Et cetera : Americorps NCCC helping Benton County Conservation

NCCC Cedar 4 team member Bakari removes drywall for the renovation of Tobin's Cabin.

By Alan Richardson

The AmeriCorps NCCC team Cedar 4 has been living at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa during their current service with the Benton County Conservation Board, which ends on September 27.

Cedar 4 is serving with the Benton County Conservation Board where they are clearing trails that were damaged in the wind storm of 2011. The team also is helping to build a new trail going from the Benton County Nature Center to Rodger's Park. That trail will make a safe path for members of the community to walk through. In just one week the team cleared a little over a mile of trail and accomplished interior demolition of Tobin's Cabin.

Cedar 4 has learned a lot about what it takes to maintain a park. They have also learned about using a lot of different tools like the chainsaw and big vehicles like the front loader. The Nature Center staff has been teaching the team about the local history of Benton County and showing the team what recreational activities they provide to the community.

Cedar 4 has enjoyed serving with the Benton County Conservation Board and having the opportunity to give back to the community that is home to the AmeriCorps NCCC North Central Region.