Et cetera : NCCC Makes a Mark on Muncie

By Vanessa Jane Brown & Alexander Kemp

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team, Maple 2, is serving with Red Tail Conservancy and Muncie Delaware Stormwater Management (MDSM) in Muncie, Indiana, in an effort to save Camp Munsee, an educational woodland for the community. The effort entails the removal of hundreds of acres of Asian Bush Honeysuckle, an invasive plant species that threatens to wipe out Indiana’s native plant life.

Maple 2 is also restoring a series of rain gardens around the city of Muncie and planting trees to revitalize Muncie’s forests. Additionally, the team is leading environmental workshops to educate Muncie’s youth. The project will reduce storm water pollution and raise awareness about pollution prevention.

Deforestation and invasive plants have left Muncie prone to flooding, making such efforts especially crucial. “We’re reaching a critical time in Muncie’s future where if we don’t address the issues now with the neglect and invasive species taking over, we could actually lose some great ecosystems here,” said Jason Donati, Stormwater Educator at MDSM.

Donati has fought for environmental conservation for several years and is working closely with the team to organize the best strategy for addressing Muncie’s environmental problems. The team has also had the chance to meet with important members of the community and is feeling optimistic about their endeavors. “Our work in Camp Munsee is a stepping stone for environmental progress,” says Corps member Daniel McCarty. “When we’ve finished it, it will help Muncie for years to come.”