Eastern Iowa Conservation Alliance

Iowa is a Top Volunteer State

2009-07-29T15:43:00.001-05:00

Read the article in the Des Moines Register describing how we Iowa volunteers are making a statistical difference!

Way to go, team.

Faces of EICA

2009-07-27T11:33:00.003-05:00

Our latest featured member is Ben Long from Linn County!

Full name: Benjamin Robert Long
Hometown: Cedar Rapids
County you serve: Linn
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Natural Resources
How long you’ve been with Americorps: 3 months
College and Major/Minor: Kirkwood, Parks & Natural Resources
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Mac or PC: PC
CD you couldn’t live without: Red Hot Chili Peppers
Last book you read: Holes
Must see TV show: That 70's Show
Last good movie you saw: Role Models
Favorite board game: Schutes & Ladders
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Favorite cereal: Quaker Cinnamon Life
Super power: Smile that can melt even a heart of stone.
Life changing experience: Graduating
Favorite thing about your job: Being outside
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Searching for job as a naturalist

Black Hawk County Service Day

2009-07-20T12:36:00.002-05:00

Chelsie needs help on Saturday, August 8th (all day) to prep and set-up for the race. She also needs help on August 9th (6:00AM-2:00PM), race day, in a variety of spots. Help will be needed in the following areas on race day:
Start and Finish Line
Registration Table
Aid Stations / Transitions Areas
Medical / Safety Personnel
Mountain Bike Trail Personnel
Running Trail Personnel
Set-Up and Clean-Up Crews

http://www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/hartman/events_eco_tri.html
Hartman Reserve Nature Center
657 Reserve Drive
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: (319) 277-2187
Email: chelsie.hrnc@gmail.com

Education Awards

2009-07-14T13:39:00.003-05:00

As most of us wrap up our terms in AmeriCorps service, it's time to think about how to best use the Segal Eduaction Award. Some of us are already putting it toward student loans while others of us plan to return to college to complete an undergraduate.

I received news today that Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids has agreed to join a number of degree-granting institutions that will match the amount of the Education Award in the form of tuition scholarship for undergraduate students...that's double your money! The Financial Aid office will be establishing the program very soon. If you considering enrolling, be sure to consult with Fin. Aid.

Other Iowa Colleges & Universities that match the Ed. Award in some form or another include Central College in Pella, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Simpson College in Indianola and Wartburg College in Waverly. Visit the AmeriCorps Alums website for details on each of matches.

Questions answered about using your Education Award.

Faces of EICA

2009-07-08T16:21:00.003-05:00

If you haven't met her yet, meet Cassie...one of our outgoing EICA members. Enjoy your last weeks!

Full name: Cassandra Druhl

Hometown: Blue Grass, IA

County you serve: Scott

Conservation Education or Natural Resources: A little bit of both!

How long you've been with Americorps: Almost finished with 2nd term

What's your special project: Bald Eagle Days

College and Major/Minor: Communication Studies, French

Zodiac sign: Aries

Mac or PC: PC

CD you couldn't live without: The Spill Canvas- One Fell Swoop

Last book you read: Last Child in the Woods

Must see TV show: Grey's Anatomy

Last good movie you saw: Iron Man

Favorite board game: Cranium

Cats or dogs: Both

Favorite cereal: Cheerio's

Super power: I can relate almost any sentence to a song.

Life changing experience: Going to college

Favorite thing about your job: "Staff enrichment", a.k.a. field trips!

Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: I'll take what I can get; I'm not making any long-term goals yet.

We can tell you'll miss this job, though. Good luck!

Faces of EICA

2009-06-23T10:09:00.003-05:00

Get friendly with our member from Iowa County, Erik! Don't forget to RSVP for the Iowa County work day in July.

