Et cetera : Oak One versus Honeysuckle in Munsee Woods

By: Kaylea Bridwell and Josh Hernandez

The AmeriCorps NCCC team Oak One is working with Muncie Delaware Stormwater Management from July 18 to September 9. Oak One is assisting this organization with a variety of projects around the community with a focus on improving the environment.

While staying in a cabin in Munsee Woods, the team is helping restore and conserve the former girl scouts camp. Camp Munsee, owned by Red-Tail Conservancy, hasn't been used in the past four years and Oak One is going to do their best to restore the area so it can be used again. The team is spending a majority of their time removing honeysuckle in many areas of the camp and throughout Muncie. In addition, NCCC members are building new trails and clearing old ones as well as maintaining local rain gardens throughout the community. Also, for a week during their stay the NCCC members are camp counselors for a day camp leading and educating 1st to 8th graders.

Muncie Delaware Stormwater Management provides education about the quality of storm water, pollution prevention and erosion control by implementing programs and projects in the community. Oak One is the third AmeriCorps NCCC team to work with this organization. NCCC member Jaymielen Scott thinks "It's really cool to work with someone who has been in AmeriCorps NCCC and understands what it means to be in our steel-toed boots. We are very much looking forward to our time spent here in Muncie."