Video: Final Reflection

The Certain Things in Life

When I came to AmeriCorps NCCC I was unsure as to what I wanted to do with my life. Now, with a mere week left in AmreriCorps I am still plagued with this same uncertainty. My mind is constantly buzzing with the same questions – What do I want to go to grad school for? Where do I want to go? Do I even want to go to grad school?

However, I accept this uncertainty because the last ten months in AmeriCorps has made me certain of other things. I am certain that there is nothing better I could have done with this last year of my life. Our last week in New Orleans we got to see Wanda and her family living in the house we framed and wrenched back together during 2nd round. Never before have I really felt like I have made a difference in someone’s life.

I am certain that there exists in my peers the intelligence and motivation to get through the turbulence our generation will face. My fellow Corps members have given me confidence in our generation, that the economic and environmental battles ahead will be no match for this force of change that I have seen all around me. I am certain that service to others is the most important thing in life. This year has shown me an America full of diversity and unnecessary hardship, everywhere around us there are people in need, and every single individual has the power to help. I am certain that everyday of my life from here on will be enriched by this AmeriCorps experience, by my new knowledge ranging from teamwork to dry walling, by my newly found confidence, and by my new family members – the Earth Oneders.

Even though I don’t walk away from AmeriCorps knowing exactly where my next step will land, I know that as I stand right now I stand more strongly, confidently and happily than I have ever stood before. With this sturdy footing I know that my next step can be wherever I want it to be.

~ Katie

One Experience Worth a Thousand Words

We're back in Denver now. It's been cool, crisp and sunny. The mountains are beautiful. I missed fall. It never really felt like autumn in Louisiana. It was always too warm. But here the leaves are off the trees, there's cider and pumpkin pie in the grocerie store and the weather is perfect! We went hiking up into the foothills of the Rockies yesterday. It was gorgous.

As great as it is to be back I definately miss St. Bernard. People keep asking me how my last round was. I don't know how it sum it up. We did so much awesome stuff and met so many great people I can't begin to explain. I tell them about how rewarding the work was and how fun the people are. I tell them about some of the awesome things we did and how it was great to be part of such a loving, caring, hardworking community. I tell them about my homeowner, Harrold Wheat and about Taco Tuesdays and Camp Hope. But often I feel like words don't quite do it. Hearing about Taco Tuesdays isn't the same as being there. Seeing pictures of a finished house isn't the same as finishing a house. So in the end I recomend that everyone experiences the joy of volunteering and the closeness of St. Bernard.

The Full Circle

Here at The St. Bernard Project everyday is exciting. Everyday I have no idea who will be showing up to volunteer at the house I am supervising. On Monday it was a group from Brooklyn, Tuesday it was a group of genetic researchers from Tulane University, on Wednesday it was a senior class from a private girls high school near by, on Thursday it was a group from Boston, and Friday it was a bus full of Spanish speakers from all over Central America. I did take a lot of Spanish in high school, but unfortunately there was not a chapter on "the construction site", I would have done much better if we had been in a grocery store. With the help of an interpreter I eventually found out that these people I was working with were hand picked to be awarded this three week long trip across the US that they were on. These people helping me drywall a pantry were congresswomen, mayors and founders of non-profits in their countries.

This Monday I find myself working with a couple from California that is celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, and I am struggling to keep up with them! Never before have I found myself around such a variety of extraordinary, inspiring people. I feel like I am learning so much from each group that comes in, and I am so honored to be a part of their New Orleans experience.

Two years ago I was a college volunteer gutting a house in New Orleans under the supervision of an AmeriCorps NCCC corps member. It was that experience that made me decide to join AmeriCorps. Now, I am the one in the A leading volunteers, I feel like this story has gone full circle for me. That week trip out here two years ago was life changing for me, and now I get to do my best to send these volunteers home with a similar experience.


~Katie

Halloween!

The team is currently getting ready to go out together for Halloween. Kate is dressing as a yellow footed rock walby, Stacy is going as a dinosaur, Katie as Zorro, Sam as Indiana Jones, Paige as a princess, Andy as an old man, Mallory as a zebra, and I am going as a tomb raider.

Camp Hope is a buzz with everyone getting dressed. Our dinner crew here dressed up for dinner and got a few laughs. This is our last weekend out here in New Orleans because we leave on Thursday. As the time comes to an end we are becoming a little more sentimental about spending time together. I can’t wait to spend this night out with my team and make the more memories.

~ Amanda

Done with Drywall!

Last week I finished dry walling my house! Hooray! My volunteers finished in one week which is pretty stellar.

This week I’ve been working with Amanda and Katie mudding their houses. I am becoming an excellent mudder.

I’m really excited about going back to Denver to see everyone again and to say goodbye. We'll be graduating from the program on November 19. I’ve loved my AmeriCorps experience but I’m ready to go home and spend time with my family.
~Maria B.

Video: October 25th

Video: Katie's House

Video: Sam's House

Warehouse Assistant Manger

The St. Bernard Project has been a really great experience so far and the whole team has been enjoying it. My role with this project is the Warehouse Assistant Manger position. I keep the warehouse looking clean and organized so I know where everything goes. I also stock the shelves when new supplies comes in, help volunteers along with site supervisors find the tools they are looking for, and put kits together that go out to the different houses. My position helps the workers get the supplies they need to get a house done, sending a message to the homeowners that the organization cares. I occasionally help answer phones or help with random projects such as spray painting hammers pink for women’s build. There are days when I am all caught up with my work in the warehouse when I help the runners deliver the supplies or go to a work site and learn how to put up sheet rock. My job can a little stressful and hectic sometimes, since I am busy running around trying to get so many tasks done at once. Overall, I really like my role with this project for I have learned a lot, including getting to see to see the business side of a non-profit organization, which is really neat. I can not wait to see what is ahead for the last two and a half weeks that we are here; I know its going to be fun!

Now for Earth One team news, for the last two and half weeks of our fourth round project we are getting a new teammate from Water One, which is another team from the Denver campus. Earth one excitedly welcomes Andy to the team, so “Welcome to Earth One Andy!” So stay tuned to see how the last two and half weeks ago with another member.

~ Paige

The Teacher Becomes the Student

As my teammates have mentioned in previous entries, we are reaching the end of our service in AmeriCorps. I can't even begin to express the emotions that I am facing regarding this wrap up. We are currently about three weeks into our fourth (and final) project, the St. Bernard Project...and I am hooked. I can't seem to get enough of working with volunteers and contributing to the rebuilding of homes here in Louisiana.

