Clarkco State Park was thrilled to have students with AmeriCorps working with them last week.
The park wanted to make some improvements in the camping area. Over the years, erosion has worn down the pads that the campers use, causing steep drop-offs that many visitors did not like. In order to help with the very large task, the park manager, Tony Fleming, sent in an application for AmeriCorps to come help.
With the help of AmeriCorps, multiple campsites were able to be secured and leveled so they are now safer for visitors.
“We’re building these retaining walls and then filling them in so that there is a nice level surface and kind of reduces the safety hazard,” explained Julia Bino with AmeriCorps.
The group has already traveled to states all over the nation to help in various state parks. Tony was very appreciative that the group of young people was able to help fix the camping pads.
“There is a lot of labor intense work here,” stated Tony. “They’ve been picking up these cross ties and setting them down for us. We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Although the crew spent the entire last week helping Clarkco, they have also been a great asset to another valuable nonprofit in the area: Creature Comforts.
Along with doing the work they are sent out to do, AmeriCorps requires 80 hours of independent service. In order to help meet the independent service requirement, the group came a few days early and helped Creature Comforts Animal Shelter for two days.
“We were honored to have the AmeriCorps students help with the animal shelter for a second time,” stated Jennifer Bozeman, president. “With us transitioning to the new shelter building in the next few weeks, the students certainly took a lot of the heavy load off our shoulders of moving items and cleaning out both the old and new locations. We are truly thankful for their help.”
To learn more about the AmeriCorps program, visit https://americorps.gov/.
