Et cetera : NCCC Oak 2 members help at Friendship Center in Dodgeville

AmeriCorps NCCC’s Oak 2 is currently in Dodgeville staying at Friendship Center Camp for six weeks helping with the removal of invasive species such as wild parsnip, garlic mustard, box elder tree, Japanese honeysuckle and prickly ash. They are also assisting with a 400 feet nature trail loop, building a two level flower bed, planting native plant species and fixing picnic tables. To help with infrastructure improvements at the Center, NCCC members are painting, installing ceramic floors, removing mold, and sealing walls and ceilings.

Oak 2 is also helping install “little libraries" during their time in Dodgeville. Friendship Center is donating "Little Libraries", which are outdoor give-and-take book boxes placed next to nature settings, with the idea of providing a few books to start, and welcoming any passerby to participate in an exchange. These “little libraries” are being placed in the Dodgeville Department of Natural Resources Central Office and along a nature trail in Verona.

Since early May, Oak 2 has accomplished the following: removed 200lbs. of garlic mustard, cleared one acre of invasive species including Japanese Honeysuckle and box elder trees, shredded brush into mulch to cover a one mile trail loop, cut and split 10 pallets of firewood, removed mold from three decks, cleared a half acre of blackberry brush, planted two bags of native prairie seeds and laid 80 pieces of ceramic tile.

The Friendship Center began in 1970 when a group of volunteers sought a beautiful, natural setting where inner-city children, who were struggling with reading, could have a camping experience while working to improve their language art skills. Friendship Center relies totally on volunteers for maintenance, educational programming, operations and land care. Today, Friendship Center serves as a retreat center for a variety of church, school, family and other community groups.

Besides all the great work Oak 2 is doing with the Friendship Center, NCCC members have also had the chance to work with other organizations in the area such as Folklore Village, where the team helped with refurbishing a tool shed and cleared the formal garden of weeds. The University of Wisconsin- Madison Arboretum, where the team helped clear 10 bags full of invasive plants.

Oak 2 is heading back to Iowa on June 7 after finishing their work in Dodgeville and will start serving with the Science Station in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.