Et cetera NCCC’s Cedar 5 has a Homestead on the Prairie

By:  Emma Martz

The term “home away from home,” is gaining a new meaning for the members of the Cedar 5 team. As of May 23, their home is located in the small community of Beatrice, Neb. working with the National Park Service at Homestead National Monument of America. It is here that 160 acres of restored tallgrass prairie can be found, which belonged to the first homesteader, Daniel Freeman. Not only does Homestead Monument have a historical importance relating to the Homestead Act of 1862, but its surrounding prairie is a host to various species of plants, birds, insects and small mammals.

So far, Cedar 5 spends most of their working hours in Homestead’s diverse prairies. Some of their tasks are rebuilding a boundary fence, removing invasive plant species such as the cedar tree and the musk thistle, and a general maintenance of the grounds and woodlands. In addition to environmental work, the team is assisting with the events that Homestead Monument hosts. For the second year in a row, the National Park Service is conducting a Children’s Festival as part of a three day event called Homestead Days. Cedar 5 had the opportunity of organizing a variety of activities for the festival with the guidance of park staff and rangers as well as help out with the overall assembly of the festival.

Not only does Cedar 5 help out at Homestead Monument but also the surrounding community. The team has spent volunteer hours outside of working at the monument to allow them to interact with the members of Beatrice. Many hours were spent with the local theater known as Community Players, where the team spent time being ushers for their seasonal play and cleaning out their basement.