conservation corps mn & ia 2013 annual report

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

ANNUAL REPORT

2013

2 2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

letter from lenAnother year of Corps work is on the books. In 2013, we marked the 80th anniversary of the CCC with a party to celebrate our alumni and friends from those early days through today. The relationships we have forged over the years -- with project partners, elected officials, community groups, alumni, family and friends -- have supported us and allowed us to grow.

Our youth and young adult program participants accomplished a tremendous amount of conservation work in 2013 and proved once again what we claim in our motto: resources restored, lives changed. Though we see evidence of changed lives in our conversations with young people every day, we were heartened by a University of Minnesota study that showed Youth Outdoors alumni are higher academic achievers, regularly volunteer and plan to pursue higher education because of their Conservation Corps service.

This report highlights new and ongoing work our young people accomplished over the last year including disaster response, volunteer and alumni engagement, historic restoration, natural resources management and leadership development. We also received several awards for our work and accreditation with both the Charities Review Council and the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.

If it is true that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us, then let us proudly step up to support more than 600 corps members taking part in our 2014 programs. Together we can offer them life-changing experiences and lay the groundwork for those who will succeed them.

Thank you for continuing to help restore resources and change lives.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report 3

Our programsAmeriCorps (ages 18-25)Our AmeriCorps positions provide meaningful work for young adults in managing natural resources, responding to disasters, conserving energy and leading volunteers. Corps members receive a living allowance, health insurance and an education award.Programs: Field Crews, Seasonal Crews, Conservation Apprenticeship Academy, Home Energy Squads, Individual Placements and Youth Leaders

Youth (ages 15-18)Our youth programs are led by AmeriCorps 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 220 youth and 199 young adults who responded to surveys about their service in 2013.

After serving in 2013, youth reported*...

After serving in 2013, young adults reported*...

can better work on teams

are more confident in their leadership skills

better understand different cultures in Minnesota

are more knowledge- able about the environment

have a stronger sense of personal responsibility

have more self confidence

are more goal-oriented

feel better prepared for their next job

can better work on teams

have gained or improved technical skills

have a stronger sense of personal responsibility

are more knowledge- able about the envi-ronment

have a stronger work ethic

have more self confidence

are registered to vote

are proud of the work their crew accomplished

95%90%96%98%

99%93%96%96%

90%98%88%91%

84%88%93%96%

real resultsConservation Corps changes lives and prepares young people for successful careers.


notable in 2013

bloggersIn 2013, we were excited to have five of our field crew members blog all year about their experiences; they took turns posting stories and notes about their personal challenges, observations, project work, team relationships and life lessons. Visit conservationcorps.org/crewblog to read more.

disaster responseEast Coast. In March we brought home the last of more than 100 corps members who each served at least 30 days on recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Corps members served 24,000 hours and managed 20,000 hours of volunteer time.

Alaska. After a devastating late spring flood caused by an ice jam on the Yukon River, two dozen corps and staff members deployed to the remote town of Galena to help local residents recover their homes and communities. During the 60-day extended deployment, corps members devoted 10,000 hours to gutting houses, cleaning up debris, doing laundry, hauling wood and connecting with families.

Oklahoma. In the wake of summer tornadoes that devastated many Oklahoma towns, 13 Iowa crew members and two staff members deployed for two weeks to assist with disaster relief.

historic restorationDuring the summer, a Corps crew renovated a 100-year-old historic icehouse on the shore of Lake Superior. The property once featured a two-story lodge along with the separate icehouse to keep food fresh. The lodge and grounds are now owned by the National Park Service as part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

Every year there is something new at the Corps, from new types of project work to increased opportunities in a specific community to unexpected events that take us to new places. In 2013, we reached out to more alumni and volunteers, connecting them more closely to our ongoing work and mission. We responded to disasters, celebrated our history and tried our hand at new skills.


volunteersWith funding and partner support from REI, we strengthened our volunteer outreach in 2013. Along with our annual St. Croix cleanup, we led volunteers in making seed bombs and promoted volunteerism at our 80th birthday celebration and during youth-led neighborhood service projects. Our AmeriCorps young adults also managed volunteers during deployments and at events. In total, the Corps engaged 2,949 volunteers in 15,546 hours of service.

celebrating 80 yearsIn 2013 we celebrated 80 years since the Civilian Conservation Corps began, with a party at the state fairgrounds DNR complex featuring live music, games, a silent auction and a ceremony honoring five CCC alumni who attended.

alumni service Alumni from all four years of the seasonal Superior National Forest program reconnected over what they love: trail brushing, camping, canoeing, sharing meals and reminiscing. During the program’s four-year run, the Corps created 182 seasonal jobs, operating between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.