Full name: Erik Lee Chapman
Hometown: Williamsburg
County you serve: Iowa
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Natural Resources
How long you’ve been with Americorps: 1 year, 9 months
College and Major/Minor: Wildlife Ecology & Conservation at Northwest Missouri State University
Mac or PC: PC
CD you couldn’t live without: 311, From Chaos
Last book you read: Park History of the Mines of Spain (Dubuque area park)
Must see TV show: The Office
Last good movie you saw: Watchmen
Favorite board game: Axis & Allies
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Favorite cereal: Captain Crunch
Super power: Super sarcasm
Life changing experience: Deciding to go into Natural Resources
Favorite thing about your job: I’m able to do a wide range of different projects
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Continue on to a four year degree

Iowa County Service Day

2009-06-19T14:34:00.003-05:00

Iowa County Conservation Board needs your help for their Christmas in July event on Saturday, July 18. Various times available for set-up (beginning at 10 a.m.) and manning activity booths throughout the day. Activities begin at Noon. Among them seed spitting contests, dummy board tournament (3 p.m. start), home made ice cream, dunk tank, balloon pumping, labyrinth station, etc. Dinner at 5 p.m. Evening activities include hay rack rides. Long distance members can camp on site for free. Just make sure to indicate that with your RSVP. Seems like times to volunteer are at your convenience and likely first come first serve.
Please RSVP to Iowa County, Iaconservation@aol.com if you can lend a hand. The time spent will count toward your Service hours.

Images of Service

2009-06-11T09:04:00.005-05:00

Here are some photos I managed to snag while canoeing with the crew on Tuesday, June 9, on the Wapsipinicon River in Scott County. 13 EICA members attended (which might be a record for service day attendance this year) and were accompanied by 3 Scott County staff members. Good turnout!

Gabe & Christian (Buchanan County) and Chelsea (Black Hawk) model their old school PFCs. All the cool kids wear these!

We began the day in the Eagle View Eco Center at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. Here, Director/Naturalist Dave Murcia orients the team to canoe/kayak safety and presents the day's game plan.

After an opening portage down the trail, we take to the water. Here, Vanessa (Jackson) shows her enthusiasm. We stopped at several sand bars along the way to search for trash and haul it away. This canoe, containing Megan & Ernie (Louisa) and Cassie (Scott) is about to pull up to shore.

The team takes in the scene and stretches their legs.

Searching for litter, but finding a lot of interesting natural teaching points as well.

Gabe, Joe (Lee) and Cassie find an abandoned camp site in the brush of a sand bar. This was our biggest find of the day trash-wise. The sand bars and river banks were suprisingly clean.

We found a couple of turtle's nests that had been scavenged.
And turtle tracks as well...but no turtles in sight today.

Back on the Wapsi...you couldn't have planned for better weather.

Mary (Scott) tiptoes onto another sand bar.

A cricket frog was the amphibian find of the day. Vanessa managed to capture it in hand for a few minutes.

We were greeted by a very friendly dog on one stop. Vanessa and Mary were charmed.

Clam tracks...but no clam. Couldn't find any mussels today either.

Part of the team gathers around Naturalist Mike Granger as he explains something neat.

Duck tracks.

Joe and Jared (Linn) searching for trash.

A canoe containing Erik (Iowa), Ben (Linn) and Mary passes ours.

The final stop.

Christian, Joe, Chelsea and Jared prepare for the long portage back to the truck. It wasn't easy!

After the great haul, we shuttled back to the Eco Center for a Kestrel demonstration. Christian, Sarah (Linn) and Vanessa were all brave enough to hold the fella. We were treated to an all organic lunch before departure.

Big thanks to our host staff members and AmeriCorps members. Great job, Mary & Cassie. Read some of their articles in the Wapsi River Environmental News spring newsletter.

The next scheduled work day is August 8th and possibly the 9th in Black Hawk County to assist Chelsea with setting up the Hartman Eco-Tiathalon. More details to come. July is wide open for a work day. Iowa, Lee or Linn Counties have yet to host this year...talk to Jenny or your site suporvisor with ideas.

Faces of EICA

2009-06-08T13:40:00.003-05:00

Meet our latest featured member, Chelsie!

