ST. PAUL – A nine-member NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team, an AmeriCorps program, arrived in St. Paul to prepare Flat Rock River YMCA for incoming campers. From March 5 through April 23, 2010, the NCCC team is assisting the camp with environmental projects and educational programs.
The presence of NCCC in St. Paul and the Flat Rock River YMCA is to help enhance the beauty of the camp through repairing or replacing damaged structures, to create new program areas and activities, and to prepare the facility for the start of outdoor education season. The team is also assisting in teaching Outdoor Education classes to fifth to eight graders.
The NCCC members are responsible for daily duties that include the painting and rehabilitating of sheds, plantings on new dam, vine clearing, building a Petting Zoo area, constructing Hitching posts, building nature trail, preparing camp area, brush clearing, landscaping, and teaching environmental education.
NCCC member Emily Guyette from Fresno, Calif. is "excited to be a part of making Flat Rock a cleaner and safer facility for future campers to grow and learn." The NCCC team is dedicated to working towards the camp’s mission of improving and preparing the grounds for the upcoming season.
The NCCC team previously worked with Habitat for Humanity in the final construction phase of six homes in Des Moines, Iowa. Most recently, the team worked with lowernine.org and community volunteers on rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward community of New Orleans after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
AmeriCorps NCCC, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, provides opportunities to members, who work to improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, help with disaster relief and assist in other unmet human needs. NCCC members must be18-24 and complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. For information about applying to AmeriCorps NCCC, call 1-800-942-2677 or visit the Web site at www.americorps.gov/nccc.
