jessica is working Deep Portage Conservation Reserve where she teaches environmental education and outdoor recreation. She is also pursuing her Masters Degree in Education.
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Jonathan Goldenberg was an assistant crew leader for the summer youth program. Jon recently finished an internship with the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm in Ohio. He is currently spending a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School in New Zealand.
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Luke Sharman was a crew leader for the 2005 summer youth program. Luke is finishing up his B.A. in English Lit and Sociology at Binghamton University in New York. Luke is currently studying abroad in London and looks forward to returning to MCC for a second summer.
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