Full name: Chelsie Thompson
Hometown: Waverly
County you serve: Black Hawk
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Conservation Education
How long you’ve been with Americorps: Seven months
What’s your special project: Hartman Eco-Triathlon in August...and I did the first ever Full Moon Ski and Snowshoe Event.
College and Major/Minor: Hawkeye Community College in the Natural Resources Program
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Mac or PC: PC!
CD you couldn’t live without: Lady Antebellum
Last book you read: My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead George, for my summer camp.
Must see TV show: That 70's Show!
Last good movie you saw: Stepbrothers or Juno
Favorite board game: I love to play board games, but my favorite is Sorry.
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Favorite cereal: Life or Honey Nut Cheerios
Favorite thing about your job: Working with many different people and teaching them about their environment.
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Continuing education at UNI for Environmental Education.

Scott County Service Day

2009-05-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

A note from our Scott County members:

Hi AmeriCorps,

We’ve scheduled our work day for Tuesday, June 9 at 9:30 AM. We plan on doing a canoe float/clean-up along the Wapsi River. We also might finish up a canoe access that is being built on one of our trails. Canoes and PFDs will be provided, unless you have a PFD of your own that you want to bring. Remember to bring clothes that can get dirty/wet, your own water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, work gloves, and anything else you might need. We have several dry bags for your belongings on the boats that you can use. Lunch will be provided, and please let us know if you have any special dietary needs ASAP.

We will be leaving for the float NO LATER than 10:00 AM, so if you are late, you will literally miss the boat J. We plan to be on the water for a couple hours, then pull to shore for lunch and work on laying some rip-rap on the canoe access. We have no guarantee of when we will be done, so if you need to leave early, let us know so we can try to accommodate.

Hope to see you there! Please RSVP. P.S. If the weather is bad, we’ll find something to do inside (cleaning, organizing, crafts).

When: 9:30 AM
Where: Wapsi River Environmental Education Center
31555 52nd Ave.
Dixon, IA 52745
Google Maps gives you good directions, but if you have questions, feel free to call.

Cassie and Mary
Scott County AmeriCorps
cnamericorps@scottcountyiowa.com
(563) 328-3286

Faces of EICA

2009-05-20T10:52:00.002-05:00

Our Muscatine County Member is Mary Bulger. Get to know her!

Mary is the one with the raptor on her arm! Looks like a great program.

Full name: Mary Lorraine Bulger
Hometown: Mechanicsville, IA
County you serve: Muscatine County
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Conservation Education
How long you’ve been with Americorps: 8 months
What’s your special project: Erosion control and landscaping around our outdoor raptor cages ...
College and Major/Minor: Environmental Science / Education
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Mac or PC: PC
CD you couldn’t live without: Any Belle and Sebastian CD
Last book you read: Pride and Prejudice
Must see TV show: Nature or Ugly Betty
Last good movie you saw: It was a long time ago, but the last good movie(s) were any of the Lord of the Rings
Favorite board game: Birdopoly ( Bird version of Monopoly )
Cats or dogs: Cats ( I have two at home Lyle and Yogurt )
Favorite cereal: KIX
Super power: Patience
Life changing experience: My jobs with Muscatine County Canservation and the Macbride Raptor Project
Favorite thing about your job: Working with and educating people about animals
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Finish college and find a job as a Naturalist

Buchanan County Service Day

2009-05-19T16:01:00.006-05:00

Photos from May 18 service day at Buchanan County.

Nine members attended and helped put of fresh coat of paint on three of their outdoor animal exhibits at Fontana Park near Hazelton. Although there was threat of rain, we made excellent progress. Work was followed by a lunch and a naturalist scavenger hunt education program. Service began at 9 a.m. and dismissed at 3 p.m.

Christian, Mitch, Cassie & Mary hard at work.

Megan and Ernie, two new Louisa County members, paint the woodwork on the inside of the Raccoon exhibit. Brother and No-No (the raccoons) kept grabbing Megan's feet.

The job of painting was made tricky and slow from working around the wire. Ruined a few brushes but oh well!

The picturesque Fontana Park dam and bridge. I believe this is Otter Creek...

Erik and Gabe light the grill...we're starving.

Lunch is served. Pretty snazzy thanks to a great variety of tempting desserts, Mary's generous donation from Trader Joe's and the excellent grill work by the guys.

We depart for the Fontana trails to perform our 30 minute Naturalist Scavenger Hunt. We were to collect and identify garlic mustard, an owl pellet, fungus, two deciduous tree leaves, conifer needles and a snail shell.

