SCA NH Corps

I am from Illinois and graduated from Eastern Illinois University. I have my degree in Career and Technical Education with an emphasis in Family and Consumer Sciences. With my love of outdoors and previous educational background, I look forward to the experiences the Manchester High School programs will offer.

Hi, my name is Cody. I am a recent college graduate who, like many other college grads, didn’t know what I wanted to do after school. I had a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology but was interested in sustainability and environmental education. I did some research and found this program with the SCA that would give me a chance to explore my interests, work experience, and a great adventure. Here’s to a great ten months!

I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Botany. I am very interested in all aspects of the natural environment. I hope to have a career in which I will inspire people to live a healthier, happier, and more sustainable life.

I’m a “girly girl” from Gardner, MA who loves the outdoors and has a passion for conservation. I graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation in May 2010. My hope is to become an interpretive park ranger so I can help the public both conserve and enjoy our environment.

I graduated from Tufts University in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, and since have worked as an outdoor education organizer for the youth climate movement. I joined the New Hampshire corps to teach young people about the world and help build a culture of respect for our earth and the resources it provides. I believe that the youth are the best hope for our planet’s future and am excited to share my passion for the outdoors with them.

SCA Website Updates
By Stephanie Dax

Week of January 31 from an EE folk
For those of us here at Bear Brook involved with the environmental education teams this week was our first week of real teaching in Manchester elementary schools and after school programs. It was also the week of the snow storm that crushed the Midwest to New England in snow and ice. Thus we had quite the snow day here in the old woods. Hours of shoveling, plowing, snow fights, and warming of clothes with lesson planning and rearranging thrown in between. Post snow cancellations, I can say from my own experience that teaching in the schools was exhilarating. My team was assigned to two schools and a 4H after school program. Meeting the hundred plus kids and hearing their questions and their stories about their own environmental really got me excited to return this second week. Personally, it is really comforting to be working with kids again and getting to imagine and learn with them. Great first week of snow and schools.

Farm and Forest
A few of us Bear Brookers went to the New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo two weekends ago, 5 February 2011 for those who are reading past this weekend, and I must say we quite enjoyed ourselves. The first booth that we stumbled upon was a group of maple syrup gatherers and tappers who graciously offered us maple milk and syrup samples. Both of which were delicious. Following those treats we traveled from booth to booth collecting information from all directions. Of personal notable interest were the chestnut tree planters and savers who told us of the great nationwide effort to bring back and save the mighty American Chestnut Tree – acf.org. The Heifer Project represented s by presenting information on of their non-profit work with families around the world and their global village project in Worchester, MA –heifer.org—they also handed out some pretty cool little pins. Also of excitement, in the midst of our wandering we found a Bear Brook alum from the first year of SCA New Hampshire’s stint in Bear Brook! After talking to her for sometime we found ourselves eating 4H ice cream and getting magic tips from a young 4H clucker (chicken raiser). All and all it was an educational experience filled with wonderful pamphlets and conversations.

Week of February 7 from an EE folk
Although the week began with a sad start for any of those from Pittsburgh from thereon no complaints. There were no snow days and thus no odd rearrangements of in-school education schedules, the weather was lovely—with days above freezing, valentines day rounded the last bend and Bear Brooks secret cupid brought good feelings, secret notes, tons of new and crazy visitors, and lots of dumpster retrieved candy. The fourth grade education folks moved on to teaching lesson two—descriptive and comparative questions—and the high school leaders hit up a beekeeping meeting and presented at the Boys and Girls Club in Manchester. While those in 4H Gone Wild in the Garden at Bakersville taught their first lesson on what a plant needs to survive with a sweet dice game and some hands on planting. I must say a good week, they only thing that could have made it better would have been a pizza party. Perhaps next week.
Week of February 14 from an EE folk
Here I am once again writing the weekly update for you SCA website readers. February 14, Valentine’s day, Monday, flashback to middle school dances for all of us Bear Brookers. The SCA NH Wellness Team put together a splendid V-Day celebration with candy, photo booths, paper flowers, and a love themed coffee house—which ended in a Brown Eyed Girl sing-a-long and good feeling. Following all the love the fourth grade educators entered into week three of teaching—investigative observation—and returned from school with many exciting stories and tales. One such one is of a student excitedly realizing that “by reusing we cut back on garbage!” Another such one is of a student asking if Pterodactyls are more closely related to flamingoes or peacocks. While the high school team decided on the name Dr. Elsoch, gave several lunch room chats in high school cafeterias, and hosted their first high school event at Bear Brook State Park—a complete triumph of fun. And in the midst of all of that a second Cat themed coffee house emerged with meowing achievements. And that was our week of love and cats.

