Et cetera : NCCC assists YMCA camp

Kyle Swatfager and Hurley Combs removing 500lbs of plant waste

By: Jessica Rivas

AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team Oak 2 was stationed in Minnesota and Wisconsin from October 22 to November 2. They served primarily with The YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities and affiliate camps Camp Ihdhapi, Camp St. Croix and Camp Pepin.

Tasks assigned to the NCCC team mainly consisted of campground maintenance, beautification and deep woods clearing. During the stay of Oak 2 in the various camps, the team learned new skills such as using a wood splitter to cut up one ton of wood for camp St. Croix. The team also received a brief orientation on driving vehicles such as a gator and a toro, which is a small yet heavy duty vehicle used to haul wood around the camp grounds.

The team removed 500 pounds of plant waste, composted the waste in the St. Croix camp garden and organized the parking area for a pumpkin festival, adding 2200 feet of yellow tape to mark a perimeter for vehicles to park. The team also added one ton of mulch to three low challenge course elements. At Camp Pepin, Oak 2 helped level and move four low challenge course elements and found a suitable area for two more elements in the woods. One ton of wood was removed and burned to help clear woods from harmful tree stumps. The team shoveled uneven dirt mounds for the area to be safe for a disc golf tournament.

The service provided by NCCC helps the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities and other sponsoring camps initiative, which is to provide more safe and sustainable camp area for young girls and boys to learn enjoy outdoor recreational activities through canoeing, archery, challenge courses and nature. Oak 2 gained a lot of knowledge and appreciation for the sponsoring organization.