Some of our findings: Cassie's spoils included a morel mushroom.

Mary's fungus specimen was Black Knot. Although it bears a striking resemblance to something else...

Sarah was the only one that came up with an owl pellet...complete with a rodent skull.

The Iron Naturalists: Gabe & Christian (our Buchanan County members and Service Day hosts), Mitch (Louisa County), Sarah (Linn County--who would like you to know there's lots of stuff in her jacket pockets and that she isn't pregnant) and Cassie & Mary (Scott County).

Great work, everyone!

Buchanan County Service Day Two

2009-05-13T11:47:00.001-05:00

The Buchanan County service day will be next Monday, May 18 at Fontana Park just south of Hazleton. We will be painting the wildlife displays and some outlying signs so wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. After a morning of painting we will be barbequing for lunch. In the spirit of the pot-luck we would love to have all of you bring your favorite side dish or dessert and we will provide the main dish. After lunch there will be a nature walk/scavenger hunt on the trails at Fontana Park. Hope you can all make it. Have a great day and see you Monday.

Please RSVP to Gabe or Christian immediately.

Faces of EICA

2009-04-29T10:17:00.005-05:00

Our next featured EICA member will be our host for Service Day on May 4. Meet Vanessa!

Full name: Vanessa Rose Vanis

Hometown: Born in Cedar Rapids, lived in Central City, then moved to Delmar in 6th grade

County you serve: Jackson

Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Education

How long you've been with Americorps: In 2nd term

What's your special project: Beaver tool box, powerpoint and education programs.

College and Major/Minor: Working on Major Anthropology, Minor History, 5 courses away from a BA in Psychology & looking to pick up DNR classes also.

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

Mac or PC: Does it matter?

CD you couldn't live without: Labyrinth soundtrack

Last book you read: The Awakened Mage

Must see TV show: The Bad Girls Club

Last good movie you saw: Iron Man

Favorite board game: Clue

Cats or dogs: Horses-- although I love my dog, Helios

Favorite cereal: Lucky Charms

Super hero: Storm from x-men

Life changing experience: When I met my significant other, and the 2 years we were separted becuase of the war.

Favorite thing about your job: The kids love me and I always get hugs, plus they are so open in everything they say.

Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Getting a "real" job, since I am not done with my schooling yet it will take awhile for my dream job.

Images of Service...and stuff.

2009-04-27T13:25:00.004-05:00

After Louisa County's Service Day & Environmental Education Workshop in March, a few members took a pit stop in Columbus Junction to visit the historic swinging bridge...

Sarah, Gabe, Chelsea & Christian strike a pose.

And another. Does it swing? Yes, it does.

Fast forward to April 15th's member meeting at Wickiup Hill. We haven't had an almost complete gathering of members since fall orientation. Below, Program Director Jenny Corbett welcomes us and introduces the day's agenda. The meeting was scheduled as a site visit for Kristin Honz, Senior Program Officer of ICVS to check in with our service experiences thus far.

Aric Sloderdyke, Conservation Officer for the Iowa DNR met with members in the afternoon to discuss his career and how we might all go about pursuing employment with the DNR. He certainly had lots of advice and experience to relay.

Reminder: Jackson County Work Day is a week from today. Confirm your attendance with Vanessa! hurstvilleintern@jacksonccb.com. We'll be installing park benches & trail signs. With any luck we'll finish early and explore the Maquoketa Caves area together. Bring your mud clothes.

Faces of EICA

2009-04-15T14:57:00.003-05:00

It's time for a new featured EICA member!

Full name: Mary Johnson

Hometown: (now) LeClaire IA (grew up) suburbs of Chicago

County you serve: Scott

Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Education

How long you've been with Americorps: 11 months

What's your special project: several displays around and within our nature center - tracks, insects, winter habitats

College and Major/Minor: BS > Biology, MS > Entomology

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Mac or PC: Wish I had a Mac, but use a PC at home and work

CD you couldn't live without: there are too many to choose from so I'll just say my MP3 player...hehehe

Last book you read: Last Child in the Woods

Must see TV show: The Office

Last good movie you saw: White Christmas... I know it's pretty old, but I just watched it and it was neat

Favorite board game: Catch Phrase

Cats or dogs: From most like to least liked: Hippos, dogs, most reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals, cats, fish, amphibians, birds

Favorite cereal: Honey Bunches of Oats w/ Almonds

Super power: invincibility

Favorite thing about your job: Working with young people in nature

Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: No idea...

