conservation corps 2014 annual report

resources restored

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conservation corps Minnesota & Iowa

2 Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

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DeAR FRIeNDS

oF tHe CoRpS

Last fall I was lucky to join Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) alumni from around the country as they volunteered side-by-side with Conservation Corps young people on National Public Lands Day. As we hosted this national gathering of CCCers, we discovered ― to no surprise ― that the ethic of hard work and a good deal is alive today in the young people who take part in our programs.

In 2014, our program participants worked hard all year to conserve our natural resources through strong partnerships with project hosts, community groups and elected officials. Today, state parks and trails are easier to use and enjoy, wildlife habitat is healthier, communities ravaged by floods and other natural disasters have been assisted and young people have more skills, confidence and job opportunities. Our accomplishments are highlighted throughout this report.

The Corps also partnered on some important initiatives this year to encourage more diversity in natural resource career fields so they better represent our changing population. We have expanded our boundaries, adding a crew in Missouri to support our work throughout the Midwest region with our federal partners. And we connected with more alumni and friends through volunteer opportunities and meetups around Minnesota and in Iowa.

We recall the spirit of the CCC as we offer life-changing experiences to nearly 600 young people in the coming year. And we thank you and our many supporters ― project partners, elected officials, community groups, alumni, family and friends ― for continuing to help restore resources and change lives.

Sincerely,

Len Price Executive Director

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa 3

AnnuAl RepoRt

2014real results

AmeriCorps (ages 18-25)Our AmeriCorps programs provide meaningful service for young adults in managing natural resources, responding to disasters, conserving energy and leading volunteers. AmeriCorps members receive training in defensive driving, first aid, wildfire suppression and chainsaw safety, along with career and work skills.Programs: Field Crews, Seasonal Crews, Conservation Apprentice Academy, Home Energy Squads, Individual Placements, Youth Leaders

Youth (ages 15-18)Our youth programs are led by Ameri-Corps members and offer opportunities to connect with the natural world through hands-on conservation and neighborhood beautification projects, job skills training, environmental science education, volunteer leadership and recreation.Programs: Summer Youth Corps, Youth Outdoors

* Results of 204 youth and 177 young adults who responded to surveys about their service in 2014.

ouRpRog RAM

SConservation Corps changes lives and prepares young people for successful careers.

After serving in 2014, youth reported*...

work better on teams

more confident in leadership skills

better understand different cultures

more knowledgeable about environment

stronger sense of personal responsibility

more self-confident

more goal-oriented

feel better prepared for next job

96%87%93%97%

97%93%96%94%

After serving in 2014, young adults reported*...

work better on teams

gained or improved technical skills

more civically engaged

more knowledgeable about environment

stronger sense of personal responsibility

more self-confident

stronger work ethic

proud of work crew accomplished

90%99%89%95%

89%85%85%98%


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managing invasivesIn early spring, several crews in southeastern Minnesota collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to remove invasive Oriental bittersweet, a noxious woody vine that strangles trees. In 2014, 170 full-time and 18 seasonal field crew members removed invasive species from 14,420 acres.

building trailsWorking with the North Country

Trail Association, a northwest field crew helped complete more than a mile and a half of the nation’s

longest hiking trail. In 2014, Corps crews constructed or

improved 786 miles of trail.

improving public access

Iowa crews replaced 40-year-old steps at Hagge Park in Sac County,

Iowa. The new steps will greatly improve safety and aesthetics for

visitors. In 2014, crews built 9,396 feet of trail structures.

providing reliefIn October, an Iowa crew headed

to Detroit for a three-week deployment to help communities recover from a major storm that

flooded streets and damaged homes and businesses. Last year,

crew members served 2,039

hours in emergency response.

The six-member seasonal Vermilion Trails Crew (above) was based at Lake Vermilion State Park and completed 2,335 hours of trail work.

“I’ve learned what it means to work smart ... that baby steps should be celebrated as grand accomplish-ments in the course of a day’s work ... what it means to be a team. lastly, I’ve learned what I can do and what I want to do.” — Nick, crew leader

maintaining trails


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continuing the legacy We were honored to host four “CCC boys” along with family and friends from 10 states for the annual CCC Legacy National Conference in September to commemorate the important work accomplished by the CCC. Corps crews continue the legacy today. In August, field specialists and coordinators finished construction of a shelter at Coffee Pot Landing near Itasca State Park on the Mississippi River. The skills-training project was a great opportunity to learn CCC-era skills of stone masonry and log construction.

developing careersIn 2014, the Conservation Apprentice Academy placed 37 young adults in Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Minnesota to work closely with conservation professionals. Several apprentices have found permanent positions with the SWCD where they served.

enhancing recreationIn early summer, young adult and youth crews worked together at Jay Cooke State Park to clear a two-year-old logjam from one of the park’s most popular and scenic areas along the St. Louis River.

