Boots on the ground: How does WCC respond to out-of-state disasters?

Our Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) provides disaster services in Washington and across the country. Our crews and supervisors have assisted communities after fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, oil spills, and more. Join us for a closer look inside the process of how we implement out-of-state deployments and a disaster response roundup from the AmeriCorps service year that we just concluded!

Our AmeriCorps members responded to severe flooding in Missouri in 2016.

WCC services requested at the federal level

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a direct partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps. When a disaster strikes, FEMA can leverage AmeriCorps members—including our Washington Conservation Corps—to assist disaster response efforts by issuing a “mission assignment” dedicating funds for direct service in identified, underserved communities affected by the disaster. 

How do AmeriCorps members fit in?

Nationwide, 17 programs collectively respond to disaster mission assignments. Working together, they form AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams or A-DRT. Many of these programs are similar to WCC, providing hands-on service opportunities to youth, young adults, and military veterans. 

A-DRT members gather for a photo during the third wave of
response efforts in Missouri in 2016.

‘How many crews can you send, and when can they arrive?’

When a disaster response assignment is likely, CNCS puts out a call for availability to all A-DRTs across the country. They report to FEMA how many A-DRT members are available, and when. 

In the WCC, our project coordinators manage our 52 crews and 19 individual placement AmeriCorps members. They work closely with WCC Program Director Nick Mott to determine if we are able to respond. WCC strives to respond as often as we can, while also prioritizing our habitat restoration and trail projects for our partners here in Washington. 

Upon finalizing the mission assignment, a flurry of travel plans and logistics begin. WCC staff and supervisors coordinate tools and supplies, order team identification badges, and make sure our AmeriCorps members have the information they need to pack for disaster deployments that can take them away from home for up to 30 days at a time.

WCC supervisors and members hold key leadership positions

With 15 years of disaster response experience, WCC often receives requests to take key leadership positions during disaster deployments. WCC supervisors often serve as incident commander, safety officer, or planning chief. From our experiences, WCC knows how to work in a formalized incident command structure. Their defined roles during deployments help ensure effective communication as well as smooth transitions between different waves of A-DRT members. While WCC deploys at least one of our five disaster response specialists each mission assignment, any WCC crew has the potential of deploying.

Personal protective equipment such as Tyvek suits and respirators
help keep members safe during field assignments.

After A-DRTs arrive, our WCC supervisors and AmeriCorps members lead and participate in trainings. They also set up forward operating bases or primary “hubs” in identified communities. This means another wave of details and logistics: securing food distribution, laundry and shower facilities, tool and equipment storage, and more!

Then, members head out to assist communities in need in the form of “strike teams.” AmeriCorps members receive training to complete a variety of field tasks, including:

• Removing hazard trees from homes and structures.

• Installing blue tarps and making temporary roof repairs. 

• “Mucking and “gutting” – a term for stripping a home to remove water-damaged material.

• Removing debris from homes and yards.

• Conducting mold suppression.

WCC’s training program also focuses on managing volunteers and volunteer reception centers as well as mental health, safety, and communications needs. 

Year-in-Review: 2017-2018 Disaster Response

In addition to restoring salmon habitat, planting native trees and shrubs, and building trails, the 2017-2018 AmeriCorps service year was a whirlwind of disaster response accomplishments! WCC embarked on the largest deployment in program history due to an unprecedented request from FEMA after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria made landfall in September 2017.

In six months, WCC deployed two-thirds of program member and staff to Texas, Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico to assist underserved communities after these devastating hurricanes.

In response to the hurricanes, WCC and A-DRT:

• Mucked and gutted 611 structures.

• Cleared 53,979 cubic yards of debris from homes and yards.

• Temporarily repaired or installed tarps on 544 roofs.

• Sorted 132,713 pounds of donations.

• Removed 2,284 trees posing a hazard.

Our AmeriCorps members filled and placed sandbags in
three eastern Washington counties in May.

When local disasters occur, local and tribal government partners also request WCC assistance. In May, WCC deployed teams to fill and stack sandbags for residents in Ferry, Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties after severe flooding. We also responded to 12 wildfires, mostly in northwest Washington. In total, 258 members and staff provided nearly 120,000 hours to communities in need over the course of last year.