This past week is an excellent example of why I am so continuously excited about this project: Every year, the St. Bernard Project organizes an event called Women's Rebuild. Women (and sometimes men!) from all over the United States visit the St. Bernard Parish and volunteer with the St. Bernard Project for however long they'd like to stay. I think it's safe to say that I received some of the strongest and most beautiful women out of the group as my volunteers for the week. My job, as a site supervisor, was to train them in all three stages of drywall mudding for a house I have been working on these past couple of weeks. I am pretty certain that I ended up learning more from them than they did from me.

What they taught me was the fact that compassion and love is still very much alive in this world. They came into this house and immediately treated it as their own. They surrounded me with their bright personalities and eagerness to work as hard as they could every day. Sadly, today was my last day of working with these amazing women. But, because of them, I will walk into that house with the compassion they showed me, and I will give more of myself in making this house into a wonderful home... a home that belongs to a young and grateful family.

The contributions that these volunteers have given to this project have not only given hope to the residents of the St. Bernard Parish, but also to me... a twenty-four year old woman who will never forget the strength and care that was encountered during her past week of work. I hope they read this entry. I hope they know how wonderful of a role they have played in my life. I can't thank them enough.

~Mallory

The Week at a Glance

Our days with AmeriCorps are almost over! It's about that time that nobody can call home anymore without parents asking "So when are you gonna get a real job?" Well, most nights we have got teammates browsing colleges, filling out job applications, and studying for the GREs. I'm sure that in our own ways of measuring success, we'll all be extremely successful after AmeriCorps.

We are all just loving St. Bernard Project! Most of us are supervising volunteers and it's really exciting to be experienced enough in construction to lead others. I met the woman whose house I'm building today and she brought Gatorade for all my volunteers. She's such a nice person that I feel extra inspired to get her house done.

The Church of the Brethren invited us over for tacos on Tuesday and extended the invitation to every Tuesday we're in town. The culture and atmosphere there was so welcoming and relaxing - we had a great time.

Kate, Katie, and I run on "Bayou Rd." We're always guaranteed plenty of wildlife - snakes, armadillos, egrets and turtles. Dogs are also plentiful around here. Katie also claims to see all kinds of nutria just everywhere, but I'm starting to doubt her.

Kate, Katie, Amanda and Maria went on a swamp tour Sunday. They fed alligators marshmallows and said it was a lot of fun.

You might not believe it but it's starting to cool down a little in Louisiana.

~Stacy

Round Four Begins

Fourth Round. I continue to ask myself where the time has gone…. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were in the mountains of Tennessee building trails or hammering away at rotted wood in the upper Ninth Ward? First, second, third, and fourth round… that’s what this year has become; defined into quarters, breaks, and natural disasters. In just one month, we’ve had a week long break, witnessed two major hurricanes, and started our last project. Reflecting back on all these experiences has made me realize that in just two short months, we’ll all be saying our goodbyes to people who have become so close to be considered family, who have shared and witnessed both good and bad times together, and who have been there every waking and sleeping moment. It’s incredible.

So what is Earth One doing for fourth round anyway? We are working with St. Bernard Project in St. Bernard, Louisiana, about 30 minutes away from downtown. We are living at Camp Hope, volunteer housing in what was previously a middle school. With St. Bernard Project, we are able to serve as site supervisors, electricians, starters, and runners. For the first time, we are working alongside another AmeriCorps NCCC team, Raven 2 from the Perry Point, Maryland, campus. I am working as a runner, which is basically the person who delivers materials and tools to the worksites, makes frequent trips to Home Depot, and gets to learn the streets in St. Bernard parish really well. As Sam mentioned in the last post, St. Bernard Project was started by two ambitious individuals, Zack and Liz. From just an idea to help families rebuild their homes, they built an organization that has rebuilt at least 70 homes in St. Bernard Parish in this past year alone. With help from over 3,500 volunteers from all over the country, families are able to move back into their flood damaged homes, finally, after over three years of living in FEMA trailers, with other family members, or even in different states.

As I was driving through these neighborhoods today, I was disturbed at the number of homes still in major disrepair. Our efforts during the next six weeks will surely help some families be closer to moving back into their homes; I just wish progress was faster and that every family could have the lives they had pre-Katrina. Sadly, as I look around as the dilapidated store fronts, piles of rubble, and abandoned homes, I’m not sure that will ever happen. Thankfully, there are individuals from all over the country who continue to volunteer to help the rebuilding efforts. Thankfully, my team and I are part of those efforts.

-Maria C.

St. Bernard Project

We had our orientation today. We saw some of the houses we'll be working on, we met the people that we'll be working with and we learned the story behind the St. Bernard Project. We also met one of the homeowners. It's pretty amazing. The people here are full of love and hope. They work hard and they have done amazing things.

St. Bernard Project was started by a couple from Boston, Zach and Liz. They first came to Louisiana about 6 months after the storm. They thought they would help rebuild. They thought that they would put up new walls, pound nails or cut wood. But the city wasn't even cleaned up yet. There was still half a foot of mud in most houses and trash in the streets.

When they went back home they decided to continue to help. They set up a tool lending program. It quickly grew into much more. St Bernard Project now gets thousands of volunteers every year and they have completed more than 140 homes.

But 3 years later there is still a lot of work to do. It's humbling and inspiring. I'm excited to start.
~Sam

Throwing Sand Bags at Ike

Friday morning we were all expecting a pretty quiet day. We were all sitting around watching a movie when all of a sudden one of the other volunteers here at Camp Hope flew into the room and asked us who wanted to throw sand bags. We were like "Why? What's going on?" He told us the levees were getting over topped by the storm surge from Hurricane Ike and they needed help. We had 5 minutes to get ready and get going.

When we got there we drove out to where the water was spilling over. It was windy and muddy and for a while we helped throw sand bags on the levees. But they needed more help further back with palletizing sand bags. So we went and helped unload huge trucks full of sand bags and stack them on pallets. It was tough work. The sand bags were heavy and when we were working the pace was grueling. In the afternoon we helped fill the bags with sand. By the end of the day we were sweaty, sore, and filthy but for a while it felt like we were saving the world. We were on the front line doing battle with mother nature.

Shuffle Team Earth 2 - Iowa Disaster Response

My shuffle team was Earth 2 - even though this project ended a few weeks ago, I wanted to share a little about my experiences. During my shuffle round I was sent on disaster to the town of Oakville, Iowa. Oakville is a little town that is known to make some of the best hog feed in the country. It was built on a flood plain right off of the Iowa River. The levee broke due to the increase of water in early July, causing the whole entire town to be flooded with at least four feet of water. The town literally had a channel of water flowing through it. When you first drive to the town you can see how the river broke through the town because of the displaced homes and the houses split in two. The community of Oakville is very small and is made up of families that have lived there for generations. Because Oakville is on a flood plain no one had insurance for the disaster. Volunteers from all over came and helped get the town ready to rebuild. Our team arrived in late July and we stayed until the middle of August. The mission was to muck and gut as many houses as possible so the town could start getting ready to rebuild the following spring.

