Et cetera : AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20 Corps Member Spotlight: Jesse Crouch

Jesse Crouch, from Harlem, Georgia is a corps member for Maple 4 in AmeriCorps NCCC Class 20. He arrived in Vinton on February 11 to start his 10-month service working with a team of people between the ages of 18 and 24. Maple 4 is made up of six people from across the country and they will serve together around the Midwest.

When asked why he decided to serve in the NCCC program, Jesse says, “I want to expose myself to greater diversity and help Americans in need.”

Before Jesse became a NCCC service member he was working with the Southwest Conservation Corps.

Maple 4’s third round project is at the Buchanan County Conservation Board, in Hazelton, Iowa

Buchanan County Conservation Board has partnered with Black Hawk County Conservation Board for this project. With Buchanan County Conservation Board, Maple 4 will be staining the entry bridge into Fontana Park and the Nature Center at Fontana Park. In addition, the team will be relocating a Frisbee Golf Course from a location that floods often to a location where visitors can use it more often. The team will also be assisting with planning an educational event in the town of Independence when RAGBRAI (large bike race across Iowa) comes through town. With Black Hawk County Conservation Board, the team will be clearing the Cedar Valley Nature Trail Corridor, which has become overgrown.

Some fun facts about Jesse:

Q: What is your favorite TV show and why? Mad Men. The drama, dialogue, and character development are phenomenal. As well as the aesthetics and production.

Q: What is one place you would really like to visit? South America

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be? The ability to fly

Q: If you could come back as an animal which animal would it be? Monkey

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? Clown

Q: What is the most challenging/exciting thing you’ve ever done? Backing and working on trails in southern Colorado.