Learn more about WCC

Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program, provides hands-on experience, field skills, and training opportunities to young adults between 18 and 25 and military veterans. WCC consists of three subprograms: the original WCC, Veteran Conservation Corps and Puget SoundCorps. Recruitment for the 2018-19 year is just wrapping up, but six-month positions will open in January 2019! See photos of the types of projects WCC members support during their service in our WCC Projects Flickr set and WCC Featured Projects Story Map. Learn more on our website.

Our AmeriCorps members restore habitat for wildlife and salmon, and build and
maintain backcountry and urban trails across Washington.

Boots on the Ground: WCC deploys 37 to assist flood response efforts, 35 more on standby

WCC crew readies sandbag berm near Pend Oreille River at Newport.

Today, Friday, May 18, we will have 37 Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) members deployed to Eastern Washington to help communities in Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties respond to the most severe flooding the region has seen in more than 40 years.

Late last week, rain and high daytime temperatures caused significant snowpack melt, pushing many rivers out of their banks. Many local governments directly affected by flooding requested emergency assistance from our WCC AmeriCorps members and staff.

Our WCC crews are deployed to the following communities to help fill, stack and place sandbags to keep floodwaters out of people’s homes:

• 16 members and staff in Newport in Pend Oreille County.
• 18 members and staff in Okanogan in Okanogan County and Cusick in Pend Oreille County.
• Five members and staff in Tonasket in Okanogan County.



WCC members and staff filling sandbags

 in Cusick.

In addition, we have six more members and staff actively supporting a Department of Natural Resources base camp in Okanogan where more than 225 DNR, regional fire district, and other interagency staff are staying during the current flood response. Our responsibilities at the camp include organizing and loading supplies like pumps and hoses, loading trucks, and supporting facilities.

Should we receive additional assistance requests, we have another 35 members and staff on standby ready to deploy to help with flood response efforts.

On Friday, May 11, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a state of emergency to make resources available as flooding and high-risk conditions continue. A total of 20 Eastern Washington counties face potential flooding.

When local disasters such as flooding occur, local and tribal government partners and state officials often request on-the-ground assistance from our WCC.

The National Weather Service is predicting more flooding as hot weather drives more snowmelt to various river systems – especially the Okanogan, Similkameen, Kettle, and Pend Oreille rivers.

The WCC provides hands-on experience, field skills, and training opportunities to young adults between 18 and 25 and military veterans. Our 300 members and 53 field supervisors across the state restore critical habitat, build trails, and protect the state’s natural, historic and environmental resources. They also respond to out-of-state and local disasters.

Learn more about WCC

Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program, consists of three subprograms: the original WCC, Veteran Conservation Corps and Puget SoundCorps. We are currently recruiting for three-month AmeriCorps members positions. Recruitment for the 2018-19 year will begin in July! See photos of the types of projects WCC members support during their service in our WCC Projects Flickr set and WCC Featured Projects Story Map. Learn more and apply online today.

Boots on the Ground: WCC responds to severe flooding in Eastern Washington

WCC members and volunteers filling sandbags at 5 a.m. in Okanogan

This past weekend, we deployed several Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews to help the towns of Okanogan, Tonasket, and Cusick after rain, high daytime temperatures and significant snowpack melt caused severe flooding in Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Ferry counties.

 

Our WCC AmeriCorps members and crew supervisors spent about 16 hours Saturday, May 12, assisting community efforts to fill, stack and place sandbags to keep floodwaters out of people’s homes.

On Friday, May 11, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a state of emergency to make resources available as flooding and high-risk conditions continue. A total of 20 Eastern Washington counties face potential flooding.

When local disasters such as flooding occur, local and tribal government partners and state officials often request on-the-ground assistance from our WCC.

We currently have two WCC crews deployed to Tonasket and three to Okanogan in Okanogan County. Another crew is serving in the town of Cusick in Pend Oreille County.

A seventh WCC crew is being deployed to the Okanogan County Fairgrounds in Okanogan to set up and manage a camp base for our response partners at the state Department of Natural Resources.

  

WCC members getting sandbags ready in Tonasket.

On Monday afternoon, water levels remained lower than the flooding levels experienced on Friday and Saturday.

However, the National Weather Service is predicting a second flood crest later this week that could be higher than the first as hot weather drives more snowmelt to different river systems in Eastern Washington – especially the Okanogan, Similkameen, Kettle, and Pend Oreille rivers.

