Home » Groups » SCA NH Corps » CLC Crew Works in the Spirit of the Wilderness Act

CLC Crew Works in the Spirit of the Wilderness Act

Submitted by scommarto on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 15:31

Two weeks of hiking, digging, and planting by the SCA’s Manchester CLC have produced three new tent pads and have rehabilitated damaged areas around the Blue Brook Shelter and Campground in the Wild River Wilderness of the White Mountain National Forest. The Wild River Wilderness is the Nation’s youngest congressionally mandated Wilderness area and six CLC members, with leaders Marni Goodman and Scott Shepard, had the pleasure of beginning the process of mending the first of a series of human impacts upon the area.

Each day the crew headed out from the Wild River Campground and hiked 2.3 miles over muddy and flooded trails, made multiple river crossings, and ascended a steep ridge to the Blue Brook Shelter to complete the various projects at the site.

By the time the crew had completed the three tent pads, an estimated 1,000 cubic feet of mineral soil had been moved by hand and bucket. It came from an unwanted camping area (shown below) across the cascading falls of the Blue Brook, and was replaced by rocks, logs and transplanted native vegetation, all in the hopes of disguising the well used area and allowing it to return to nature.

Beyond the rehab work, the crew established a new trail from the campground down to the base of the falls and various muddy portions of the Blue Brook trail underwent renovation.

This crew worked to restore this newly designated Wilderness area in the spirit of the 1964 Wilderness Act, which states:

“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

A much deserved thanks goes out to all of the crew, and the WMNF rangers Matt Shomburg and Justin Preisendorfer who gave the CLC the opportunity of completing this project.

Groups:

thank you!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/20/2010 - 12:51.

Thanks for the work ya'll did!! I'm researching places to hike/camp with my children (ages 8 and 5). Could you tell me if the new rehab trails would be appropriate for them to hike up to the new spots at Blue Brook Shelter? They hike alot, but I'm just wondering how safe any river crossings might be.

Thanks for any help!
Julie

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The mission of SCA NH is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the communities and land of New Hampshire through conservation service projects that enhance and protect natural areas and to provide environmental education to promote the understanding and stewardship of these natural areas. SCA New Hampshire (SCA NH) is one of SCA's oldest residential corp programs. The Interns are housed in historic cabins at Bear Brook State Park where they share the joys and struggles of rustic life while dedicating a year of their lives to performing direct service. These highly motivated 18-25 year olds enhance and protect the state’s natural areas as well as provide extensive environmental education. Benefits to corps members include a living allowance, health insurance, an AmeriCorps Education Award and the development of their own leadership and team-building skills. The overall experience develops a strong ethic of active citizenship and practical conservation techniques. Projects served by the SCA NH corps touch the lives of tens of thousands of people. Since its incepting SCA NH has been partnered with the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation and Volunteer NH (AmeriCorps). Over the years the partnerships have expanded throughout the state to include the White Mountain National Forest, St. Gaudens Historic National Park, conservation commissions, and more. Corps Members spend much of the winter months providing environmental education and service learning programs to elementary and middle school students in Manchester, NH as well as several community nonprofits. During the summer, the members are engaged in conservation service in the form of trail construction and maintenance, campground rehabilitation and historic preservation as well as further environmental education through the NH Park Interpretive program, Discover the Power of the Parks.

contact the SCA NH corps office at six-zero-three -485-2191

or email: Teresa McNamee

TMcNamee "at" thesca "dot" org