I have had the extreme pleasure of working with AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) teams, AmeriCorps Virginia Service Conservations Corps (VSCC), and Vista through my Virginia State Parks career and I can say it’s been awe inspiring.

AmeriCorps NCCC sawyer 

AmeriCorps Week is March 4 – 11, 2017

I have seen NCCC and VSCC members clean up after hurricanes, build trails, fences, and deal with extreme heat, rain, bugs and cold. Cut up downed trees and plant news ones. I learned terms like "Spike, ISP and 49er” and saw team members so muddy you could not tell their uniforms were gray. 

Working hard and getting things done is just what they do.

When park staff was developing the project lists for the teams to accomplish, I would always say, make sure you have back up projects too because they work as hard and as efficiently as ants! I would be so excited to see AmeriCorps come to the state parks in my area and sad to see them leave. Relationships that were formed will never be forgotten. 

Tickseed at Caledon State Park, planted by an AmeriCorps Team

Because of my own personal, positive experience in working with AmeriCorps, I like to think I helped start a young man on an exciting journey that would eventually lead him into the jungles of Suriname and a life of service with national and international foundations and service organizations. I could not be more proud of him.

So during AmeriCorps Week I would like say thank you to all the many accomplishments and projects that AmeriCorps has done not only in Virginia State Parks but in the communities around the parks and the people they serve like veterans and their families.

The latest NCCC team to serve in my area was in Northern Virginia. The AmeriCorps National Civil Community Corps (NCCC) team, Delta 6 has been working at the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge and Mason Neck State Park from January through March 5, 2017.

AmeriCorps NCCC Delta 6 team at Mason Neck State Park

Though the work at Mason Neck State Park was only five days long, the team was able to clear one acre of land from unwanted brush, restored 1.5 miles of hiking trails, and restored/protected 0.2 miles of coastal shoreline.

AmeriCorps – Virginia Service and Conservation Corps members are also currently hard at work in state parks throughout Virginia.

AmeriCorps Virginia Service and Conservation Corps Programs at Virginia State Parks

1. VSCC Natural Resource Crews
2. VSCC Veterans Crews
3. VSCC Interpretive Trail Project

Click here for more details or contact the Office of Community Engagement and Volunteerism, email here or call 804-887-8932.

VSCC team building a platform over a wet trail at Mason Neck State Park

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is often referred to as "the domestic peace corps,” it’s about service. Service to help individuals and communities.

“In 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) was established to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation. It merged the work and staffs of two predecessor agencies, ACTION and the Commission on National and Community Service.” - NationalService.org

Amazing AmeriCorps Fast Facts

• 1 MILLION - Individuals who have served as AmeriCorps members since 1994.
• 1.4 BILLION -Hours served by AmeriCorps members.
• $3.3 BILLION - Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members.
• $1 BILLION - Resources from private, philanthropic, and other sources leveraged by AmeriCorps programs each year.
• 80,000 -AmeriCorps members this year.
• 2.3 MILLION -Community volunteers managed or mobilized by AmeriCorps members each year.
• 21,600 - Unique sites that AmeriCorps members served last year.

"The best way to find yourself

is to lose yourself in the service of others." -Ghandi

To learn more about AmeriCorps or to apply click here. To learn more about volunteering in a Virginia State Park or the VSCC click here.

While the long term commitment of an AmeriCorps program may not be for you, Virginia State Parks offers National Days of Service;  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Check out your local Virginia State Park to see what Volunteer programs are offered.