The WCC provides hands-on experience, field skills, and training opportunities to young adults between 18 and 25 and military veterans. Our 300 members and 53 field supervisors across the state restore critical habitat, build trails, and protect the state’s natural, historic and environmental resources. They also respond to out-of-state and local disasters.

WCC disaster response program

 

Our WCC crews have responded to local floods, wildfires, oil spills and landslides and have also been deployed to provide disaster relief and recovery assistance for communities affected by floods, hurricanes and tornadoes around the nation. Four WCC crews are designated disaster response crews but any crew has the potential to be deployed.


Sandbags readied in Tonasket.

• Members and staff are trained to safely and effectively:
• Clean up homes, roads and structures
• Install emergency repairs such as roof tarps
• Manage volunteers and donations
• Remove hazard trees and debris
• Set up and operate emergency shelters

 Learn more about WCC

 

Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program, consists of three subprograms: the original WCC, Veteran Conservation Corps and Puget SoundCorps. We are currently recruiting for three-month AmeriCorps members positions. Recruitment for the 2018-19 year will begin in July! See photos of the types of projects WCC members support during their service in our WCC Projects Flickr set and WCC Featured Projects Story Map. Learn more and apply online today.

 

WCC disaster response: Looking back on Louisiana

In August, 72 Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) AmeriCorps members and crew supervisors deployed to the Baton Rouge area to assist communities affected by devastating flooding. Below, five recently-returned WCC AmeriCorps members reflect on their disaster response experience in Louisiana.

A dispatched WCC member guts walls and floors rotted by floodwaters in Louisiana. Photo by: FEMA/J.T. Blatty

WCC supervisor Ernie Farmer served as Incident Commander for the first month of AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team efforts, with WCC supervisors Rob Crawford, Phill VanKessel and other supervisors also holding key leadership roles. WCC AmeriCorps members organized volunteer reception centers, helped muck and gut homes, cleared debris from homes and much more.

The initial group of WCC staff and AmeriCorps members returned to Washington on Sept. 20. WCC supervisor Adam Hein and five WCC AmeriCorps members returned Oct. 14 from the second wave of response efforts. Thank you to all who have served and supported this response!

Andrew Hacker, WCC AmeriCorps City of Bellingham crew member 

Having the opportunity to participate in a Washington Conservation Corps disaster response has been something that I had wanted to do since I started my year of service. Finishing off my first year as a WCC AmeriCorps member aiding survivors of flooding in Louisiana for a month has been a unique and enriching experience that I will never forget. I entered the state expecting to see a community full of misery, hopelessness and sorrow but what I saw was completely different. Instead, I found a community full of hope, graciousness and hospitality.

Throughout the houses that I aided in mucking and gutting, there is not a single person that I will not remember. From the cheerful pleasantries of Jimmy to the hilarious joviality of Benny, each person had a positive outlook on life and a unique perspective of the flood that frankly surprised me. Looking past themselves, almost all of the people we assisted were genuinely interested in our Louisiana experience. Most days we had meals supplied to us by these community members in an effort to make us more comfortable and satisfied. This was something I wouldn’t have expected. Each day might have been long, smelly and arduous but there is not one moment in this experience that I would take back.

Maia Gurol, WCC AmeriCorps City of Bellingham crew member 2015-2016 

Louisiana is an amazing place full of culture, delicious food and warm-hearted people. It is also full of guns, churches and lots and lots of bugs. Mold grows quickly in the humidity. Rural poverty is hard to grasp without seeing it in person. I have seen people at their absolute worst, sitting in a shelter with only the possessions under their cots to remind them of what they lost. The few days I spent hearing people’s stories of survival and loss while visiting shelters were some of the hardest, most emotional days of my life. I have also seen people at their best, persevering with a smile on their face and laughing with people who—only hours before—were strangers. Every day was a different challenge, plans changed every few hours and quickly we all learned to expect the unexpected.

Overall I am extremely grateful for having been given the opportunity to be part of this disaster deployment. This experience has been long, hot, sticky, overwhelming, delicious, disgusting, exciting, sad, interesting and heartwarming. I have learned far more than I ever expected about myself, about my crewmates, about construction and so much more. It is hard to put into one paragraph, but to sum it up I think I have become a better, more informed and empathetic person because of this opportunity. I have laughed a lot and bonded with both my crewmates and homeowners. I have also cried, knowing that we can only help so much. I am glad to being going home, but I will remember this month for the rest of my life. Also, our supervisor Lyle is an amazing human being.

