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2715 Upper Afton Road, Ste 100
Maplewood, MN 55119
(651) 209-9900
info@conservationcorps.org
In this issue |
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| Corpsmembers explore and survey the BWCA |
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 From late May to mid October, Young Adult Crews from Eveleth and Grand Rapids canoed and hiked throughout the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to measure tree growth. Crews were split up into pairs for two to three days, given specific GPS coordinates, and then the adventure began.
Crews entered the BWCA through various lakes including Ely, Isabella, Grand Marais, and Crane. Upon entrance, pairs of Corpsmembers portaged to various sites to collect and record data. For crew leader, Troy Korpi, this sometimes meant a challenge, “The longest portage I remember was about a quarter of a mile long (80 rods).” While 80 rods may not be the longest hike, it is difficult with only two people, 2 packs and a canoe. “We got pretty lucky,” Troy commented,” we were fortunate enough to borrow some lightweight Kevlar canoes to make the hike easier.”
Once corpsmembers got to their sites, they would measure trees for growth, look for diseases like Bark Beatle, note any Beaver damage, take soil samples and identify tree species.
Some corpsmembers were lucky enough to witness the wildlife on their trips. According to Troy, “We saw a couple of moose, and a litter of seven timber wolves with their mother along the shoreline, it was incredible.”
Canoeing in the BWCA is a Minnesota tradition and MCC is proud to be a part of it.
Photo courtesy of the US Department of Agriculture
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| MCC helps community finish playground |
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 In Chatfield Minnesota, over 140 people came together to build a new playground, and the Rochester Pines crew was proud to be a part of that effort. In mid-October, the crew worked for two days setting posts in concrete, building the foundation and routering the edges of equipment so
children would not hurt themselves on sharp corners.
Fundraising for the playground began around two years ago with a group called Park Partners. This organization, composed of community members and public officials, aimed to rejuvenate the town with a beautiful centerpiece and a large project that would bring the community together through volunteerism.
This project was especially important to one former Chatfield resident, Rochester Pines Crew Leader Chris Severson. She remembers playing on the old equipment and agreed it was time for a change, “the playground equipment was over 50 years old.”
 During the two days MCC worked on the project, students and teachers who were off for MEA helped as well as the Rochester Community and Technical College football team. “It was nice to work with a community that appreciated our help and skills,” said Chris, “to be a part of something that meant so much to this town made the crew feel really good.”
The park was completed on October 27th and has been a big hit with kids and volunteers alike, according to Chris, “Our crew was really on the front end of this project, so we decided to stop back and take a picture with the finished product, and it looked amazing!”
For more information on the playground and Park Partners, visit their website at http://parkpartners.cgreiner.com/
MCC would like to thank and congratulate Park Partners and the City of Chatfield for the great opportunity.
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Join the Corps! |
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 Join Minnesota Conservation Corps as a Young Adult Corpsmember. Apply now!
Spend a year working outside and conserving Minnesota’s natural resources. Work with a crew of peers on technical projects. Use a chainsaw. Fight wildland fires and participate in prescribed burns. Camp at worksites across Minnesota. Gain technical skills and professional certifications. Earn a monthly stipend and AmeriCorps Education Award.
MCC is currently accepting applications for next program year
Crew Member: February 13 - December 18, 2008
Learn more about MCC’s Young Adult Program and download an application at:
http://www.conservationcorps.org/youngadult.htm
Submit completed applications to: email:recruit@conservationcorps.org
fax: 651.209.9901
mail: Minnesota Conservation Corps
2715 Upper Afton Rd, Suite 100
Maplewood, MN 55119
Crewmember applications are due December 14th.
Contact Candice McElroy, Program Associate,
with questions: 651.209.9900 x 24 or candice.mcelroy@conservationcorps.org
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Kelsey Fitzgerald
Kelsey joined MCC as the Brainerd Crewleader for the 2007 program year. She came to MCC following an AmeriCorps term as Crewmember with the Utah Conservation Corps.
Kelsey has provided great leadership and passion for working with peers on environmental restoration. This year she took the initiative to secure and staff a booth for MCC at the 2007 Northland Bioneers Conference in St. Paul.
This conference intended to explore interdependence of life on Earth and proposed solutions to current issues. In addition, Kelsey organized corpsmembers to attend the conference, and she was an event volunteer.
MCC is enthused to have Kelsey return as the Brainerd Crewleader for 2008 and looks forward to her experiential sharing with next year’s program participants!
Welcome Alyson Johnson
Congratulations to Alyson Johnson who has been hired as the Youth Program Coordinator.
Alyson started as a youth participant 1999 and later returned as a Youth Leader, Crew Leader (3 summers), and EA Coordinator (2 summers).
Alyson is a UW-Stevens Point graduate with a double major in Biology Education and Spanish with minors in Chemistry and Broad-field Natural Sciences and just completed her second term with AmeriCorps* NCCC in Denver as a Team Leader.
She has volunteered in South America and recently served as the USA Female Youth Delegate for UNESCO in both Acapulco, Mexico and Paris, France.
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Alumni Question
of the Month
Which country is the Zebra Mussel native to?
The winners of this challenge will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!
Submit your answer to alumni@conservationcorps.org
The answer to October's question is Knife Lake. Congratulations to Kirk Trangsrud for the right answer.
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