The disaster was really tough. When they ask you in the NCCC interview if you can be flexible and work in strenuous conditions, they are talking about disasters like this. The one I experienced was very intense work. We took apart houses. To take apart a house it takes a lot of work and problem solving skills. To gut a house is not as easy as you think. We had to pick up things that were destroyed by the flood. Sometimes we had no idea what we were picking up because they were so unrecognizable. Rule number one in gutting a house is never open the refrigerator. If you do, expect to smell the worst thing ever. One of my teammates was curious and did not heed this advice so he opened two of them and each time resulted in a very very very bad smell. One time we called in some help to lift them out of a basement and some Amish men came and helped us. They worked so hard it made us look bad. They did everything bare handed without masks and boots. They tore off the door, took all the spoiled food out, and then tossed the freezer on the pile in a matter of minutes. After that we all felt a little flustered but we were so grateful that they were there. The most disgusting aspect of the disaster was the basement. The basement was filled with frogs, crawfish, water bugs and the biggest salamanders you have ever seen. On top of deconstruction we also saved tons of wildlife in the basement in between shoveling all the slop. The basements smelled bad; it was the hardest work and it kept on filling with water. But it was by far some of the most important work we did. When we were cleaning out basements we had to wear the TYVEK suit with booties and a hood.

The hours were long, the work sometimes was impossible, but it is some of the most rewarding work you can do. The people in the town were so nice to us and touched all our hearts. One such family was Lyn and Teresa, a nice couple who had their house destroyed. They were so nice and kept on finding us in the town to make sure we were all right. My teammate Noel and I took apart their bathroom and they asked us to keep a huge mirror, the toilet, sink, and the tub. It was a lot of extra work to keep these pieces intact but worth the price because it made them so happy that something could be salvaged. It is really hard to explain the atmosphere of a disaster because it's such a physical and emotional experience, but all you can do is give your all. The two teams that were on disaster did an amazing job. We worked really hard, had a great attitude, and all were always willing to help each other get things done. We left everything on the table and let the community touch our lives.

~Kate

The Week of Waiting

It's been an interesting week. We all got back from our week of vacation on Monday rested and eager to get back to work. Unfortunately, hurricanes have a way of messing up plans. Hurricane Gustav was hitting Louisiana the day I got back to Denver. We were all here holding our breath hopping that it wouldn't be another Katrina. Thankfully New Orleans was mostly spared. Still we couldn't go back right away. There was still no water or electricity. Our departure was delayed for a day. Then it was delayed again another two days. Today we heard that we wouldn't be leaving until Monday. Then just, an hour ago, I found out we're packing up and hitting the road tomorrow. It's tough not knowing what's going on. We're still not sure what we are going to be doing once we get there. With two more storms on the way things are even more unpredictable. Sometimes that's just how it is in AmeriCorps. You have to be flexable.

Despite the delays and the uncertainty we've been keeping busy. Yesterday we worked at The Food Bank of the Rockies packaging meals for families and senior citizens. Today we helped set up for the 21st annual Colorodo AIDS walk and 5k run. It was fun. We helped set up the stage. I got to live my dreams of being a roadie and play with 400 lb. speakers.


I've got to go pack and prepare. Lots to do!


~Sam

The U.S. Air Force Academy

It was a pretty typical transition week. We had a debrief and brief. We had a tool check in and room inspections. Friday however was exciting. Instead of our usual transition week activities we went to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. We woke up at the crack of dawn and drove up into the foothills of the rockies. It's a beautiful sprawling campus dotted with pine trees. We spent the morning doing the confidence course. It's basicly a big wooden obsacle course. There were walls to climb over, logs to balance on and ropes to swing on. It was really fun. Like a jungle gym for grown ups. :)

In the afternoon we did the teamwork training course. It was a series of puzzles that you had to solve together. One involved building a bridge to get a barrel across a river. Another had us climbing over two 5ft fences without touching them. It was neat becuase they weren't just imaginary puzzles on paper they actually had fences and barrels that we physically interacted with to solve the problems.

By the end of the day we were worn out but we were stronger physically, mentally and together as a team.

~Sam

Shuffle Round - Earth 3

Third round, which we just finished, was shuffle round. This means we went on spike with a new team and a new team leader. Amanda, Stacy, Maria and I were shuffled to Earth 3. It was really fun, so I wanted to share a little about our experiences.

We had a great project. We worked with Habitat for Humanity in Lafayette, LA. Right away they had us doing construction. We spent the first few weeks putting up insulation and drywall. Insulating a house is not very fun. It's itchy and harmful if you breathe it, so we had to wear dust masks, but it makes the house more energy efficient. Dry walling was better. It took us a while to figure out how to do it but once we did I really enjoyed it. We also installed flooring, cabinets, doors and trim.

Probably the best part was the people. The area where we lived is known as the most "cajun" place in the country. People were so friendly and they were constantly cooking us food. Shrimp etouffee, gumbo, crab, jambalaya. It was delicious. One of the future homeowners would often come and work with us and whenever she did she brought a gigantic watermelon. We danced to Louisiana zydeco music and we heard great cajun jokes. The people, despite all their hardships, really manage to enjoy life to the fullest.

-Sam

Back to Denver

On Thursday morning the team left our lowernine.org house to head back to Denver. We stayed in Terrell, TX our first night and ate dinner at Applebees. It was great. We left the following morning at 8am for Salina, Kansas. Tonight we’re staying at a Days Inn. For dinner tonight we were going to treat ourselves to Red Lobster, because we thought we had enough money with our AmeriCorps budget (we saved money making our own lunches on the cheap). But, they seated us, we looked at the menu, and saw that this restaurant was not for our AmeriCorps budget. So we left and went to Chili’s. It was great! Tomorrow we will be in Denver in the afternoon.

Katie snags lunch out of the back of the van.

I’m excited to get back to Denver, but I will miss this project. This round went well. I worked at Willie’s house for the whole round. I was a site supervisor of volunteers from New York City and for Summer of Service AmeriCorps members. We built a shed and worked on the inside of the house to re-frame and re-floor the rotten wood from the storm. We were able to finish the framing before I left for Denver. Overall, the spike was good. I got to meet some great volunteers at lowernine.org who I hung out with the entire time.