Riley Thorpe, WCC AmeriCorps City of Bellingham crew member 2015-2016 

Louisiana is great. The people are warm and welcoming, there are crazy animals and bugs everywhere, and I’ve never had so much good food in such a short of time. Southern Hospitality is real, and it is delicious. It’s also really, really hot out here. Come lunchtime, we usually have already sweated through the clothes and Tyvek suits we wear to protect us from the mold and muck. It’s not as bad as it sounds though. As gross as the cleanup can be, this whole trip has been immensely rewarding. All the homeowners are so grateful and loving towards us that it gives tasks an immediate feeling of purpose. There’s a mutual feeling of appreciation between us and the homeowners, and I think that’s what makes the whole thing worthwhile.

And I think I speak for all of us when I say that I am extremely impressed by our supervisor Lyle. He keeps his cool through all of the ridiculous jobs he is in charge of, and has always been there for us. I don’t know how he does it, that guy’s unstoppable!

Nicolas Holmquist, WCC AmeriCorps City of Bellingham crew member 2015-2016 

Ending the WCC service year on disaster response was an opportunity I am glad I took. I have wanted to have an experience like this for a while. I plan to join the military. When I do, I intend to choose a career that—to some extent—provides a similar chance to help out with various disasters. Being able to help out the folks in Louisiana has not only opened me up as a person, but has allowed me to truly see how strong and hopeful a community can be when all are united in a similar cause.

Mucking and gutting in no way has been a pleasant task, but the after effect of it has been far more rewarding than I originally thought it was going to be. Seeing how grateful and generous the people are here continually enriches the spirit to do more for them and get the project done. The experience I have had here has been like no other. I am thankful that I was able to be a part of the service that’s going on here. It not only gives further initiative to help communities in the future, it inspires me not to take things for granted.

Kaitlyn Hammond, Whatcom Land Trust WCC AmeriCorps individual placement 2015-2016

If you had told me on Monday that I would be leaving on Saturday for a 30-day deployment to Louisiana to respond to catastrophic flooding, I would have laughed. I never thought I would do anything like this, but I am so grateful to have participated in this deployment, interacted with locals and learned new skills—about other cultures and about myself.

The first thing I learned is that Southern Hospitality is real. Oh, so real. From day one we were greeted with, “Mornin’ darlin’! Can I get ya’ll anythin’ to eat?” Even if we weren’t hungry, we knew better than to say no to these incredibly thoughtful people and miss out on some of the best food in the country. From gumbo to jambalaya to fried chicken, homeowners who had lost everything went out of their way to provide us with hot meals to ensure we got the real Louisiana experience. Our crew spent most of our time mucking and gutting homes. While the worst was over for these people, helping them sort through what was left of their possessions brought us immediately into an intimate relationship with a stranger.

The projects were hard, and I don’t think I’ve ever sweated so much in my life. Our assignments changed like the weather (sometimes with the weather!), and we were able to see a lot of the area around Baton Rouge. I’ve always thought of myself as a flexible person, but I realize now that I really like knowing the plan! Amidst these minor irritations, I was fortunate enough to get to know a lot of incredible WCC AmeriCorps members and supervisors, and feel like I have a greater appreciation for the program as a whole. The resiliency of people—both AmeriCorps members bouncing back from the hard work and heat, and survivors offering us blessings and love despite having lost so much—was overwhelming. This resiliency will continue to give me hope far into the future. I aim to one day be a part of such an important response team again.

WCC’s disaster response program

Four of our WCC crews are designated disaster response crews, though any crew has the potential to deploy. Deployments range from national to local disasters, supporting flood response and prevention, wildfire operations, hurricane assistance and more.

Dispatched WCC members join FEMA to assess flood damage in a Louisiana home. Photo by: FEMA/J.T. Blatty

Twenty-four of our WCC AmeriCorps members and staff deployed to Florida on Sunday, Oct. 16, to assist communities affected by Hurricane Matthew flooding. With several thousand requests for assistance already on file, members and staff will stay busy with Volunteer Reception Center set up and command, debris removal, mucking and gutting homes and more. We're proud that our team is willing to give to those in need after natural disasters.

