Conservation Corps Iowa celebrates AmeriCorps Week

Conservation Corps Iowa joined the nationwide celebration ofAmeriCorps Week with a Get out & Get Green event at McFarland Park on Saturday, March 17. Over 35 Ames residents and Smokey Bear attended the event, participating in family fun and outdoor education activities. AmeriCorps members led a scavenger hunt, pretzel birdfeeder construction, an animal-mates memory game, a tree identification hike, a wilderness survival challenge and a Leave No Trace presentation. Event partners included AmeriCorps, Conservation Corps Iowa and the Story County Conservation Board.

On Thursday March 15, Conservation Corps Iowa members Allison McIntosh and Tiffany Vincent attended a ceremony where Iowa Governor Branstad signed a proclamation declaring March 10-18 as “AmeriCorps Week” in the state. The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps Alumni chapters in Des Moines and Davenport led this effort to promote the vital work done by AmeriCorps members in communities across Iowa.

“I am proud to recognize these AmeriCorps members for their commitment to be good stewards of our state and our country,” said Governor Branstad. “Their commitment to serve others will have a tremendous positive impact on lives and communities for years to come.”

Photo, top: Local Ames residents made pretzel bird feeders and visited with Smokey Bear during AmeriCorps week festivities. Photo, bottom: Conservation Corps Iowa members Allison McIntosh (left) and Tiffany Vincent watch as Gov. Branstad reads the proclamation.