-Rob

Returning and Reflections

We are currently preparing to depart from New Orleans and head back to Denver. The shuffle round is over and we all are going to return to our original teams. I enjoyed working with this wonderful group of people. As we pack our things and clean our places we get to reflect on what we have done here and the people we have met. Though our team’s impact is only a small part of the overall effort toward recovery, I think what mattered most was that we showed up and joined the volunteers who let those of the lower nine know that there are still people willing to work for the betterment of their neighborhood.

The spirit of Lowernine.org is one of caring and camaraderie. There is no way to escape the smiles and enthusiasm of people here. It is sad that we only had four weeks and some times even less, depending on how long the volunteers stayed, to get to know some of the people here.

One of the more meaningful things that I got to do was work with the children during the summer camp. They were pure in their motivations and even when they were being bad it was more about getting attention. I had fun drawing similarities in how children would interact and fight with each other and how the major societies and global communities interact; petty squabbles, silly needs, not wanting to clean up after themselves, and always wanting payback.

Our last Monday at lowernine.org.

I was also able to spend time working with my hands in the construction efforts, the process of repairing is tedious but working with Darren was something else. I know we already did a post on him but some things we left out was that his pace is at champion speed, and he knows how to do everything. He never got impatient or angry either. It was like there was no individual task; it even felt like the overall objective was overlooked, all there was was work, the steady persistent output of energy. This to me is the height of honor. It reflects in the lightness of heart during the off hours when he is a true clown.

As I move on to the next project and then forward with my life, I will take from this experience the nature of service, the meaning of caring, and I will pursue personal purification so that I can better serve in the future.

~Alex (Earth Two)

Introducing Darren

So we're just getting through our third week of work with lowernine and the team is split up between worksites. About 3-4 of us work with kids at a summer camp and the rest of us are at various houses fixing floors, replacing studs and whatnot. One of the projects that I've really enjoyed was building a shed. We finished one the first week, and the second week we started a brand new one.

And with working on these sheds comes the joy of working with Darren, a long-term volunteer, a kind-of site supvisor and life-long resident of the lower ninth ward. He has his own way of doing things (and talking) and it took some getting used to but overall he's a great guy. He keeps us stocked with water and Capri Suns for long days on the roof and he's always there if you need someone to teach you a new skill, or even if you don't... Overall, Darren is a cool dude, a great cook, and he knows what he is doing. He is really helping us to get things done. The round is going great and I'm looking forward to finishing our projects.

A short break from roofing. Darren's on the far right, teasing us to get back to work.

~RG

The Weekend Getaway

Before I joined AmeriCorps NCCC, I never would have described two long days of caulking, painting and drywalling in 90 degree weather as the perfect weekend. But last weekend's visit to Cameron Parish, Louisiana proved that there is nothing I would have enjoyed more. I got the chance to see my friends from Earth 3 and visit some of the amazing people we met during our second round project.

Last round, my team (Earth 3) worked in southwestern Louisiana helping residents recover from Hurricane Rita. One of our project sites was framing and siding on a new home being built by a very nice couple, Mo and Mary. Every day Mo would work with us at the job site, while Mary (against our strong, but ultimately insincere protests) cooked us delicious Cajun cuisine. Over the weeks, our team became very close to Mary and Mo. We were all heartbroken when, just a few weeks after our project ended, we heard the news that Mo had passed away. Despite our sadness, we were immediately determined to do whatever we could to bring Mo's house closer to completion for his family.

Three of us from Earth 3, along with Katie and a friend from a Perry Point team, rented a car and headed out to Lafayette. From there we drove to Cameron and stayed with Miss Julie, our sponsor from Round 2. Early the next morning, we arrived at Mo and Mary's and went to work sealing the house and caulking dents and holes in the siding for its first coat of paint. Miss Mary made us a delicious Louisiana meal for lunch and that evening, Mo's son took us on the family's boat to the spot where Mo was laid to rest.
Every one of us knew how important the house had been to Mo, how his strongest desire was to build a new home for his family. I saw in Miss Mary's eyes just how grateful the family was for our help, and for the connection our team has formed with them. It was incredibly touching to be brought so close to people who, just a few months ago, I had never even met. And on the next day seeing the house painted a beautiful sky blue, the very shade that Mo himself had picked out, impacted me and every person there very deeply. We all smiled when we thought about Mo, who, as one of his friends joked, was probably laughing, looking down on us from a nice, comfy cloud and watching us do all of the work.

From left to right: Mo's friend John, Kayla, Ashley (E3), Brandy (TL E3),
Greg (E3), Miss Mary, Kate (Perry Point), MB, Keegan, Caitlin (E3). Some of the
team had taken showers, changed, and returned for a delicious dinner.

The next morning, after our return to Lafayette, we had the chance to work half of a day on Earth 3's project, hanging drywall in a Habitat for Humanity house. We even had the chance to hang out with four of the original Oneders (Stacy, Amanda, Maria, and Sam). As we drove back to New Orleans after a tiring weekend, all of us were all happy for our progress, for seeing our friends, and for the simple smile of Miss Mary's that said so much.

~ Keegan

New Orleans, Take 2

Our second spike in New Orleans has proven to be a totally unique experience. I have been having a great time getting to know the new members of the team. I have found myself going out more than ever before - Café du Monde, exploring the French Quarter, and going to the movies. Our quick team bonding is a positive side effect of our cramped housing, as everyone on our team takes any opportunity to get out of the house for a while.

I have been going out to the levee almost every day, taking in the beautiful view of downtown from across the Mississippi, as the tug boats pushing the huge barges slowly go by in the foreground. Unfortunately this view has been changed dramatically since 419,000 gallons of oil were spilt into the river last week. Now, the banks are black, and instead of seeing beautiful white herons on the shore and fish jumping out of the water all I see are workers in hazmat suits trying to clean up this gigantic mess.

The work that I have been doing this round is also completely different from last round in New Orleans. A number of us have been working in a summer camp in the lower 9th ward for the past few weeks. We are working with 15 to 25 4-9 year olds. I have never worked with kids before and I could not believe how quickly I became attached to them. At times they have been really hard to handle, and it has definitely been the most exhausting work that I have done yet in AmeriCorps, but we have all been thoroughly enjoying it.

I love how easy it can be to please a little kid, twirl them around a few times, let them jump on your back, let them play with your hair, or eat their play-doh sandwich. It isn’t always that easy though; we find ourselves retreating to our “safe zone” of the kitchen where the kids aren’t allowed. I may or may not have found myself in there sitting in the corner hiding… just kidding, not that the thought didn’t cross my mind! :)


In the photo: I'm slicing watermelon for snack, while Kayla recuperates from playtime.