Join WCC!

Do you want to help the environment, meet great people and make a real difference? The 2016-2017 AmeriCorps year just kicked off, but check back in February to apply for six-month positions with WCC! Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps Program, consists of three subprograms: the original WCC, Veteran Conservation Corps and Puget SoundCorps.

A dispatched WCC member removes wall panels damaged by flooding in Louisiana. Photo by: FEMA/J.T. Blatty

See the types of projects WCC members support during their service in our WCC Projects Flickr set and WCC Featured Projects Story Map.

Story compiled and written by: Laura Schlabach, WCC outreach coordinator

Learn more about WCC at: www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc

Severe weather brings flooding across our state

By: Jessica Payne, Shorelands program communications manager

Washington is among the most flood-prone states west of the Mississippi River. The costs of flood damages in our state exceed those of all other natural hazards. This week's severe weather has many communities fighting the floods.

Floods are Washington's most costly natural disaster.

How we help during flood season

We partner with federal, state and local government agencies to help communities in need when floods strike. Do you need to see current flood alerts? Are you trying to find your local emergency management office? Perhaps you are looking for technical assistance or want to learn what to do before, during and after a flood?

We can help connect you:

• Flooding resources and information
• Find Flood Hazards maps in your area

Floodplains by Design: Building more resilient communities 

A huge part of our work is to help communities work better with their floodplain. People of Washington are living in the path of flood waters, our water quality is on the decline and habitat critical to restoring salmon populations is disappearing. We work in collaboration with Puget Sound Partnership and The Nature Conservancy to administer a grant program called Floodplains by Design that funds city projects that not only reduce flood risk, but restore salmon habitats, protect agricultural land, improve water quality and enhance outdoor recreation.

Our WCC crews lay sandbags as severe flooding
threatened Hoquiam in January 2015.

WCC helps communities in need

Another way we help? When disaster strikes, our Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew members deploy. The WCC, an AmeriCorps program run through our agency, responds to disasters in Washington State and beyond. 

During floods, they lay sandbags, organize volunteers, remove storm debris, gut flood-damaged debris from houses and do so much more. See how they assisted in Hoquiam this past January.

You can prepare to prevent pollution

Winter weather can be challenging to us personally, and our actions can also be hard on our water and air resources. Here are some things you can do to help reduce seasonal pollutants.

See flooding? Stay away! Flood water may contain
sewage, harmful bacteria and viruses.

• Stormwater runoff from rain and melting snow goes down our storm drains. Unlike the water that goes down your home’s drain to the sewer system, stormwater that flows into storm drains is not typically treated or filtered for pollutants. It flows directly into creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound.
• Hazardous products and waste need to be managed so they don't cause pollution in a flood. Did you know that floodwater may contain sewage?! The first step is to reduce your use and the amount on hand of hazardous products and hazardous wastes. Then safely store and secure any of these substances or materials you do have on hand.
• Report Spills! Accidents happen, especially when the weather gets messy. If you see a spill or hazardous debris, please let us know.
• Using wood heat can lead to poor air quality. If you burn wood for heat, burn cleanly to reduce smoke and regional haze. Remember to comply with burn bans.
• Diesel generators can be a helpful energy source if the power goes out, but be aware of the danger of diesel emissions.

Learn more about what you can do on our website.

Greetings from Detroit: Scenes from the life of our WCC crew working to help Michigan flood victims recover their homes

By Jessica Payne, communications manager, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program

Record flooding hit the city of Detroit on August 11, 2014. This left many residents with homes damaged by the rising waters. Without the resources or volunteers to help recover from this tragedy, Americorps began calling on crews from around the country for help.

One of them was our own Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew; which readily accepted the challenge. Read on for a firsthand account of their journey to aid in the recovery effort, written by crew members Ashley and Landon.

Greetings from Detroit,

Our WCC crew drove 2,400 miles to begin
their month deployed in Detroit.

It’s been cold and sunny here, which is probably better than Washington can say, but it has definitely taken some time to adjust to the subfreezing temperatures. Haven't had a good cup of coffee in about three weeks, which doesn't bode well for our common Washingtonian caffeine addiction. Luckily, Oreos are available in Detroit so Rob’s grumpiness has been kept to a minimum.

