Et cetera : NCCC Oak 5 Assists in Aullwood Summer Earth Adventures‏

Members of Oak 5 show off their strength with contestants of the 'Aullwood Amazing Race.'

Team leader Ashley probes a creek for stealthy critters with the 'Camouflage Kids.'

By Erin Manion, Oak 5

Oak 5 has been hard at work in Dayton, Ohio with Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm. The team continues to advance on the organization’s central project, which takes form in a new public trail leading visitors from the nature center to the duck pond at the edge of the Aullwood farm. The trail will make for a more scenic and accessible trip from point A to point B for visitors.

As eager as the team was to complete this trailblazing mission, their project sponsors had some other plans in store. The annual Aullwood Summer Earth Adventure classes were in need of assistance, and the Oak 5 corps members were dispersed throughout programs for children ages 2 – 12. The classes incorporated environmental learning that ranged from rocks and fossils to animals and their habitats, as well as a challenging racecourse throughout the Aullwood farm and trails for the older children.

“I’ve enjoyed getting the chance to assist in the Summer Earth Adventures class this past week. The children were so eager to learn new, interesting things about nature,” says Oak 5 member A. Nicole Woods.

Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm provides the Dayton community and beyond with incredible availability to nature and education for all ages. Oak 5 has had some wonderful experiences working within the bounds of Aullwood territory. It’s not only given them an opportunity to work outdoors and improve the appearance and biodiversity of the grounds, but a chance to help run educational courses as well.

Outside of their service project, Oak 5 has had opportunities to explore the community and volunteer their spare time elsewhere. They’ve completed independent service projects as a team with the Hospice of Dayton, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, St. Vincent de Paul and Habitat for Humanity of Dayton. The team looks forward to the completion of their work with Aullwood and following their future success in environmental endeavors.