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2715 Upper Afton Road, Ste 100
Maplewood, MN 55119
(651) 209-9900
info@conservationcorps.org
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| YAP assists in bioenergy research |
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 Young Adult crews from Northwest Minnesota have been assisting in research for the Minnesota Bioenergy Initiative, in partnership with the University of Minnesota and the Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District. This initiative explores the feasibility of using prairie and brush lands as biomass for new forms of energy. Crews have already completed research in Chisago and Isanti Counties, and will continue research in Pine, Becker, Clay, Polk and Norman Counties, as well as on the White Earth Indian Reservation.
Currently, YAP crews are identifying plants in specific areas, collecting soil samples and conducting topography assessments. According to Park Rapids crew leader Karen Lubenow, “This is very challenging work. Identifying so many different plants has taught us a lot.” While laughing she continued, “The plants in some of these prairies are so diverse. There are so many different species we can’t even identify all of them, and we end up drawing the unknowns in a book; there must be 60 plants in there!”
 Being a part of innovative research has been an important experience for YAP corpsmembers. Northwest District Manager, Anna Lipenga agreed, “It is great to work with the University of Minnesota on the front end of this study. It is exciting to know MCC is helping in the search for new energy sources; our state really is in the forefront of Bioenergy research.” MCC will continue to stay involved with projects that help the environment, and hopefully we can continue to be a part of the solution to fix global warming.
MCC would like to thank the Chisago SWCD and the University of Minnesota for including our crews in this research. We look forward to future partnerships.
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| New MCC youth program needs your opinions |
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 The Minnesota Conservation Corps has a long history of connecting youth with the outdoors all across Minnesota. Now we want to bring the experience a little closer to home. Over the next year, MCC hopes to launch a new urban youth program in the Twin Cities to engage middle and high-school youth as leaders in their communities and stewards of the urban environment.
Setting this program in an urban area presents new opportunities, as well as new challenges. We are currently exploring partnerships with the City of Saint Paul and other youth development organizations as we gather ideas for the structure and content of the program. However, the essential foundation of the MCC experience will remain the same: young people working together in the outdoors to build skills for life.
The new program will combine culturally relevant environmental education with training and direct service in natural resources and community revitalization. We hope to involve a broad spectrum of youth to work locally in their communities, and to address the social aspects of current environmental concerns. We will be working with our partners and the community to hammer out more details over the next several months, with the goal of running a pilot program as early as next fall.
If you have visited our website recently, you may have noticed a little red star next to the links to two surveys that were designed to enlist your input for our new program. If you have about ten minutes, please fill out either the community survey or the teen survey, and help us design a successful urban program. Then tell your friends to fill one out too!
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| Field Assistant position openings |
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 MCC is now hiring Field Assistants out of Brainerd, Duluth and Rochester. The Field Assistant is a full-time, temporary AmeriCorps position. Around 60% of the Field Assistant’s time will be spent directly in the field working with or providing training for crews.
Please submit a resume, coverletter and application to hr@conservationcorps.org by Friday October 26th at 5:00 pm.
Contact Candice McElroy, Program Associate,
with questions: 651.209.9900 x 24 or candice.mcelroy@conservationcorps.org
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The small but mighty crew from Pipestone works hard but loves the experience. Some of their favorite projects have been emergency response work such as an ice-storm cleanup in Missouri and a tornado cleanup in Florida. They also enjoyed cutting Eastern Red Cedar in Nebraska along the Missouri River Valley as seen in last month's Enews.
Working in NE proved to be their hardest project this year. According to Quentin, “It was about 95 degrees during that week, and was also very humid. In addition, we faced severe weather and were forced out of our tents several nights.”
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Your opinions count!
Please help MCC create a new Urban Youth Program by filling out one of our surveys!
Community Survey
Teen Survey
Completing each surveys only takes around 10 minutes.
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Join the Corps!
MCC is currently accepting applications for the 2008 program year:
Crew Leader: Jan. 28 - Dec. 18, 2008 (Application Deadline: Nov. 19th)
Crew Member: Feb. 13 - Dec. 18, 2008 (Application Deadline: Dec. 14th)
Download you application by clicking here
Submit your applications to:
recruit@conservationcorps.org
or mail applications to:
MN Conservation Corps
2715 Upper Afton Rd Ste 100
Maplewood, MN 55119
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Alumni Question
of the Month
On which BWCA lake did Dorothy Molter the "Rootbeer Lady" live on?
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 September's question was the Lake Superior agate. Congratulations to Renae Smith for the right answer.
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