The deployment has been a life-changing experience to say the least. There’s nothing like starting it off with a three and a half day, 2,400-mile drive, to get the ball rolling. Games were played, poems were written and way too much fast food was consumed, but the bonding experience was invaluable.

We arrived in Detroit on Saturday, November 22 in the late afternoon to find St. Andrew's Monastery, our home away from home for the next 30 days, bustling with Americorps members. A number of Americorps affiliated groups have been involved in the relief effort including: Americorps
St. Louis ERT, California Conservation Corps, Tribal Civilian Conservation Corps, Minnesota/Iowa Conservation Corps, St. Bernard Project, National Civilian Conservation Corps, Arizona Conservation Corps and Montana Conservation Corps.

The accommodations have been amazing, each team getting their own set of private rooms and a communal kitchen fully stocked with cookware and industrial stovetop. The only real point of contention around the base camp is getting in line for the “good” shower, but everyone has adapted well to the wait.

Boots on the ground

Working around the suburbs of Detroit has been an awe inspiring aspect of the deployment. The teams have experienced many different demographic areas of the city, from the least fortunate to the ritziest, revealing an astonishing disparity. Regardless of the home, the work process remains consistent.

Each house begins with an assessment team contacting the homeowners and completing a walkthrough of the premises, locating potential risks and estimating the duration for each work order. After the assessment is completed, the homeowner is scheduled for the following day to have work done to mitigate the mold damage and gut the basement.

The work crew starts by completing another pre-work assessment to ensure nothing was missed during the initial assessment and establish a good relationship with the flood victim. Afterward, lights are run into the basement and all personal protective equipment is applied. This typically consists of Tyvek suits, hard hats, p100 respirators, goggles, nitrile gloves and muck boots. Needless to say, the Americorps workers are well protected.

The physical work requires the removal of all damaged drywall, lathe and plaster, wood paneling and any furniture or personal belongings that have been affected by the flood. Once the house is stripped of all its damaged components, the crew decontaminates the site with a heavy duty sanitizer and seals off the compromised area for 24 hours.

The local flavor

Although every work order is a unique and exciting experience, not all homeowners convey the same level of zazz. There have been a few notable experiences that the Washington Conservation Corps members have learned a lot from. 

Despite hard work and harsh conditions, WCC crews are
always found wearing great smiles under their gear.

Our initial taste for the flavor of the “D” (what the locals call Detroit) was at our first house with a wonderfully blunt woman, Monica. Not only were we excited to start some meaningful work, but we also had some anxiety about our constructs revolving around what the D was really like.

Monica greeted us with open arms, immediately inviting us into her home. It wasn't long before we received our first lesson on twerking and an invitation to the best soul food barbecue in town. To express our appreciation, we gifted her with a non-permanent salmon tattoo. We left that evening with our first nicknames, the best of which was “Supa-Viza Rob,” and a memory of Monica, that, unlike our salmon tattoo, will never fade.

Out and about

Despite our mission assignment, we have been required to take one day off per week. These days have allowed us a little time to experience what Motown is like. Our days off have consisted of some exciting mini adventures. 

On their required one day off each week, the crew explored
Detroit; discovering the wonders of Motown, Heidelberg
Street, the Detroit Pistons, and much more.

There was the trip to the Palace of Auburn Hills where we had the pleasure of watching the Detroit Pistons get smashed by the Golden State Warriors. Another was a jaunt around downtown in which we explored the General Motors world headquarters, analyzed the art of Heidelberg Street and investigated the abandoned Packard Automotive plant.

These trips allow us some sweet relief from base camp and are a true necessity for upkeep of crew morale. Detroit has been a unique and astounding experience that has inspired many thought provoking conversations regarding cultural diversity and demographic inequalities. It has arguably been one of the most influential experiences of our lives.

...

The WCC crew, consisting of crew lead Rob Crawford, and members Landon Shaffer, Ashley Matelski, Rachel Nyenhuis, Jackson Owens and James van der Voort, worked with other Americorps crews to gut 354 homes by the end of their last day in Detroit.

More about WCC

Our Washington Conservation Corps program consists of three subprograms: the core WCC, Veteran Conservation Corps, and Puget SoundCorps. These programs give young adults and military vets meaningful service and training opportunities that often include environmental projects and disaster relief work.

Learn how you can apply to be a member on Ecology’s WCC webpage.

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