Down to EarthCorps
Su Thieda, EarthCorps program director.
Does EarthCorps come to other cities [besides Seattle], or do you know of similar programs in other cities? -- Victoria Michel, Los Angeles, Calif.
EarthCorps is a locally based program. To my knowledge no other conservation service program is integrating U.S. and international participants. There are many other restoration/conservation programs, and I would start with contacting the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, which is the umbrella organization for over 100 conservation corps nationwide. Also check with AmeriCorps and the National Alliance for Community Trees.
I was surprised to read your response that "we need to talk about the environment in terms of God's work." How can we reach out to the religious in a way that will work? -- LauraMarie Taylor, Sacramento, Calif.
I have had some pretty good success avoiding environmental terminology altogether and bringing up topics to see where people's interests are -- once you can gauge where people have some enthusiasm (and it might be minimal), then you can frame further conversations around those topics -- the dahlias they grow, the bird feeder they have, the park their children play in. Frankly, I pick and choose when I disclose that I am an environmentalist. But I can always talk enthusiastically about cleaning up a park or my garden or whatever mutually green topic I can find that will eventually lead into more meaty topics -- it is slow work to win people over. You might also check out a group like Earth Ministry.
EarthCorps is a great idea. Why focus solely on young people? Is the work too strenuous for older people? -- Glee Murray, Washington, D.C.
It is true that our corps members are between the ages of 18 and 25. This is the guideline that we must follow as an AmeriCorps program. We work with about 10,000 volunteers a year and are fortunate to have volunteers between the ages of eight and 80.
Can you describe a specific project so we can get a sense of what an EarthCorps member does on a daily basis? -- Name not provided
This time of year the big focus is planting, so a crew may spend a couple of hours in the morning unloading and staging plants according to a planting plan. After that, they will dig a lot of holes and get trees and shrubs into the ground. The day may wrap up with spreading mulch around the plants. Before and after the project, the crew will spend time with the project manager and the agency coordinator to discuss the overall restoration objectives. The days are long, hard, and filled with dirt and fun. There are many types of projects, though. Check out this slideshow entitled "A Day in the Life of a Corps Member."
What careers do EarthCorps alumni get into? Is a year with EarthCorps comparable to a year in a forestry program or an environmental graduate program? -- Morgan Poncelet, Fremont, Calif.
They go on to many different careers -- not all environment-related, of course -- but some examples are: volunteer coordinator, native-plant landscaper, environmental consultant, project manager for a conservation organization, water-quality scientist, environmental educator, outdoor program leader, sustainable farm coordinator, trail crew member/leader, community organizer, executive director for an international conservation organization. EarthCorps is more like an abbreviated environmental graduate program since the range of educational topics is quite wide.
What are the minimum age and education requirements for EarthCorps workers? -- Debra Potts, Perry Hall, Md.
No education requirement. The minimum age is 18.
Do you offer internships? -- Jesse Herman, Marquette, Mich.
We offer internships as an AmeriCorps member -- you become part of a crew that is a part of a larger program that combines work and education. At this time, we don't have stand-alone internships.
Are you hiring crew leaders? -- Ken Duble, Dallas, Texas
Not at the moment, but we do twice a year. Keep an eye on our website.
How do young people go about signing up for EarthCorps? -- Debra Potts, Perry Hall, Md.
Contact our Recruiting Manager. We are currently taking applications for our next program, which will start in January.
What interaction do EarthCorps members have with local residents and land-users during their restoration projects? -- Name not provided
As much interaction as we can have. It would be impossible for us to steward the hundreds of sites we have worked on, so part of our mission is to develop connections with community members so that they will gain the skills and enthusiasm to keep up the restoration efforts. There are also many groups that have adopted a park or green space, and we work together to bring additional resources (human energy, technical expertise, or funding) to the project. We foster collaboration with many types of groups, and our goal is to help them experience restoration in a positive way.
Why so much attention and focus on nonnative species? What's wrong with them? -- BG (via Gristmill)
There is nothing inherently wrong with nonnative species, which can be in the form of plants, amphibians, worms, birds, mammals, insects, etc. The concern arises when these nonnatives either wipe out or severely compromise native species or the habitat needed to support native species. A great example of this is a project that was initiated in April 2004 by the mayor of Seattle to protect and restore the urban forests and park lands of this "evergreen city." Seventy percent of the 2,500 acres of public forest could be lost in the next 20 years if we don't stop the spread of English ivy. This ornamental ivy, which appears benign, has the capacity to climb and suffocate a mature conifer in the span of a few years.
Are there any organizations like EarthCorps that place volunteers abroad? -- Allison Leighton, Seattle, Wash.
We work with our international participants to support projects in their home countries, which often manifests in the form of an "international work camp." Currently, there are plans to have a work camp in Ecuador in early 2006. For the last four years, we have partnered with Earth Island Institute to support efforts to encourage eco-tourism with a long-distance trail around Lake Baikal in Russia.
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