Jackson County Service Day

2009-04-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Jackson County's Work Day will be Monday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We'll be installing some park benches, perhaps learn a little more about snake I.D., and a field trip to a Jackson County site of interest. Right Vanessa?

RSVP to Vanessa at hurstvilleintern@jacksonccb.com

EPIC WIN!

2009-04-02T14:52:00.003-05:00

Fellow EICA members!! Amazing news!

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act has passed both the House and Senate and will be signed into law by President Obama when he returns from abroad. Senators Grassley and Harkin voted in favor. Representatives Braley, Loebsack and Boswell voted in favor. Representatives Latham and King (Districts 4 & 5) voted nay. None of us currently occupy Districts 4 & 5.

Read about the provisions of the Act here.

AmeriCorps is expanding and the Ed. Award is going up, among other things. But for us, this also means that EICA will likely continue for as long as any of us are eligible.

Without, I repeat, without identifying yourself as an AmeriCorps member, you can contact the Senators and your Representative to thank them for voting in favor.

Faces of EICA

2009-03-30T14:11:00.002-05:00

Meet Gabe, our featured member!

Full name: Gabriel Paul Demarest

Hometown: Correctionville, Iowa (there is no prison there)

County you serve: Buchanan

Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Natural Resources

How long you've been with Americorps: 6 Months

What's your special project: Whats that? Just kidding...

College and Major/Minor: Leisure, Youth and Human Services with and Emphasis in Outdoor Recreation
Zodiac sign: Taurus

Mac or PC: PC for sure

CD you couldn't live without: Boston: Greatest Hits

Last book you read: Clive Cusslers "Inca Gold"

Must see TV show: The Office

Last good movie you saw: Bella

Favorite board game: Monopoly
Cats or dogs: One Cat... maybe two... or one dog.... but not two

Favorite cereal: Life

Super power: Who wouldn't want to fly?

Life changing experience: I don't believe my life has changed yet

Favorite thing about your job: Petting AWOL the raccoon

Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Astronaut... or Full time Conservation Tech

Save the Date!

2009-03-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

A member meeting will occur in Linn County at Wickiup Hill on April 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Kristin Honz from the AmeriCorps State Commission office will also be attending. Everyone will need to be present. Kristin will be conducting a member focus group discussion. Once Kristin's discussion is complete (about 11:30), there will be some time in the day for member enrichment. We would like a guest presenter or workshop of some kind from 1:00 - 3:30. If you have a good lead on a volunteer/expert, or if there are any requests for topics, please contact Jenny. This date is in addition to April's Service Day.

Faces of EICA

2009-02-28T14:40:00.004-06:00

Meet Mitch from Louisa County!

Full name: Mitchell Kenneth Schweitzer
Age: 23
Hometown: Grandview, IA

County you serve: Louisa

Conservation Education or Natural Resources: I do it all!

How long you've been with Americorps: This is my second term. My first term was as Natural Resource Aide. I’m now an AmeriCorps Naturalist teaching environmental education and doing everything else I did before.

What's your special project: Kayak/Canoe paddling on the Odessa water trails and a ‘River Cleanup Day.’

College and Major/Minor: Currently at Muscatine C.C., AA Biology. Planning a transfer to U of Iowa or UNI for Geography.

Zodiac sign: Scorpio Mac or PC: I grew up on Mac’s but everything runs on PC.

CD you couldn't live without: It’s 2009 and MP3’s/iPods are hot. Favorite groups are Goo Goo Dolls & Matchbox 20.

Last book you read: Guests of the Ayatollah

Must see TV show: House
Last good movie you saw: Oh, it’s been so long I can’t remember! But I’m sure it was in the 90’s! I miss the 90’s.

Favorite board game: Risk!

Cats or dogs: The German Shepherd is man’s most loyal companion.