Later in the summer, Corps field coordinators installed seven yurts at three state park and recreation areas, offering unique lodging for visitors. The 20-foot structures, an innovative pilot project of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), are now available for public use.


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leading communityIn spring and fall, YO partici-pants plan and lead service

projects to wrap up their term. This crew created brightly-

colored tables and a toy chest for children to use at the

Stryker Community Garden on Saint Paul’s West Side.

improving the oddsYouth Outdoors (YO) graduates say they are higher academic achievers, have taken a science course, regularly volunteer and plan to pursue higher education because of their Conservation Corps service. The findings from a 2014 University of Minnesota study showed that the afterschool program provides positive, long-term impacts on high school students’ future achievements.* In 2014, 130 youth enrolled in Youth Outdoors.

respecting the earthIn 2014, 135 youth participated in Summer Youth Corps, learning to function in teams while living in tents and accomplishing an impressive amount of work. They improved trails, removed invasive plants, planted trees, installed rain gardens and restored native habitats all over Minnesota and nearby states, including at Isle Royale National Park (above).

before Yo service: 45% expected to achieve high school education or less

after Yo service: 94% plan to pursue higher education

*

building bridgesThe Corps has teamed up with

the MN DNR and University of Minnesota to launch the

Bridges Project, an initiative to guide a diverse pool of young

people on a college and career path in natural resources. This

initiative is supported by an appropriation recommended

by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota

Resources (LCCMR).

“When you get to know everyone in the crew …you end up becoming a family .” — hector, youth

crew member


AnnuAl RepoRt

2014volunteers and alumni meeting up

In 2014, Conservation Corps kicked off a series of alumni and friends meetups throughout Minnesota and Iowa. Alumni, friends and project partners met in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth and Ames, Iowa to catch up, tip back a few and try to win some Corps swag. A special thanks to the Northern Pine Riders Snowmobile Club for their financial support in Duluth.

cleaning upVolunteer events brought together even more alumni, friends, community members and partners in 2014. In total, 1,978 volunteers cleared invasive garlic mustard, planted rain gardens, spread seed bombs, cleaned up along several rivers and provided disaster relief. These events were made possible by generous partners, including the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, Andersen Corporate Foundation, Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, REI, Saint Paul Natural Resources, MN DNR, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Saint Paul Garden Club, Metro Blooms, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Project AWARE.

“volunteering) just feels like a good thing to do. it gives back to you. it feels good to do something for other people — to make something better.” — meghan, como

woodland outdoor classroom planting volunteer


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2014 leadership development135 youth enrolled in the Summer Youth Corps130 youth enrolled in Youth Outdoors18 young adults served in seasonal field crews171 young adults served in year-round field crews12 young adults served as single placements5 young adults served in Home Energy Squads37 young adults served as conservation apprentices52 young adults served as youth leaders

Corps members engaged their communities with …Environmental education — 8,305 peopleCommunity outreach — 1,274 hours

Corps members received …26,612 hours of personal development training38,564 hours of technical skills training

2014 accomplishment highlightsAnimal exclosures & fence installation — 127,371 feetBoundary work & signing — 3,332 hoursCampsite establishment/maintenance — 775 sitesConstruction & carpentry — 4,685 hoursDebris removal — 258 tonsDock & pier construction — 910 feetEmergency response & recovery — 2,039 hoursErosion control & slope stabilization — 176 acresFire suppression — 612 acresGIS/GPS data & mapping — 4,573 hoursHistoric building/landmark restoration — 28 structuresHome energy-saving upgrades — 1,928 homesInvasive species management — 16,660 acresOak wilt management — 271 treesPlanting — 164,227 plants & treesPrescribed burning — 20,987 acresPublic access maintenance — 859 hoursRain garden installation/maintenance — 49 acresRecreation area & facility maintenance — 136 acresRetaining wall construction — 230 feetRiver obstruction removal — 416 milesSeed collection/nursery activities — 7,443 hoursSeeding — 76 acresTimber stand improvement — 1,069 acresTrail construction & improvement — 786 milesTrail structure installation — 9,396 feetTrail-user surveys — 1,779 surveysTree, plant & wildlife surveys — 1,870 surveysVegetation removal — 5,056 acresWater quality sampling — 2,715 samplesWildlife structure construction — 66 structures