Contra Dancing – 19 February 2011
What I forgot to add to the February 14 Week was Saturday’s diner day and contra dancing. It seems, coincidentally, that eighty percent of the Bears here went to a diner in Manchester at some point in time on Saturday. A good handful hit up the Red Arrow diner, while a dollop of us went to Shirley D’s. Both get grand reviews. And following all the dinering, many of us Bears also went Contra dancing in Concord—another grand time from all accounts: much swinging and foot stomping involved, the sweatiest any of us have been this winter, and a sing-a-long of Raindrops Are Falling on My Head. I highly recommend taking up the hobby no matter where you live.

The SCA New Hampshire corps has begun 2011 with its usual cadre of icy delights. You can't come to NH in January and not expect to become acquainted with the cold in some form or other ("Live, Freeze, and Die" some say...or did I get that wrong?) Well, this year is no different. Not only have we gotten some phenomenal snow to dig out from, and are in the middle of another winter-wonder-bluster, but our very first service project of the year involved frozen treats.

Let's explain a little. The SCA NH corps is a 10 month Americorps program living and working out of the heart of Bear Brook State Park from January through October. This time of year we nearly bore everyone with all the stories of playing in the snow, getting acquainted with the woodstoves that keep our cabins warm, and shoveling out our cars. On January 7th this new corps was Sworn-In at City Hall in Manchester. We heard opening remarks from the Mayor and Superintendent of Schools; followed up by Manchester's conservation commissioner adding words about the importance of being stewards for our environment and communities; a letter of support was read from Senator Shaheen's office; and our own Dale Penny energized and inspired the new crew with thanks for their dedication and sacrifice. It should be noted too that this week had been book-ended by Dale after Liz Titus-Putnam had come to Bear Brook at the beginning of the week to greet the crew. After these warming speeches the corps came to the front of the hall and were Sworn In. Now how is this related to the frozen theme you might ask? The crew, and Dale, went immediately from the ceremony over to the New Hampshire Food Bank warehouse and did the first of too-many-to-count service projects. In just two hours the team sorted through over 13,600 pounds of frozen meet. That's over 200 .lbs/person/hour. All in a days work for this crew.

Stay tuned for more stories from the snow north as we dig-in and dig-out with the Manchester Community and the great state of New Hampshire.

Imagine the very first time you climbed a mountain, wandered into a forest, or sat by the shores of a pristine lake. Maybe the experience was adventurous, peaceful or awe inspiring. Many New Hampshire residents may have to reach far back to recall these memories, however many visitors to New Hampshire’s State Parks are doing these things for the very first time.

That is where the New Hampshire Conservation Corps steps forward: for the third year the NHCC has teamed up with New Hampshire State Parks and Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) to provide the 2009 Discover the Power of Parks Program.

Here at Bear Brook State Park the New Hampshire Conservation Corps is very fortunate to live in an old camp facility built in the earlier part of the last century.  There is a great big lodge with a kitchen and modern shower and bathhouse.  There’s an office building and many cabins.  In the winter time the AmeriCorps members, literally, bunk-up in larger wood heated cabins.  When the weather warms up a bit everyone can enjoy a little more “elbow room” by spreading out into the smaller rustic cabins.  Unfortunately, these cabins have not had regular upkeep in many years.  This year, with help of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and State Park support, we have been able to start giving these little cabins some much needed TLC.