~ Katie

Summer Camp in the Lower 9th

Ever since I was a child, I was constantly overwhelmed with anxiety over being around children who were much younger than me. This anxiety has only grown with me as I've gotten older. Because of this, I have done the best I can to deliberately avoid interaction with young children as much as possible, and I've done a pretty good job at doing so...that is until nearly three weeks ago.

My AmeriCorps shuffle team (which is full of phenomenal personalities) and I have been living in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, working with the organization called lowernine.org. Initially, our job description was to help re-construct houses which is something not unfamiliar to quite a few of us. But another job that lowernine.org recently took on was to run a summer camp for some of the children living in this area. One of the several volunteers asked to be a consistent counselor for this camp was...me? My natural first reaction was, "Oh man, I wish I could help you out, but I'm going to decline and continue my days working construction... Thanks anyways!" My guilty conscience and yearn for overcoming my fear of children fortunately took over my selfish mentality and I quickly, albeit reluctantly, accepted the role of a 'summer camp counselor'. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Within my first day at the camp, my fear of these little tykes almost immediately diminished, and I found myself interacting with them the way my mother interacted with me when I was their age. In fact, when speaking to some of these children, I would have to stop myself and look behind me to see if my mother was right there; I found this to be a wonderful quality that I am happy to have discovered about myself. These children were some of the brightest and most beautiful children that I've ever encountered and I feel so grateful to have been given the chance to work with them and play a part in their lives... and they have played more of a part in my life than they will ever know.

The kids helped us prepare a present for our sponsors at lowernine.

This summer camp was created to help these children have a memorable summer and to learn how to establish healthy relationships with one another. I feel that this summer camp was also created for me, to enable a warm perspective of the beauty and brilliance in children that I was too blind to see before. I am so incredibly thankful for this experience.

~ Mallory

Video: Lowernine.org

Third Round Spike Travel

Spike travel was pretty chill. We had a three-day trek out to New Orleans that took us through New Mexico and Texas. The first two hours were kind of rough, what with having to say good-bye to my Earth Three teammates, but once I got out of the ATD (assistant to the driver) seat and realized I was going to have an entire bench in the van to myself, I got over it a little bit. We spent the night in Amarillo, and then woke up bright and early the next morning to make our way to Tyler, TX.

The lovely thing about Tyler is that if you didn’t see any AmeriCorps teams the first night of spike travel, you’ll run into at least eight when you get to the hotel there. Immediately following our arrival, the pool was swarming with Corps Members, and there was a trip to the local drive-in movie theater being planned (we went and saw WALL-E. It rocked.).

We pulled up to our housing at about 5pm Central time on July 10th. It’s a house in the lower ninth ward, within walking distance of all of our project sites. I’m stoked about this project and I can’t wait to give updates on how it’s going.

The team at a historical marker in Pueblo, Colorado

-Kayla D.

Video: Is This Thing On?

Kayla and I are new to the blog... and the camera

-Keegan

Shuffle Round

Welcome to Shuffle round, when all the teams get switched around just to spice things up a bit. There are people who are really nervous about shuffle round (who are these people on my team now?!) and people who are really excited about it (more good friends to make!). I, for one, am a little of both. Although it is the shortest round, third round will present new team dynamics and more interesting challenges as a team leader (will this team get along as well as the original team?). The Earth Oneders will now consist of six new members and three original members. The other original members are on projects in Illinois, Missouri, and western Louisiana. Now that we've finished with transition and summer break, the new team will be leaving for.... drum roll please... New Orleans! We will be working with lowernine.org, an organization that helps families rebuild their hurricane-ravaged homes. Those of us who were just in New Orleans are excited to return and those of us who haven't been there yet are really excited to be going there. We have already been warned of the scorching summer heat down there, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll survive another round on the gulf. Now the shuffle team has been selected, and we're ready to head down to the Gulf!


Maria C.

Our Last Week in the Big Easy

Hectic.... just the word to describe our last couple days in New Orleans. The team is actually really sad to be leaving already; New Orleans has definitely left a mark in all our hearts -- from the generous people we've met to the street festivals downtown, there is nothing we won't miss about the Big Easy. This week we visited the New Orleans aquarium (free for AmeriCorps members!) and did some last minute shopping downtown. We also ate a fabulous authentic New Orleans meal at our sponsor's home which included jambalaya, seafood bisque, and an assortment of other delicious treats. It's always sad to say goodbye to people who are making a difference in their own community, but also inspiring to be able to work beside them even for just a little while.

During our last days on the project site we finally finished insulating the home. Insulating a home is very challenging. We all wore our coveralls, along with all the necessary PPE (personal protective equipment), such as safety glasses and particle masks. We were all extremely uncomfortable wearing so much in weather so hot, so we were all glad to have finished the house in a timely manner. The next step after insulating is putting up dry wall. Our sponsor was able to secure enough funding to hire professionals to do the job, which will save time in bringing the home to completion.

After we said our goodbyes to our sponsors, the team hit the road and traveled back to Denver, stopping in Tyler, Texas and Amarillo, Texas. We traveled with another AmeriCorps team, eating lunch together and throwing the frisbee at a gas station in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. When we arrived back in Denver, it was really nice to see faces we hadn't seen in eight weeks. We are officially half way through the program.... how is that possible already??

~Maria C.

The Brick Wall

Today was awesome! We were demolishing a brick wall. We went to the office in the morning and our sponsor was showing one of the construction managers how to use a masonry saw. This was no ordinary saw. It was twice the size of a chainsaw and had a blade as big as a pizza pie. We drove to a house in the St Bernard parish. One of the exterior walls of the house was damaged by the storm. We took our saw and cut a straight line through the brick then we got sledge hammers and crowbars and knocked the rest down. It was awesome! It was the best work day yet. Now we, or other volunteers, will be able to patch up the wall and make it good as new.

~Sam

The Picnic

This week the team was divided into three groups and sent to different work sites. We were all a little nervous about being split up for the whole week but it turned out to be just fine. It gave us something new to talk about since we were all doing different projects such as painting, tiling, and installing appliances. Also, we are going to be shuffled with other teams next round (something the Denver campus does during the 3rd of our 4 rounds so that we get to meet and work with new people), so now we have a feel for what that is going to be like.

Now, in other news, my favorite part of the week was the team picnic we had Tuesday evening. Down by the lake with the cool breeze blowing in our hair, the water hitting the steps, and the sun setting made the perfect setting for a picnic dinner. There was lots of food, laughter and we even all got to sit at the same table for the first time for a meal since we have been in New Orleans, which I thought was wonderful. After we finished eating we kicked the soccer ball around and did a trust walk. It was a great team bonding time and a wonderful way to end a hard day of work. Good food, great people, and a nice atmosphere are all the fixings you need for a great picnic. As we walked back to the van with full stomachs there was a smile on everyone’s face so you knew everyone had a great time. Remember that sometimes its just the little things that you do for your teammates and others that are the most cherished because it just shows how much you care.