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“the landowners were very impressed with the crews and still talk about how wonderful they were. Without the crews, it would’ve taken us nearly a month to get all the projects installed.” — Aimee Zimmermann,

east otter tail SWCD


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DeAR FRIeNDSoF tHe CoRpS

FederalAmeriCorps/CNCSNational Park ServiceU.S. Bureau of

ReclamationU.S. Fish and Wildlife

ServiceU.S. Forest Service

StateBoard of Water and

Soil Resources Iowa Department of

Natural Resources Minnesota Department

of Natural Resources Minnesota Department

of TransportationUniversity of Minnesota

Local governmentAnoka Conservation

DistrictAnoka CountyAnoka SWCDBayfield CountyBecker CountyBecker SWCDBenton SWCDBeltrami CountyBrown’s Creek

Watershed DistrictBrown CountyCapitol Region

Watershed DistrictCarlton SWCDCarnelian-Marine

Watershed DistrictCarver SWCDCedar River

Watershed DistrictChisago SWCDCity of BemidjiCity of ChamplinCity of ChanhassenCity of ChatfieldCity of Duluth

City of EldonCity of Forest LakeCity of KimballCity of LakeshoreCity of LandfallCity of OakdaleCity of OwatonnaCity of Prior LakeCity of Red WingCity of RochesterCity of Saint PaulCity of Sioux CityCity of StillwaterClearwater River

Watershed DistrictComfort Lake Forest Lake

Watershed DistrictCook SWCDCoon Creek

Watershed DistrictCottonwood SWCDCrow Wing SWCDDakota SWCDDecatur County

Conservation BoardDes Moines County

Conservation Board East Ottertail SWCDFillmore SWCDFreeborn SWCDHeron Lake

Watershed DistrictHubbard SWCDIsanti SWCDJackson SWCDKanabec SWCDKoochiching SWCDLake CountyLake County SWCDLake of the Woods

