Et cetera : Concluding the Year with Camp: A Look Back on the Past Nine Months with NCCC

  By: Sabrina Hassan and Rachel Evans A team of eight AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members are participating in a seven week project from September 27 through November 8, 2011 at YMCA Metro Detroit Camp Ohiyesa. The team, Maple 7, is assisting in fall programming, while also performing some camp maintenance and upkeep tasks. For the first week of the project, the team received training on how to run all camp facilities such as the camps giant swing, zip line, canoeing, low ropes course, rock wall, archery, and other camp activities. So far the team has helped over 262 children have a pleasant and enjoyable time at Camp Ohiyesa.             

Maple 7 Corps Member Sabrina Hassan from Virginia is eighteen years old and is “Excited to get in that camp experience while also serving a new community.” Sabrina joined AmeriCorps NCCC because she was unsure of what to do after graduating high school.  She loves the idea of traveling around the country doing community service while meeting different people, and gaining a multiple range of life skills.             

This project has allowed Sabrina to get a better feel for working with kids. “I’ve always loved the idea of working with kids, and have always thought that I would love to be a camp counselor. I’ve really enjoyed this project, from interacting with the kids from a day to day basis, to going on a zip line for the first time; it’s taught me that I would love to continue work at a camp after my Corps year is over”.             

As the remainder of their AmeriCorps NCCC term winds down, team Maple 7 is very grateful for their experience with the national service program. Starting in Akron, Ohio performing tax preparation for low-income residents and learning how to start an urban garden dessert; the team moved on to Rochester where they partook in flood recover in Minnesota. The teams experience also includes historical restoration in Hopkinton, Iowa; case management in Saint Louis, Missouri; trail building in Ponsford, Minnesota; bulk distribution and shelter operating in Fairfield, New Jersey; and lastly Fall camp programming in Holly, Michigan.          

“Looking back on these past nine months, I couldn’t think of a crazier experience. Not only have a learned a wide range of hands on skills, but I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process. If anyone out there is 18-24 years old, I would definitely encourage and challenge them to join NCCC. VintI look forward to carrying all that I have learned in NCCC with me this year and beyond,” says Sabrina Hassan.