Archive

We are excited to introduce six bloggers who will share their Corps journeys through the year with stories, photos and video. This year our bloggers represent our Iowa REEAL Individual Placement, a Youth Outdoors crew and young adult field crews, including Three Rivers, Saint Paul Roving, Rochester Cedars and Tower. Check out their bios and follow them through their 2014 term. Read More

As the year-long celebration of the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps continues, the Corporation for National and Community Service has designated April as Environmental Stewardship Month. Whether improving parks and public lands, restoring waterways, increasing energy efficiency or teaching conservation, AmeriCorps makes a positive and lasting impact on our environment. Here is what Conservation Corps is doing this month and some opportunities to volunteer. Read More

If I was able to run wild like a feline, I believe I would not hesitate one second in doing so. There are just so much places I want to see, smell and touch. A close friend once asked me about why I move so often. To that I replied with my own version of the greatest traveling quote I've ever encountered - so that I can come back home at some point and so that I can see where I come from with new eyes and extra colors. And you might see me different consequently of that. Coming back to where it all started is not the same as never leaving. By the way, the original quote is by author, Terry Pratchett. Read More

I know what you’re thinking, and you’re probably right. A blog about safety? How boring. I would have to agree. It’s not the most exciting, but by taking safety seriously, heeding all warnings, and wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) we can all help ourselves avoid serious harm. With that in mind, just humor me.The Corps values the safety of its members, plain and simple. If I had a dime for every time in the first few weeks I heard the words safety and PPE, I would probably have a fair few dollars to spend. In fact for chainsaw and wildfire training the instructors actually said that if we answered ‘safety’ for questions on the test that we just might receive some credit even if we didn’t know the answer. While that might be a bit of an exaggeration, it illustrates how we are to have situational awareness at all times and be very mindful of our actions; one little kickback of the chainsaw for a novice sawyer can cause a world of hurt. Read More

I have always been a hands-on person when it comes to learning new things. When it comes to chainsaws, there is no better way. When I first started with the Conservation Corps in February I was so excited to get moving right away. As most people know that is not exactly how it works with a new job, especially one that involves close proximity to hazardous tools. The first week of training passed and I had yet to hold, let alone see, a chainsaw and I was beginning to feel let down.          On Monday of the following week we met at our shop in Rochester to begin a ten-day, intensive training course at White Water State Park. I was so stoked for this was finally the time we would begin training beyond the essentials, such as team work, ethics and everyone’s favorite, paperwork. Read More

I’ve gotta give a shout out to Stihl Chainsaws. At -20F it’s tough to get anything running at all, but with just a few pulls those saws were roaring and it was time to get to work.  And so went the winter.I was hired back for another term with the Conservation Corps field crews, this time as the crew leader of the Metro Roving crew. Between the end of the last term and the beginning of the current term, those of us who were hired back worked as an interim crew on a couple of different projects. You may or may not recall but it was a particularly cold winter, the coldest in about 30 years in fact, and hence the coldest winter everyone on the crew has ever experienced. The fact that we continued to get work done each day (save the few that were called off due to dangerously cold temperatures) is testament to the reputation of the Corps and the ethic that is instilled in Corps members. We work smart and we work hard because we believe that our accomplishments are integral in conserving our environment. Read More