The AmeriCorps' Earth Three Team Provides Valuable Service

The Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois community benefit from work done by AmeriCorps.

By: Jennifer Sublett

December 16, 2008

AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps' Earth Three Team (Team) from the Denver, Colorado, campus left their mark on the Shawnee National Forest this fall when they ventured into the Bald Knob Wilderness on the Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District and devoted time and effort to trail rehabilitation projects on the popular River-to-River Trail. Each member of this ten-person crew came from a different background, yet had a similar outlook on life. To them, serving your country, the land and its people are often more important and rewarding than personal goals or luxuries. During their time here, the Team completed an impressive list of trail projects, learned the finer points of primitive camping in the wilderness and participated in outdoor education activities, such as use of a map and a compass, local tree identification and night ecology. The Team made valuable connections with local volunteers who either donated supplies to their project or participated alongside them during the numerous trail clinics hosted by the Shawnee National Forest's volunteer program.

Individuals and groups the Team worked alongside included dedicated members of the Shawnee Back Country Horseman who graciously offered their time and packstock resources to transport the Team's over one-thousand pounds of camping equipment, plus water each week of their stay in the Bald Knob Wilderness. During trail clinic days, the Team worked on trails and trail features with groups from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C). This included the Saluki Volunteer Corps, Men of Vision, Underground Arts, Geography Club, students from the Shawnee National Forest's Master Trail Steward Trails Training Course and members of the Murphysboro Key Club and Sierra Club. Local volunteers and the Team shared knowledge, stories and experiences with one another during the three trail clinic days.

The Team worked primarily on problem areas of the located in the riparian area, approximately one-quarter mile from Hutchins Creek along the River-to-River Trail. They

* Completed a 600-foot re-route of trail around an especially wet area

* Built 300 feet of causeways

* Closed and naturalized over 600 feet of old trail

* Carried 4,000-plus pounds of gravel to raise the trail tread

* Cleared one mile of trail of trees and debris

During the preparation for the Lincoln and Douglas Debate Celebration at Lincoln Memorial Picnic Grounds on the site of the Mississippi Bluff's Ranger Station in Jonesboro, Illinois, the Team prepared the grounds by replacing 1,300 feet of split-rail fencing, laying sod in front of the Lincoln and Douglas debate site, picking up trash and participating in the set-up and take-down of equipment for the weekend celebration.

As part of the Shawnee National Forest's agreement to provide information and additional experiences in the local area, the Team visited and learned about two very different historical sites. The first site visited was the Cache River Wetlands Center where they met with Mollie Oliver and staff for a morning of macro-invertebrate discoveries and an afternoon of canoeing the Wetlands to view local wildlife and ancient state champion trees within this important ecosystem. The canoes were provided to them courtesy of Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge. The second was a two-day experience at Miller Grove, an historic African American pre-civil war cemetery for freed slaves. Forest Archeologists Mary McCorvie and Heather Carey, along with dedicated local volunteer Bill Tanner, provided an historical account of the people that settled the land and small community still known as Miller Grove. Day two included a workday on Millstone Bluff Trail, where employees from the Hidden Springs Ranger District hosted their first public workday to rehabilitate the trail tread and signs located at the trail head. The Team worked with local volunteers to clear brush and branches from the trail, haul and spread woodchips on the trail, and clean and stain informational boards. As an added bonus, Mark Wagner, Director of the Center for Archeological Studies at SIU-C, led the group on a walk into the past by explaining the rock art and its possible meanings.

The Team was hosted by at least one Shawnee National Forest or University of Illinois Extension (U-IE) employee or representative at all times. District Trail and Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Pearson provided the trail project layout, trail building education, supervision, logistics for hauling tools and camping gear in the Wilderness and plans for trail clinic projects. U-IE employee Jennifer Sublett was the camp manager. She taught the environmental education activities and was the day-to-day trail supervisor. Linda Hauser from the Murphysboro Work Center provided the opportunity for the Team to learn the diverse trees of southern Illinois. Diana Emmons, Volunteer Program Intern from SIU-C, provided media support through still photographs and video of the team members for posting on the Shawnee National Forest website.

When not in the wilderness, the Team stayed at the Grassy Lake Hunting Club in Ware, Illinois. Here their hosts, Colin and Cindy Cain, provided all the comforts of home, including a family atmosphere and an opportunity to learn about local farming and hunting practices.

The work done by the Forest and AmeriCorps' Earth Three Team in conjunction with other group and individual volunteers connects citizens to the land and exhibits why the Forest Service is an employer of choice.