Favorite cereal: Quaker Oatmeal

Super power: Knowing the Secret of Life

Life changing experience: Becoming a U.S. Marine, saving Lives as an EMT, & teaching my rookies the ropes of fire & rescue operations.
Favorite thing about your job: Working with the kids.

Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: Transfer colleges, continue volunteering with Grandview Fire & Medical – QRS, Louisa County Ambulance. Ultimately, I will continue to positively change the world for all humanity.

Update on Louisa Service Day

2009-02-20T15:29:00.004-06:00

Note that the theme has been altered for Louisa's March 16. Leave your fire gear at the office. New information is as follows...

Environmental Education Workshop
March 16, 2009
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Louisa County Conservation Office
12635 Co Rd G56
Wapello, IA 52653

List of topics to be covered:
· The purpose of EE
· Getting the groups attention
· Keys to public speaking
· Handling discipline problems
· What to do when…
· Teaching & learning styles
· The importance of fun!
· Enthusiasm
· Character Counts

Participants will learn several EE activities, tips for providing better presentations and lots more! We will have the company of AmeriCorps NCCC as well.

Contact Mitch for special accomodations or information on Fire Certification.

Images of Service

2009-02-09T15:49:00.003-06:00

7 EICA members and our esteemed Director met at the Environmental Learning Center in Muscatine on January 22, 2009 for a day of service. We spent the day giving the E.L.C. a good face-lift and a few of us helped improve the housing for their resident birds of prey.

Vanessa and Jenny work together to bring up the old carpet spots in the classroom.

Mary J., Gabe, and Cassie dusted the rafters and the mounted animals.

Sarah cleaned windows and dusted the cobwebs out of the display areas.

Mary J., and Gabe are attaching plywood to the "bird house". This will create a wind break for the two owls and hawk that reside there. These member also helped to scoop pellets and snow out of their pens and spruce up the roost.

Here you can see the whole outcome from the outside.

Another major task was cleaning the glass and the mounted birds in the large Eagle display in the lobby.

Here's a group shot of the day's help. Front row, L - R: Cassie, Jenny, Mary J. Standing, L - R: Sarah, Vanessa, Mary B., Jared, and Gabe.

Good work all. See you in Louisa County next month.

Faces of EICA

2009-02-06T11:32:00.001-06:00

Full name: Sarah Hinzman
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
County you serve: Linn
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: Con Ed.
How long you’ve been with Americorps: 1 year, 4 months
What’s your special project: Turtle rehabilitation and adoption, mainly. Hope to breathe some life into the Abbe Creek School Museum as well.
College and Major/Minor: Viterbo University 2007, Music Theatre/Dance
Zodiac sign: Libra
Mac or PC: PC
CD you couldn’t live without: Currently, the Twilight soundtrack
Last book you read: Comedy of Errors by Bill Shakespeare, now reading Tales of Beadle the Bard by J.K. Rowling.
Must see TV show: Ghost Hunters, and anything on the History Channel.
Last good movie you saw: …Benjamin Button, The Wrestler, & Slumdog Millionaire (all great and quite different)
Favorite board game: Clue, but presently a cutthroat Scrabble player
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Favorite cereal: Peanut butter crunch
Super power: Flight
Life changing experience: Pilgrimage to Scotland in 2005
Favorite thing about your job: Turtles
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: I’m hoping for graduate school!

Louisa County Service Day in March

2009-02-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

Monday, March 16th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Prescribed Fire Training & Burn

The plan: The morning will be spent in the classroom learning the basics of prescribed fire. After a break for lunch, weather permitting, we will do a small burn on an Louisa CCB area.

B.Y.O.: Cotton clothes (i.e. jeans & long sleeved EICA shirt), leather soled work boots, hardhat, bandana, Nomax suit, leather work gloves, & lots of water. If you lack any such items, please tell Mitch in RSVP--particularly the Nomax suit.

Provided items: Lunch :o), Nomax suits for the needy, and hand tools/necessary equipment.

Please note: The burn training does not certify participants. If you are interested in becoming certified, check into attending the week-long S130-190 Basic Wildland Firefighting and Basic Fire Behavior course.