SWCDLyon County SWCDMarshall SWCDMartin CountyMartin SWCD

Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization

Mille Lacs SWCDMinneapolis Park and

Recreation BoardMinnehaha Creek

Watershed DistrictMississippi Watershed

Management Organization

Pennington SWCDPioneer Creek

Watershed DistrictPolk County SWCDPope SWCDPottawattamie County

Conservation BoardPoweshiek County

Conservation BoardRamsey Conservation

DistrictRamsey CountyRamsey SWCDRamsey Washington

Metro Watershed District

Renville SWCDRoot River SWCDSac County

Conservation BoardScott SWCDSherburne SWCDShingle Creek

Watershed DistrictSouth St. Louis SWCDSouth Washington

Watershed DistrictStearns County SWCDSteele SWCDStevens SWCDStory County

Conservation BoardTama County

Conservation BoardTraverse SWCDWadena SWCD

Washington CountyWashington SWCDWoodbury County

Conservation BoardWright SWCDYellow Medicine SWCD

NonprofitAudubon Center of

the NorthwoodsAudubon SocietyCollege Prep

ElementaryConfidence Learning

CenterThe Conservation

FoundationDeep Portage

Conservation Reserve

Friends of Minnesota Valley

Great River GreeningHabitat for HumanityHartley Nature CenterHawkeye Area

Community Action Program

Headwaters Science Center

Hmong American Farmers Association

Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service

Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

Lake Superior Steelhead Association

Lady Slipper Scenic Byway Association

Little Rock Lake Association

Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association

Minnesota Valley TrustMinnesota Waterfowl

Association

National Wild Turkey Federation

Neighborhood Energy Connection

North Country Trail Association

North House Folk School

Pelican Group of Lakes Improvement District

Pheasants ForeverPrairie Island Indian

CommunityProject Get OutdoorsRainy Lake

Sportfishing ClubRuffed Grouse SocietyRural Renewable

Energy AllianceStanding Cedars Land

ConservancySugarloaf North

Shore Stewardship Association

Superior Hiking Trail Association

The Corps Network The Nature

ConservancyThree Rivers Park

DistrictUpper Sioux

CommunityWestwood Village

Home AssociationWhite Bear

Montessori SchoolWildlife ForeverWill Steger FoundationWolf Ridge

Environmental Learning Center

Youth Farm

project partners


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Minnesota Unrestricted Temporarily Total RestrictedSupport & Revenue Support AmeriCorps $821,424 $821,424 Charitable Donations $19,775 $19,775 In-kind Contributions $43,126 $43,126 Foundation & Corporate Contributions $17,000 $146,892 $163,892 State General Funds (State FY13) $945,000 $945,000 Revenue Legacy Funds $1,515,661 $1,515,661 Other Partner Support $3,817,391 $3,817,391 Interest & Miscellaneous $4,781 $4,781 Total Support & Revenue $6,239,158 $1,091,892 $7,331,050Net Assets Released from Restrictions State Natural Resource Fund $476,487 State General Operating Funds $475,682 Foundation Grants $129,308 Total Released $1,081,477 ($1,081,477)Expenses Minnesota Program Services Youth Programs $1,311,634 $1,311,634 Individual Placement Programs $561,728 $561,728 Young Adult Field Programs $4,396,934 $4,396,934 Management & General $466,114 $466,114 Fundraising $78,799 $78,799 Total Expenses $6,815,209 $6,815,209

organizational totals (MN & IA) See Balance Sheet for details.

Change in Net Assets $550,329 10,415 $560,744Net Assets, beginning of year $3,904,770 $521,255 $4,426,025Net Assets, end of year $4,455,099 $531,670 $4,986,769

IowaSupport & Revenue Support AmeriCorps $152,001 Revenue Partner Support $490,674 Total Support & Revenue $642,675Expenses Iowa Program Services Young Adult Program $569,001 Management & General $24,895 Fundraising $3,145 Total Expenses $597,041

2014 expenses

62%YOUNGADULTFIELD

PROGRAMS

22%YOUTH

PROGRAMS

8%INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT PROGRAMS

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

7% 1%FUNDRAISING

76% PARTNER SUPPORT(fee-for-service)

24%AMERICORPS

2014 revenue

balance sheet 2014 2013Assets Current Assets $5,057,753 $4,614,144 Fixed Assets $137,650 $78,411 Other Assets $7,110 $7,110 Total Assets $5,202,513 $4,699,665Liabilities & Net Assets Current Liabilities $215,744 $273,640 Total Liabilities $215,744 $273,640 Net Assets Unrestricted $4,455,099 $3,904,770 Temporarily Restricted $531,670 $521,255 Total Net Assets $4,986,769 $4,426,025 Total Liabilities & Net Assets $5,202,513 $4,699,665Income & Expense Statement Revenue $7,973,726 $8,101,499 Expenses $7,412,982 $7,491,584 Increase in Net Assets $560,744 $609,915

financial statementsStatements of activities and changes in Net Assets, year ended December 31, 2014

95%YOUNGADULT

PROGRAM

4%MANAGEMENT

& GENERAL

2014 expenses

<1%FUNDRAISING

2014 revenue

52%OTHER

PARTNER SUPPORT(fee-for-service)

20%LEGACYFUNDS

11%AMERICORPS

7%STATE NATURAL

RESOURCE FUNDS

STATE GEN OP FUNDS

3%CHARITABLE

GIFTS7%

mission

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Anna Kucera, Chair Executive Director, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program

Larry Kramka, First Vice Chair Environmental Services Sector Lead, Houston Engineering

Christine Goepfert, Second Vice Chair Upper Midwest Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association

Jill Johnson, Secretary Urban Forester, Corps Alumnus

Keri Grittner, Treasurer Accounting/Business Instructor, Rasmussen College

Andrew Arlt Environmental Science & Biology Teacher, VOA High School

Yer Chang Performance Improvement Specialist, State of Minnesota Department of Human Services

Monty Dehn, emeritusRetired Hennepin County Deputy Sheriff, CCC alumnus

Rita J. Garcia President & CEO, Business Partners Plus, Inc.

Jennifer Goepfert District Specialist for Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports, Saint Paul Public Schools

Scott Keefer Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Richard Leopold Director, Polk County Conservation Board, Iowa

Yolanda Lewis Organizational Leadership Consultant

Shawn R. Murphy Minnesota Realtor & CEO of Tradition Creek

Barbara Sommer Oral Historian and Author

Sofia Troutman Customer Engagement and Industry Relations Manager, Skyline Exhibits

John Velin Retired Executive Director, LCCMR

Conservation Corps provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to youth and young adults while accomplishing conservation, natural resource management and emergency response work.

Our goals are to help young people from diverse backgrounds become more connected to the environment, engaged in conservation, involved in the

community and prepared for future employment.

2015 board of directors

60 E Plato Blvd Ste 210 | Saint Paul MN 55107 | 651 209 9900

conservationcorps.org | facebook.com/conservationcorps

twitter.com/conservcorps | instagram.com/conservcorps

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MINNESOTA & IOWA

conservation corps 2014 annual report

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