CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A 12-member team of young people made an amazing and positive impression on the members of the Coal River Group and the citizens in Southern West Virginia.
The National Civilian Community Corps Team arrived at the CRG Science and Education Center on Aug. 17. The group was welcomed by members of the CRG and, of course, they received a good old West Virginia welcome along with a large meal provided by volunteers.
The young team (ages 18 to 25) had different accents. They grew up in cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Cincinnati, but they all had one thing in common: They were ready to work.
The federal program that sponsors the team is the AmeriCorps NCCC. Interestingly it was derived originally from the well-known and respected Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. Like the original, this program is dedicated to working directly with communities to address pressing needs. Both enroll young volunteers in a 10-month program that develops work plans to follow the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens. In West Virginia, we still utilize the many CCC-built cabins at Babcock State Park and enjoy the recreational and infrastructure that program brought to our state in those dark days of the '30s.
The kids we have had the privilege to work with were truly devoted to working to accomplish specific goals. The program and the team had no political goals. The team came to West Virginia to help the Coal River Group accomplish river restoration projects, and they left 14 days later with a lengthy list of accomplishments.
How can you put a dollar value on the impact of work that resulted in the elimination of over 1,000 tires from the river? How can you measure the long-term impact of building over half a mile of new trails at a small park in western Kanawha County? What value can you give to the removal of thick, stubborn brush that has covered a county park's entry to a new river access boat launch?
The NCCC team constructed a 100-foot safety portage walkway around the dangerous Upper Falls dam. With the help of Lois Ludwig, an expert in trail building, the team added and improved trails in the CRG Barnette Conservation Preserve near St. Albans and worked tirelessly to build new nature trails at Meadowood Park. They cut brush in many areas and cleared trash and debris from the Upper Falls riverbank.
The team leader, Adam Severing, grew up in Cincinnati but adapted readily to our West Virginia culture. The team camped out and slept in sleeping bags at the Coal River Group River Science and Education Center while they worked in the watershed.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A 12-member team of young people made an amazing and positive impression on the members of the Coal River Group and the citizens in Southern West Virginia.
The National Civilian Community Corps Team arrived at the CRG Science and Education Center on Aug. 17. The group was welcomed by members of the CRG and, of course, they received a good old West Virginia welcome along with a large meal provided by volunteers.
The young team (ages 18 to 25) had different accents. They grew up in cities such as Los Angeles, New York and Cincinnati, but they all had one thing in common: They were ready to work.
The federal program that sponsors the team is the AmeriCorps NCCC. Interestingly it was derived originally from the well-known and respected Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. Like the original, this program is dedicated to working directly with communities to address pressing needs. Both enroll young volunteers in a 10-month program that develops work plans to follow the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens. In West Virginia, we still utilize the many CCC-built cabins at Babcock State Park and enjoy the recreational and infrastructure that program brought to our state in those dark days of the '30s.
The kids we have had the privilege to work with were truly devoted to working to accomplish specific goals. The program and the team had no political goals. The team came to West Virginia to help the Coal River Group accomplish river restoration projects, and they left 14 days later with a lengthy list of accomplishments.
How can you put a dollar value on the impact of work that resulted in the elimination of over 1,000 tires from the river? How can you measure the long-term impact of building over half a mile of new trails at a small park in western Kanawha County? What value can you give to the removal of thick, stubborn brush that has covered a county park's entry to a new river access boat launch?
The NCCC team constructed a 100-foot safety portage walkway around the dangerous Upper Falls dam. With the help of Lois Ludwig, an expert in trail building, the team added and improved trails in the CRG Barnette Conservation Preserve near St. Albans and worked tirelessly to build new nature trails at Meadowood Park. They cut brush in many areas and cleared trash and debris from the Upper Falls riverbank.
The team leader, Adam Severing, grew up in Cincinnati but adapted readily to our West Virginia culture. The team camped out and slept in sleeping bags at the Coal River Group River Science and Education Center while they worked in the watershed.
The hard work and dedication shown by these hardy young people helped to energize the group's members. Some of the members like Dave Mills, a master carpenter, worked side by side with the team members building the safety portage boardwalk. Team members cherished their time with Dave and learned the intricacies of carpentry from the old pro.
Together they dug over 60 large postholes in the rocky soil and carried 70-pound posts to the site to create a solid foundation for the boardwalk. Team members recognized the new structure would provide a first-ever safe passageway around the formerly dangerous riverfront. They improvised on the job to build a structure that would be sturdy; yet provide visitors and boaters with a never before view of the beautiful Upper Falls watershed.
The NCCC team and the Coal River Group partnered with the state Division of Environmental Protection's REAP staff and contractors to address the issue of tires dumped in some of the most beautiful and popular sections of the Coal rivers. The results were fantastic. Over 1,000 tires were removed from the Little Coal River and the Coal River near Alum Creek. The work provides the many thousands of paddlers a wonderful float trip along some of the most pristine sections of that river.
The Coal River Group has toiled for more than eight years to build a recreational infrastructure for the Coal River Watershed. The Coal River Walhonde Water Trail is nationally recognized and annually brings thousands of visitors to the growing Southern West Virginia tourism centers located near Corridor G.
Residents of the region are joining together through groups such as the Coal River Group to build this infrastructure, but they cannot do it alone. The kids who worked so hard are a true inspiration to the citizen-based groups. The program that sponsors such focused assistance is worthy of support.
The Coal River Group's membership has been energized by the selfless dedication seen from the traveling team of workers. They joined to help feed the team during their stay and worked daily to provide oversight and assistance which helped make the projects so successful.
Together we have cleaned up the Coal rivers, and by doing so we have grown stronger as a nonprofit group. We have seen and met a dedicated group of young people from all over the United States, who have rekindled our faith in the future of our country.
In just two short weeks we have made more progress in our efforts to restore the Coal rivers than we could have accomplished in years of small volunteer weekend work parties. We must say thank you to the NCCC team and we wish them the very best as they move on to Davis, W.Va., to help build wilderness trails. The experience has enriched each and every one of us.
Currey is longtime leader of the Coal River Group.
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