Conservation Legacy

🌟 Meet Mel Williams (they/them), one of our incredible crew leaders who has poured their heart into guiding crews through the Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) and Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) over the past few years! From leading trail crews to currently heading up the Womens+ Trades Crew, Mel has had the unique experience of serving with two of the eight amazing programs that make up Conservation Legacy! 📸 Swipe right to check out some of Mel's favorite snapshots from their time in the field – each one a testament to the hard work, growth, and amazing experiences shared with their crews. Mel wanted to give a shoutout to the SECC and ACC staff: "Huge shoutout to Megan Rockefeller for teaching me everything I know, and Kelsey Durr and Eleanor Trott, my very supportive coordinators!"

☑️ AmeriCorps strengthens communities.   ☑️ AmeriCorps transforms lives.   ☑️ AmeriCorps is a force multiplier for community volunteering.     Stay tuned as we showcase how the AmeriCorps movement improves lives and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering.    #AmeriCorps #NationalService #Announcement 

Yesterday we said Happy Birthday to the National Park Service! We want to highlight the importance of NPS with a story of resilience against the threat of invasive species. 🌍 In the American Southwest, the National Park Service (NPS) is tackling the issue of invasive species head-on with the help of restoration biologists, park managers, and partners like Southwest Conservation Corps and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps. These efforts are focused on eradicating invasive plants and restoring native vegetation across 13 parks. 🌿 From the tamarisk and Russian olive in Bandelier National Monument to the water hyacinth in San Antonio Missions, each park faces unique challenges. NPS is using a combination of manual removal and herbicide treatments to manage these invasives, allowing native species to reclaim their habitats. This hands-on work is vital to ensuring the long-term health of our riparian ecosystems. 🌱 Read more at the link here: https://lnkd.in/geAXnuA4

🌟Meet the Executive Directors of Conservation Legacy 🌟 JUAN FERNANDEZ FROM SOUTHWEST CONSERVATION CORPS! 🎶 Fun Facts about Juan: 👉 He loves the opera and even served on the board of the Pensacola Opera for 6 years. Some of his favorites include Don Giovanni, Madam Butterfly, and La Traviata. 👉 During COVID, Juan spent almost 2 years traveling in a camper with his family of four, letting NPS sites guide their journey. They visited 27 National Parks and a total of 63 NPS sites! 👉 He is an amateur astronomer who adores dark skies and stargazing. 🥑 Favorite Snack: "I am not very picky and will snack on almost anything. My favorite snack while hiking or on the trail is avocado with salt and a handful of almonds. During warm summer months, my go to is an open faced tomato sandwich." Thank you for your leadership, Juan! We’re thrilled to have you as part of the Conservation Legacy team. Southwest Conservation Corps

🌟Meet the Executive Directors of Conservation Legacy 🌟 Next up, meet our energetic leader from Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, Chas Robles, who has been the Executive Director since 2015! 🤣 Fun Fact: "It takes me 5 minutes to make minute rice." 🍉 Favorite Snack: "Watermelon with lemon and Tajín. If you haven’t had it, it’ll change the way you look at the world." Chas brings enthusiasm and dedication to Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, leading with a passion for preserving cultural heritage and natural landscapes! We are so grateful to have you be a HUGE part of the Conservation Legacy team! Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

Greg Sherman, one of Conservation Corps New Mexico's dedicated Individual Placements, recently had an incredible experience exploring the world of songbird mist-netting with a skilled bird team. He focused on molt data, carefully aging the birds, and banded Black-capped Vireos and Painted Buntings—truly a special moment in avian conservation. 🐦 And that was just the start! Greg also traveled to Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, where he played a crucial role in capturing catfish to be stocked at Fort Cavazos. These hands-on experiences were enriched by attending the Early Career Conservationist Workshop, where Greg gained invaluable knowledge. 🐟 🌟 We celebrate Greg and all of our Individual Placements for their commitment to conservation! U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Conservation Corps New Mexico

🌟Meet the Executive Directors of Conservation Legacy 🌟 Next up, meet our dedicated Stewards East leader from West Virginia, April, who has been with Conservation Legacy for an incredible 17 years! Throughout the name changes, logos, and even hair colors, April has remained a steadfast presence within our organization. 🌿 Fun Fact: April can trace her family roots from Wales to WV! Her family migrated to the US, where they settled in WV to be coal miners and farmers. She is a fifth-generation West Virginian who grew up on the same farmland her ancestors settled on, and her parents still call it home! 🥕 Favorite Snack: "Anything I can harvest from my backyard garden – including the family heirloom ramp patch I cultivated from both of my grandfather’s farms." April is proud to be a West Virginian, or Mountain Mama if you will, as she has only lived in the place she calls home. While she enjoys traveling and visiting the coast, there is no place like home in her WV Hills. Stewards Individual Placements

We are in awe of the latest adventurous collaboration with Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps and Southwest Conservation Corps supported by incredible partnerships with National Park Foundation, National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Grand Canyon Youth 🛶 This summer, ALCC invited SCC's Indigenous youth crews to embark on an unforgettable journey, rafting through the majestic Grand Canyon and diving into hands-on science education. Their expedition not only fostered teamwork and resilience but also deepened their connection to nature and each other. "I really enjoyed being at the Grand Canyon and learning science. I love working with SCC (Southwest Conservation Corps). SCC has changed me to be a better person for myself and others... I never thought that I would find nice people that like to be outdoors as much as I do. Everyone was awesome and unique in their own way." - Crew member with SCC Stay tuned for more stories of incredible journeys! ✨

"I had this vision of working in the environmental field in my summers during college. But I was honestly a little afraid of actually doing it. Now I feel like I actually have like a foot in the door. Like, look… I did it and now I can keep working in conservation at least every summer for now. And then I'll see where I am after four years of college!" - Trailblazers Member Nava Khurgel We are thrilled to see the next generation of conservationists in action with the Trailblazers program in Charlottesville, VA! This youth program, in partnership with Shenandoah National Park Trust, Rivanna Trails Foundation, Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club, and Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP), has put together a youth crew to work on local trails in the area. After 5 weeks of trail work the crew members will then have a immersive three-day program at Shenandoah National Park. The hope being, this summer program will be a foot in the door into the corps model and potential future careers in land management/outdoors! National Park Foundation The Shenandoah National Park Trust Rivanna Trails Foundation CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB #Trailblazers #Conservation #Charlottesville #ShenandoahNationalPark #YouthInAction

Opportunity awaits with Appalachian Conservation Corps! https://lnkd.in/gpRFjVKd