SCA NH Corps

Hey All,
This is Iz, sending out a friendly reminder for y'all to write up a small bio about yourself to put up on the SCA website! I am thinking a short paragraph would work. Here's mine as an example:

"My name is Iz Yankura. I graduated from Roger Williams University in 2009, with a Bachelors degree in Environmental Science. But, way before I ever thought of going to college, I was a young girl romping around in the woods of CT; building mud cakes, stick forts, and little stone walls. From a young age I’ve been curious of the natural world around me. This interest in the flora and fauna around me led me to study environmental science and a want to share it with others, specifically younger generations.
I have had three different placements with the SCA. My first was an alternative spring break, in the Grand Canyon in ’09. My second was as a community crew leader (during the summer of ’11), co-leading three different high school conservation crews, teaching them how to build and maintain trails. This is my third SCA position, working as an environmental educator and then conservation team member in and around Manchester New Hampshire. I am super excited to broaden students’ minds with conservation and environmental education! Similarly, I cant wait to get back out into the field and get dirty with the trails!
My future goals include: many more SCA positions, grad school, and becoming an awesome college professor (known for her wacky classes and unforgettable as well as contagious love for the environment!).”

My name is Hilary Dees and I am chasing some dreams while serving on
the SCA New Hampshire Corps. Family vacations to national parks
coupled with a healthy sense of adventure has helped create my
interest working with the environment. I studied anthropology and
natural resource/environmental science at Kansas State University,
where I recently graduated. I'm looking forward to exploring the New
Hampshire/New England area in the next 10 months!

My name is David Rittenhouse. I've spent most of my life growing up
in Minnesota, and have always held the Mississippi river close to my
heart. From my first visit as a child, to sleeping on its banks as a
young adult. I graduated with a degree in Biology, Society, and the
Environment from the University of Minnesota, and during my time there worked at the Bell Museum of Natural History. I loved my experiences working with children and adults and sharing my enthusiasm for nature, through guiding hands on experiences with all sorts of creepy crawlies like cockroaches, snakes, and turtles, giving tours of Minnesota's wildlife through diorama halls, and leading science summer camp programs. I hope to continue to broaden my experiences in environmental education and gain new experiences in the ways of conservation while in the SCA to prepare me for where ever my life takes me next

Being in the outdoors is my hobby; enjoying it is my passion.

I grew up on the water in Michigan and have seen some amazing sunsets. I've hiked and camped with the Boy Scouts which led to some great times in the wilderness. I worked with the Southwest Conservation Corp and made a difference in many public lands and parks.

I hope to do the same with SCA New Hampshire corp. Just from being here for such a short time, I know working and exploring in New England is going to be a memorable experience.

My name is Joe Kremer-Herman. I graduated from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids Michigan in 2011 with a B.A. in History and Environmental Studies. This is my first time with the SCA, and am wondering why I didn't do this sooner.

I became interested in the natural world before I knew I had an interest. Growing up on a small farm in southern Minnesota, I was blessed with 5 acres where I would spend hot summers and cold winters playing in a grove were I would build forts, climb trees, look for animal tracks, and explore my surroundings. As I grew up, the box of a classroom was removing my childhood experiences with black and white text and standardized tests. It wasn't until halfway through college when I realized that I lost my childhood wonder, and decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my life outside.

I believe that the SCA will teach me the hands on skills that I need to be successful in my future endeavors, whether they're interpreting the natural world to the public or building trails to show people a world that helped build me as an individual.

On Thursday, October 20, the "Bear Brookers" of 2011 were formally recognized for their 10 months of service. The 26 members at the ceremony and 30 throughout the year logged 50,000 hours of service with most going well above and beyond the 1700 required hours.

But hours aside, we will all remember this year for accomplishments and challenges. Manchester youth, grade school age, were engaged in being Earth Stewards. Thousands of NH residents and visitor discoved the Power of the Parks with our 6 Interpreters. A record number of high school youth were engaged in learning and service projects in their home state, and, of course, dozens of conservation projects were completed by three stellar crews.