~Paige

Video: Stacy, Levi and The Hole

Guest Entry From Earth 3

AmeriCorps NCCC has given me many opportunities to help improve communities in the US, and my visit to New Orleans this weekend was no different. Well, it was a little different. Instead of working with elementary students in Denver or helping to renovate homes in Lake Charles, we worked on improving the local economy using tourism. But don't be fooled – we were no ordinary tourists. We were AmeriCorps tourists.

My name is Keegan and I'm a member of the team Earth 3. My team is living in Lake Charles, Louisiana and working with the Cameron Parish Council on Aging. After the damage of Hurricane Rita, many residents were forced to leave. We help elderly residents of southwestern Louisiana return to the area by renovating homes and doing other projects. This week my team is building a wheelchair ramp, painting houses and helping out with a charity banquet. Back to the trip. New Orleans is one of the most popular destinations for Corps Members because so many teams are working there to help the area recover from Hurricane Katrina. But we didn't feel like typical visitors. Being a part of AmeriCorps NCCC meant that we had a whole list of friends to visit, and it also meant that we had the chance to see the city from a different perspective than most visitors. We got to see our friends from some other teams in the area, check out their housing, and learn about their projects (teams like the Earth Oneders). My group also took a tour through the 9th Ward, guided by a Team Leader who worked there last year. Seeing all of the sights was great, but maybe the most striking thing about our visit was the welcome we felt from the community.

It seemed that everyone we talked to during our trip knew about AmeriCorps NCCC and what we do, from our restaurant servers to shopkeepers, cab drivers, and even the nice lady at the hotel check-in desk. The NCCC has a very good reputation among New Orleans residents and it made me proud to feel the respect and gratitude of many of the people we met. The trip gave my team members and me the chance to check out New Orleans (and gave Earth 1 the chance to ask someone else to write for their blog). I have a better understanding of how far the city has come, and how far it has yet to go. And after this weekend I'm really excited at the possibility of having a project in New Orleans for a future round.

~Keegan

Crawfish Boil

On Tuesday night our team was invited to a crawfish boil at the home of one of our sponsors. The Project Homecoming staff usually get together to socialize with one another on Tuesdays after work. We arrived fashionabley late which was only because we got lost for about 45 minutes. One of our many adventures in the van. However, the timing worked out perfectly because when we arrived Mark was just pulling out the first batch of crawfish. We ate outside on their pouch, with a fan blowing overhead and the smell of seafood in the air. On the menu for the evening was crawfish along with corn, baby potatoes, garlic, onion, and sausage boiled in a spicy cajun mix. We also enjoyed bread to help cut some of the spiciness. The tables were covered with newspaper which is where the food was spread for all of us to enjoy. We received a quick lesson on how to eat the crawfish, which look like mini lobsters. Dinner was delicious and we enjoyed getting to know our sponsors better in a setting outside of the worksite.

Nonstop Week

A Wild Week -

I miss my free time. It seems like in AmeriCorps there isn't much of it. Our days are packed. We work all day. When we get home we either have to do physical training or our weekly progress report. I'm always either helping with dinner or helping clean up. By the time I eat and shower and call my girlfriend the day is over and before I have time to breathe I'm doing it again. This week was no exception. We pulled the walls of the house together. We're jacking up the ceiling to replace some of the termite damaged wood. We're building closets and new walls. In addition to working on building the house I went to two recruiting events, a debrief with our sponsor and a 3 hour focus group. Even our weekends are full of independent service projects.

Not that I'm done complaining, I believe that wisdom comes from experience. I don't think there is any better way than AmeriCorps NCCC to accumulate new experiences. In the past two months I've lived in at least 3 places. I've had at least 3 different jobs. I've learned a ton about construction by building homes. I leaned about the environment by building trails. I've learned how to talk to kids by working at a children's museum. Even helping cook dinner has been educational. I can make make a meal for 11! I'm also growing in more abstruse ways. I've gained leadership experience, communication skills and a new appreciation for how much of a difference a person can make. The lack of free time is an easy price to pay for such a life changing experience.

~Sam

The First Week on the Job

Monday was the first day actually working on the house that we are going to be rebuilding for the next six weeks. This week we took the first steps of rebuilding by removing linoleum from the floor, taking out damaged studs and sections of the floor and repairing them, and putting in new doors. To me, houses have always been somewhat of a mystery. I look at them and get overwhelmed by thinking of all of the work and effort that must go into making them. Now, I feel like I have seen the secret to the magic trick of building a house, and once you look at it part by part it is surprisingly less complicated then I had anticipated. Our supervisors have placed a lot of confidence in us even in these first few days, telling us what needs to be done and then just letting us do it on our own for the most part. I NEVER thought that I would be able to build a house, and even just after the first week I feel like I have taken a huge step towards getting there.

However, the best part of the week was hands down meeting the homeowners of the house that we are working on. We got to meet them on Tuesday and they brought us breakfast. They were so nice and charismatic and so appreciative of us being there to help them. They told us their story of the hurricane, how they had left with only the clothes on their back thinking that they were going to be back in a few days. A few days later their houses was occupied by nothing but 6 feet of the water; they had lost everything and have not been able to return home for going on three years now. A number of us said goodbye to them with tears in our eyes, sad for their losses, but happy to be able to feel like we were doing something about it.

Being here in New Orleans it feels like we are living in a history book. We walk down the street and see every other house still with the spray-painted X, still branded, telling a little bit of it’s story, when it was searched, by whom, and what was found inside: cats, dogs, people, and weather they were dead or alive. The damage and pain that this city endured is still very evident. It feels like it is stuck in the past, but it is just because the help to move it forward is not here. Seeing the devastation everywhere is very discouraging, but feeling like we can actually do something to help just one family is more empowering then I could have ever imagined. New Orleans has made me more proud to be a member of AmeriCorps then ever before.

From Denver to New Orleans

This week I joined the Earth Oneders and so far so good. I am really excited to be on the team because I’ve never done construction work before and this round we'll be working on a house destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. On Monday, we departed Denver and traveled through Texas, stopping in Amarillo on the first night and in Tyler the second night. The third day we finally arrived in New Orleans to a beautiful two story blue house. The first night we were here we had dinner in downtown New Orleans. This is my first time in New Orleans and I'm really excited to be spending the next two months here. I am very excited to learn about the culture in New Orleans and to visit some awesome museums.

