Conservation Corps Training - Better Late than Never

Day One:
FAIL (missed flight).

Day Two:
Success! We arrived in Washington around 8:00pm and were treated to a wonderful Mexican Dinner at Los Pepes by project manager Brian (Thanks Liz!). The team then traveled to Camp Evergreen located in Longview, Washington to join the rest of the Conservation Corps. By this time it was past 10:00pm breaching quiet hours. The team split up and gingerly entered the dark cabins to retreat for the night.

Day Three:
On day three Adam, Adam, and Dave awoke exhausted after a sleepless night filled with terror. Rumors of a Longview gargoyle had spread fast. Demonic noises plagued the cabin in which they slept. Luckily the day was lecture-orientated, consisting of risk management, drive safe-drive smart, field operations standards and other opportunities with the SCA.

Day Four:
On Day four the team participated in behind the wheel training and vehicle maintenance training. This was followed by another wonderful lunch provided by the amazing Raven, the wizard of the backcountry kitchen. After lunch the team partook in CPR training. By the end of the afternoon we were all certified in CPR.

Day Five:
The camp had grown restless as the notorious Longview gargoyle harassed the helpless under the guise of darkness. Earplugs were mass-distributed to help calm the frightened corps members. As trying as the times were the training continued. Day five began wilderness first aid training. This training was done by Aerie Backcountry Medicine. The day began with a lecture on scene and patient assessment. We then covered chest wounds, bleeding and shock. Following lunch we covered spinal trauma, injuries to the extremities and splinting.

Day Six:
Wilderness first aid training continued. Additional patient assessment techniques were discussed. This was followed by wound management, controlling bleeding and managing infection. Corps members were split into pods to practice scenarios in smaller groups. The pods then reformed to cover additional topics such as heat exhaustion, allergies, and asthma. After a lunch break we split up into pods for more scenario practice. By the end of the day each team member was certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Day Seven:
Work Skills! Corps members were split up into groups covering tools and base camp skills. The tools group began by naming and identifying common field tools as well as learning how to use them properly. The base camp skills group learned various techniques to purify water, common knots used, proper stove use, and base camp set up.

Day Eight:
The team participated in a plant scavenger hunt along with the other native plant teams. This was followed by a discussion on plant identification and dichotomous keys. The team then departed for a mock work day in which we removed invasive Himalayan black berry from a roadside ditch. Following dinner, the conservation corps members were treated to a presentation by work skills instructors on opportunities outside the SCA.

Day Nine:
End of training. The team said their goodbyes and departed. The whereabouts of the Longview gargoyle are still unknown. Proceed with great caution if ever in the area.