Last but not least the SCA NH staff; Marlee, Sue, Jeremy, Hana, and Justing did an amazing job of supporting the corps members as they worked through the joys and pains of developing their conservation ethic with hands on service to the lands and communites of NH.

Great Job Everybody!
Sincerely (and I do mean that!!!),
Mike

As usual, I wouldn't even know where to start to give a full update on what has been going on with the SCA NH corps. With three adult conservation teams, two high school teams, and six Park Interpreters in the field you can imagine the number of great stories, photos, not to mention amount of service and learning that is occuring.

With that little summary in mind, I'll just add that we have just returned from All Corps; a gathering of the Eastern Regional Corps. You'll see the Bear Brookers pulled together to have a great time, meet their fellow SCA friends, and graciously concede the victory horns to the hosts of All Corps, The SCA Adirondacks. Just prior to that we were at Hampton Beach being recognized as the longest standing Americorps program in the state with Volunteer NH. Just before that we had a gathering with the CCC of NH and Maine, launched the Great Parks Pursuit and Discover the Power of the Parks program. Completed "Hitches" in Belmont, Rindge, and Epsom...and the list goes on and on and on...And if you find yourself in the White Mountains this Friday come down to the Auto Road at Mount Washington for the big Weeks Act Celebration! A full day of fun and information on the WMNF.

This team will have its official Recognition Ceremony when the 10 month program concludes for 2011 on October 20.

Last note (with the hopes that someone reads these) please give a shout out if you are a former Bear Brooker (staff, member, participant) and let us know if you are still associated with the SCA and/or still working in conservation in some capacity.

We look forward to hearing from you!

This is the continuation of that last post. If I type fast enough and get the photos loaded they may even land in sequence...let's see.

One team was in the White Mountain National Forest working along the Kangamangus (sic?)Highway. If you've never been along that scenic highway I HIGHLY recommend it. Even more so, stop at any of a number of access areas along it and have a spectacular hike. The SCA NH teams did some fencing, clearing, and bank reinforcments.

Team Two was doing some great "grunt work" at St. Gaudens. This is the only National Park in NH. August St.Guadens had an artist community just up the road from Claremont (You can stop by the SCA Charlestown National office while you are in the neighborhood but St. G's has bit more worth seeing ;-) The weeded a long hand laid brick path (reset by last years SCA NH team) did some trail work, and serveral tons of earth.

And Team Three was at Greenfield and Monadnock putting their newly acquired Chainsaw skills to work doing a lot of brushing and clearing. This was also the team, as previously written, that did volunteer days in the Salem Town Forest and at Camp Spaulding. All told they corraled over 70 volunteers in recognition of Americorps week.

The last picture is just a puzzle I presented at the NH Wild Expo. I had kids (of all ages) reconstruct an old carpenters bow saw.

Till the next, till the soil...unless you are part of that movement that doesn't till soil because of the run-off problems. Let's talk permaculture some time...

cheers,
Mike

On Saturday, April 16th, the SCA NH corps had our annual celebration of Earth Day with the city of Manchester. Each year the SCA NH corps uses Earth Day to present the Service Learning Projects that the public school students have done. Over 1000 students from Manchester and Allenstown have been working on projects for their community. These include enhanced recycling programs, pollinator gardens, outdoor pathways, bird habitats, and more.

This year's Earth Day celebration was hosted by the Massabesic Audubon Center and our partners with the 4-H community gardens. Thirty high school students from the SCA Manchester CLC program bussed into Massabesic for the day to lead garen projects to prepare the sight for food production and public education. These gardens produce tons (literally) of food for the local Food Bank.

Despite the cold windy (typical) New England spring day the Audubon had record attendance. It was a great success and just one more step along the way as SCA NH serves the communities and lands of New Hampshire.

(Hey! there was even a 1957 BMW that gets 70+ mpg...now isn't that a "smart" car!)

more photos at www.manchesterearthday.com