On Thursday, our first work day, we had orientation and then we took a drive around the city. It is very emotional to see all the destruction that Katrina caused and the work that still needs to be done to repair it. Today we were trained to use all the tools that we will need on the job site. Our sponsor taught us how to use both hand tools and power tools. He knows a lot about rebuilding homes so he will be a good teacher for me and all the other members on my team. Our sponsor also showed us the house we will be working on for the next 6 weeks. Only the framing was salvageable, so we'll have to replace the wood eaten by termites, replace the flooring, add the walls, and all the other things that make a house. We will hopefully get most of the house completed before we leave.

~ Maria B.

First Transition Week

They tell us that transition week is not supposed to be vacation. We're on the job during transition week and we need to put in the hours. Unfortunately, I think it's been longer than anyone expected. There's been a lot of drama and bad news this week. We were all hoping to have a nice relaxing week. We wanted to recharge our batteries. Instead, many of us are feeling emotionally drained. The AmeriCorps rumor mill has been fast and furious. I don't pretend to be in the loop but I've heard about breakups, hookups, and dropouts. Not to mention all of the normal workshops, lectures, and training that goes on during transition week. We did our debrief (formal reporting out on our last project) and brief (reporting our preparations for our next project). Both require a lot of preparation and paperwork. I'm a bit stressed out because we're leaving on Monday and I still haven't begun to pack, clean, or do laundry. I think we are all eager to be on the road again and leave this week behind us.

Nonetheless we are staying positive. The week hasn't been all bad. Monday the team got together at a park near campus. We sat in the sun and grass and talked. We played on the playground and did team-building activities. We even invented some games of our own. Awesome ball! We've also started a game of assassins. It's a fun game of paranoia and deception. (See rules below) Katie and I jointly picked up the position of assistant team leader. I'm looking forward to giving Maria C. a hand. She's got a tough job. Some of us did independent service at the Children's Museum. That was really fun. The kids were adorable. There is also a lot to look forward to. We are excited to live in New Orleans. We are looking forward to celebrating Amanda's birthday tomorrow. We can't wait to get to know our new teammate, Maria B. Yay!

Assassins:

You will get a piece of paper with a name on it. This is your mark. If you shoot them with your water gun they are out and they give you the name of their mark. All water gun assassinations must take place outside. Also, if you put hot sauce in your target's food they are 'poisoned' and are out. The last person standing is the winner. This game requires stealth, wit, and persistence; but beware, because there is always someone trying to assassinate you.


~Sam

The Journey Home

The first day on the road was a nice one. I got to get in some reading that i had been neglecting for awhile as we were being serenaded by artists such as The Beatles, Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, other assorted artists. We arrived in St. Louis around 5:00 and meet up with a team from another unit. Later we went out to eat at a local oriental cuisine restaurant. Our team leader left early in the morning to go home for a much needed vacation, and put our 2 newly elected assistant team leaders in charge(Sam and Katie). The next day was just very average switching drivers and ATDs every 2 hours or so, and we stopped in Salina, Kansas for the night. On the final day of travel to Denver we saw some interesting things, such as tumbleweeds, and also along the way we saw some random helicopters and fighter jets sitting out in the middle of the grass. Most of the way the view was of vast expanses of fields for as far as the eye could see, spotted with all kinds of various cows, crops, and huge wind turbines.

~Levi

The Last Day

Today we fixed up the school nice and pretty for our departure. After our work was done we chillaxed in the sun. We took hours worth of pictures to remember our good times on spike. This past Sunday, we also took pictures in front of the school. Our favorite picture is of the team jumping. We weren’t in full uniform because it was a Sunday, but nonetheless we thought it would be a good picture to add to our blog. Anyway, after cleaning up the school we moved into a cabin at the Cumberland Gap State Park for the night. It was a very nice cabin. It had modern luxuries like beds with sheets and cable TV. For dinner that night our sponsors took us out to dinner at a southern buffet. We gave them a collage of memories. We talked and reminisced about our good times trail building and working together. The next morning we got up early and said goodbye. Our sponsors were sad to see us go. There were hugs and handshakes all around as we said our final farewell.

~Levi

Video: End of the Day

Our Third Move

This is our second week living in the Stony Fork School -- a school in the backcountry of Tennesee that is no longer in use. This week we are building bridges on the trail at Lick Creek. Building bridges is fun. It includes moving lots of extremely heavy, awkward-sized logs over the creek even when it doesn’t seem possible. That is what AmeriCorps does -- makes the impossible seem possible…hahaha.

Then we got to hike miles upon miles of trail with heavy tools. We were mules for a couple of days, but it was all good because then we got to do some awesome work. I got to help some of the long-time volunteers of CTC in making hand rails for the bridge to prevent hikers from falling into the creek. It was fun work because the guys I was working with are one-of-a-kind; they know such interesting stuff and are full of crazy stories.

I learned a lot in that day, including about the type of tools I will be working with during our next project in New Orleans. We will be working with a non-profit organization there called Project Homecoming finishing homes and presenting them back to the families affected by Hurricane Katrina. I am excited but a little nervous about the heat and humidity, since I am from the north and prefer the cold over the heat any time. It's all good though. Building the best rustic bridge and not a hillbilly bridge (that is what I was told was our goal) in the world was great and I am sure I will have fond memories of it. As always, we got to move lots of heavy rocks to build stairs and walls. Let me say we made rock stairs that would even look good in someone's mansion. That is just how good we are at moving boulders around. After this spike I will never look at a rock the same way, but I will automatically decide if the rock is good for a cribbing wall or a stair and I am sure it is the same with the rest of my team.

The team is doing great, working hard as always and as always tons of team bonding 24/7 since we are really the only people our age we get to see. Everyone loves the fact that the school has a gym which makes phsycial training (PT) so much easier. We get to play knock-out all the time which is a great game. If you haven’t heard it you need to find out about it real soon. In all, I love building trails. I went to school for environmental studies and seeing it everyday makes me realize what I want to do after AmeriCorps. This is one of the great benefits of AmeriCorps: experiencing new things while helping people and also figuring out your life.

~Kate

More Camping Insights...