Please RSVP to Mitch Schweitzer, Louisa County AmeriCorps Naturalist, if you will be able to attend: 319.523.8381 or mschweitzer@lccb.org. Let him know the size of Nomax jump suit you will need (sizes are S, M, L, XL).

Images of Service

2009-01-15T13:38:00.001-06:00

A few photos from Buchanan County Service Day. Good work, everyone!

The day was spent cutting, chipping, and hauling storm damaged trees in Fontata Park from last spring's tornado. "Bring your own chainsaw" may have been a first in EICA Service Day history.

Faces of EICA

2009-01-13T15:59:00.000-06:00

Meet our first featured EICA member, your esteemed Director! Jenny Corbett answers our Q & A.

Full name: Jennifer Ann Corbett
Hometown: Denison, Iowa
County you serve: Linn County
Conservation Education or Natural Resources: All of it, EICA Director
How long you’ve been with Americorps: 8 years, or long enough to know better
What’s your special project: Paperwork
College and Major/Minor: ISU, Agriculture Education 1997
Zodiac sign: Aries
Mac or PC: Mac
CD you couldn’t live without: Ray LaMontagne
Last book you read: In-full, Wicked. Reading others by same author.
Must see TV show: Two-n-Half Men
Last good movie you saw: How about the only good movie, Wizard of Oz
Favorite board game: Chess
Cats or dogs: Too many of both
Favorite cereal: Coco pebbles with whole milk
Super power: Restraint
Life changing experience: Day I met my husband.
Favorite thing about your job: Getting to know and helping AmeriCorps members.
Plans for post-AmeriCorps life: More paperwork.

(Photo by Bob Lancaster, Wickiup Hill nightime prairie burn)

AmeriCorps Article in Newsweek

2009-01-12T10:00:00.000-06:00

If you haven't read it yet, please read this article on AmeriCorps recently published in Newsweek Magazine.

The economic environment could bring a bright future or the total demise of AmeriCorps, which is a program totally worthy of Federal funding. Think of FDR's work programs. Will we get it? Don't we deserve a bailout? By expanding AmeriCorps, we could pick up some of the slack of lay-offs "bail-out" your average American.

Muscatine County Service Day Information

2009-01-09T16:26:00.000-06:00

Muscatine's has rescheduled their service day for Thursday, January 22.

The plan: Meet at 9 a.m. at the Environmental Learning Center in Discovery Park. Work will include various cleaning projects at that site and the Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area. Some of the projects include scrubbing floors, window washing, and "extreme" dusting. All cleaning supplies and equipment will be provided. Weather pending, some light grounds work may occur including clearing around and mulching of some small trees. Please bring warm layers just in case. Day ends at 2 p.m.

Please RSVP to Mary: mbulger@co.muscatine.ia.us or call 563-264-5922 by Jan 16th so we may plan for lunch.

Driving directions from the Northwest: Take Interstate 380 south until you come to Interstate 80. Exit onto Interstate 80 East. Take interstate 80 exit at the West Liberty exit, follow Hwy 70 through West Liberty. Go south out of town, this road will merge with Hwy 22 six miles south of town. Stay on this road for about 10 more miles, it will lead you right into Muscatine on Cedar St. Follow Cedar St. into town, Discovery Park is just inside town on the right side.

Driving directions from the Northeast: Take Hwy 61 south follow as it veers west or take Hwy 61 west (depending where you are coming from). Follow Hwy 61 along the northwest corner of Muscatine. Continue south on Hwy 61. Turn left on Cedar St. Discovery Park is just in town on the right side.

Driving directions from the South: Take Hwy 61 north until you come to Cedar St. on the west edge of Muscatine. Turn right into town, Discovery Park is just in town on the right side.

Service Day in Jackson County

2008-10-09T23:26:00.001-05:00

The first service day of the 2009 EICA AmeriCorps group will take place next Wednesday, October 15. We will be working on a rec. trail. If there is rain, an alternate date of the 17 is set. Meet at the Hurstville Interpretive Center near Maquoketa at 9 a.m. RSVP to Vanessa at hurtsvilleintern@jacksonccb.com.