After a wonderful two-week stay in our cozy house at Cove Lake, our team packed up our belongings and moved to a beautiful campground in Frozen Head State Park a couple of weeks ago. This was exciting for two reasons, one being that those who have camped before greatly enjoyed what this particular site offered. The second reason being that those who have never camped before were able to get a pretty fantastic first experience. The fact that it rained the majority of our stay at Frozen Head didn’t bother anyone. We still bundled up around the campfire after having made a delicious meal, and we enjoyed others’ company thoroughly. We shared stories with one another, whether they were of our own lives or ghastly ghost stories. Not a single story went unappreciated. Our team shared our camping area with members and volunteers of the Cumberland Trail Conference, which was an excellent way for everyone to get to know each other. We stayed in tents of all shapes and sizes and, with the surrounding sounds of nature, it was nearly impossible to go without a good night’s rest. But, the campground offered us the perfect area for our afternoons of physical training, with soft green grass on a large field that was surrounded by a beautiful forest. At night we were able to catch a glimpse of the white-tailed deer lazily grazing through this very same field. Our camping neighbors were wonderfully amicable and welcoming, as was the campground’s staff. Throughout my life, I have stayed at a fairly vast number of camp grounds. Some of these said campgrounds I can’t see myself visiting again, whereas others I definitely hope to make future visits to. Frozen Head State Park is certainly the latter.

~Mallory

Easter & Camping

We had Easter break! YAY! Amanda, Mallory & Katie all went home for a few days and were all very happy that they did. We’re definitely all missing everyone back home! Sam relaxed at Cove Lake for Easter, but now he’s psyched to see his girlfriend this weekend! The rest of us drove down to New Orleans to hang out with people from other teams and check out the city. It was definitely a lot of fun & like no other city I’ve ever been to. We all feel happy & rejuvenated from seeing the people we all love & miss this week.

And now we’re CAMPING! It’s great, because now we’re just down the street from our new worksite. We’re making a connecting trail (about a mile long), so that hikers can do a nice loop outside of Frozen Lake State Park, and hopefully that will encourage more people to go up there. The trail looks amazing—our team is full of hard-working trail-builders. It’s rained quite a bit since we started camping, but everybody’s keeping surprisingly good attitudes, which makes it fun. Every night, our sponsors have cooked us the most INCREDIBLE dinners—just phenomenally delicious stuff; my mouth is watering just thinking about it…

~ Stacy

Video: Walking the Trail in Tennessee

Just another week to appreciate

As service learning is required every week, this week the team went to the Campbell County Historical Museum and Library. "Service learning" is a method for us to bring greater meaning to our projects by learning about the communities we serve and the issues that our projects address. This service learning opportunity was recommended to us by our sponsor, so we decided to spend a rainy day learning about the community, rather than just sitting around watching movies. Our visit to this historical location was hosted by the curator himself, an adorable elderly man who showed us the museum artifacts as well as shared with us stories from his past. Some of the things that interested us most included the history of the coal mining regions, some of which were once located near the trails we are building. We learned that Tennessee was once economically dependent on the coal-mining industry. In addition to talking about the past, he also mentioned issues pertaining to the present, specifically how rock quarry companies are affecting the environment by harvesting rocks. In doing so, these companies ruin trail work, cut down hundred-year-old trees, and leave areas devastated. In all, this service learning trip was very educational and directly pertained to the trails we are working on, while allowing us to appreciate the area in which we live and work.

This service learning trip was a good ending to a hard week. On the trail, we encountered some stubborn roots, heavy rocks, and other trail obstacles. Removing roots and moving rocks out of the trail requires much more time and effort than just removing duff, the top layer of soil. For the really big roots, we use the mattock or the Pulaski. For the smaller roots, we use the clippers. Large rocks require the use of the rock bar, a heavy long skinny metal bar. Despite that the work can be physically exhausting at times, the team enjoys working outside with each other. Everyday there is always something we find to appreciate, from the smallest insect with what seems to be an infinite amount of legs to the tree which looks like a giraffe (or at least I think so!). Although I never would have thought I would feel this way, Tennessee has become a place to call home. The sound of rushing creek water, the vista of rolling mountains, the blossoming Dogwood trees, and the mountain fresh air are certainly engraved in my memory, if not in all of ours.

~Maria

The Birthday

It was our team leader Maria's birthday on the 11th and we celebrated by surprising her with a little party. We got her cheesecake which is her favorite along with a few of her favorite flowers: red roses. It was an intimate gathering of our team with balloons and banners. The best part was the look on her face when she walked in the door and we all jump out yelling, surprising her. Fun was had by all. :)

~ Paige

The Hoedown

Last night there was a hoedown going down in the state of Tennessee and we were invited. To sum very briefly, a hoedown is the art of square dancing. Wow, that really was a quick summary. When we showed up we were encountered by two other schools who were itching for a good AmeriCorps hoedown. There was also a local band playing there called Boogertown and boy did they play us a good Tennessee tune or two. Teamed up with the two other colleges we learned how to square dance while having fun, psh who would of thought. Earth (One)ders learned quite a lot including the Promenade, the grape vine, the Bulls Pen, the Peek-a-boo (which was very romantic), and swing-a-partner. Don't worry, refreshments were there, as we chugged our thirst away with such beverages as mouth watering coke, always indulging water, and even Dr. Lightening. As we all sat around drinking and laughing over good times that we had created square dancing, the director rounded up his troops and we were back at it again. Once again we were swinging males and twirling females left and right. As the night ended, which oddly enough it did, Boogertown played us one last jam as all 30 of us sat and let the music soothe our happy little ears.

~ Greg

Day Two on Spike

We got to Tennessee two days ago. We started working on the trail yesterday. The weather was great. It was sunny and warm. The forest is very pretty and there is a sparking stream that crosses the trail. We started off the day by learning about the tools. They all have cool names. There’s the McCloud, the mattock, the rouge hoe, the Pulaski, and the fire rake. We also learned about duff. It’s the leaves and organic matter that covers the forest floor. “Duff is not the stuff.” A lot of what we did yesterday was clearing off the duff and digging down to the next layer of soil. We definitely spent a good time moving rocks as well. Big rocks. Really big rocks. It felt good to get dirty and sweaty.

Today it’s raining and we’re trapped inside. We cleaned and sharpened tools and watched a video about hiking and trail building. It was good but I’m eager to get outside again.

This is a haiku I wrote:

The mattock is sharp
The duff is thick and leafy
Today I build trails.

~ Sam

Spike Travel

We left campus on Monday morning around 10am. The first day we drove through Colorado all the way to Salina, Kansas. On Tuesday we drove to St. Louis, Missouri and the travel was really easy until we were about 20 miles away from our hotel. St. Louis had received 10 inches of snow which is very unusual for the area. We sat in traffic for 3.5 hours. Fortunately, with so many of us in the van, we found ways to entertain ourselves. We played cards, twenty questions, hot seat, and several other games to help us get to know each other a little better.

Wednesday was our last day of travel. We went through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky and then arrived safely to our new home in Caryville, Tennessee. Upon arrival, we met our sponsor Tony who works with the Cumberland Trail Conference. We settled into our house which consists of three rooms, two bathrooms, a living area and a kitchen. It is working out really well and I am looking forward to getting out and exploring the state park where our house is located.

~ Amanda