Much of the work we do each year is ongoing, building on relationships established through years of hard work and remarkable results. In 2013, we were honored with several awards and accreditations and accomplished a mountain of good work.

ongoing in 2013

Conservation Partner of the Year

prescribed burns The Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation has significantly increased the capacity of southeast Minnesota crews to perform prescribed burns that restore and maintain natural prairies and oak

savannas. In 2013, a grant helped our southern district purchase a six-wheel utility vehicle for Rochester field crews. In total, crews conducted prescribed burns on 32,412 acres.

trail workIn 2013, crews completed a third year of work to improve accessibility to one of the North Shore’s most popular sites, Shovel Point at Tettegouche State Park. In total, Corps crews constructed or maintained 885 miles of trails throughout the state and region.

awards Ongoing work in 2013 earned the Corps several awards: RNeighborWoods Mayor’s Urban Forestry Volunteer Award (five years of tree planting), Story County Youth Volunteer Award (four years of work in Iowa) and Carlton SWCD Conservation Partner of the Year (five years of work).

apprenticeshipsIn its third year, the Conservation Apprenticeship Academy placed 35 young adults in Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Minnesota to work one-on-one with conservation professionals.


accreditationsIn 2013, the Corps received two significant accreditations that recognize its record of hard work done well.

Conservation Corps was awarded the Charities Review Council “Meets Standards” seal. The Corps was also certified as a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.

CCC legacyAfter 33 years, the North Star Chapter of the CCC closed shop. In its heyday, the chapter boasted 280 members who gathered regularly. Conservation Corps Minnesota helped coordinate chapter activities and is honored to have supported the CCC legacy.

youth crews For many years Summer Youth Corps crews have worked with the Will Steger Foundation. Last year they built steps leading to a new conference center under construction in Ely, Minn. In 2013, 158 youth took part in SYC.

Youth Outdoors crews culminate their semester experience with spring service projects. This crew worked on building a bench at the Garden of Good Hearts in West Saint Paul. In 2013, 162 young people participated in YO.

cross pollinationFour times a year participants from different programs plan a joint day of service and education, called All Corps Days. Service can include everything from creating rain barrels to fixing bikes to maintaining rain gardens.


2013 leadership development158 youth enrolled in the Summer Youth Corps163 youth enrolled in Youth Outdoors15 young adults served in seasonal field crews170 young adults served in year-round field crews14 young adults served as single placements8 young adults served in Home Energy Squads35 young adults served as conservation apprentices56 young adults served as youth leaders

Corps members engaged their communities with …Environmental education — 13,008 peopleCommunity outreach — 3,542 hours

Corps members received …18,444 hours of personal development training43,910 of technical skills training6,469 hours of youth education & training

2013 accomplishment highlightsAnimal exclosures & fence installation — 124,853 feetBoundary work & signing — 4,827 hoursCampsite establishment/maintenance — 493 sitesConstruction & carpentry — 8,013 hoursDebris removal — 164 tonsDock & pier construction — 310 feetEmergency response & recovery — 14,226 hoursErosion control & slope stabilization — 21.5 acresFire suppression — 30,114 acresGIS/GPS data & mapping — 6,822 hoursHistoric building/landmark restoration — 56 structuresHome energy-saving upgrades — 1,754 homesInvasive species management — 13,559 acresMan-made feature & trail user surveys — 1,276 surveysNatural resource facility maintenance — 3,295 hoursOak wilt management — 1,530 treesPlanting — 142,754 plants & treesPrescribed burning — 24,827 acresPublic access maintenance — 1,118 hoursRain garden installation/maintenance — 39.5 acresRecreation area maintenance — 75 acresRetaining wall construction — 550 feetRiver obstruction removal — 300 milesSeed collection/nursery activities — 5,248 hoursSeeding — 231 acresTimber stand improvement — 119 acresTrail construction & improvement — 1,048 milesTrail structure installation — 12,545 feetTree, plant & wildlife surveys — 1,135 surveysVegetation removal — 2,377 acresWater quality sampling — 3,049 samplesWetland restoration — 60 hoursWildlife structure construction — 46 structures

The Corps is an ideal way to figure out your aspirations in life, all the while learning practical skills and establishing meaningful relationships with others. — Brian Strandberg, Field Crew Leader


Project partnersFederalAmeriCorps/CNCSFederal Emergency

Management AgencyNational Park ServiceU.S. Bureau of ReclamationU.S. Fish and Wildlife

ServiceU.S. Forest Service

StateBoard of Water and

Soil Resources Iowa Commission on

Volunteer Service Iowa Department of

Natural Resources Minnesota Department of

Natural Resources ServeMinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota

Local governmentAnoka Conservation DistrictAnoka SWCDBayfield CountyBeltrami CountyBemidji Area SchoolsBenton County SWCDBlackhawk County

Conservation Board (IA)Brown’s Creek

Watershed DistrictCapitol Region

Watershed DistrictCarlton CountyCarlton SWCDCarver SWCDCedar River

Watershed DistrictChisago SWCDCity of BemidjiCity of Chanhassen

City of EdinaCity of FridleyCity of OakdaleCity of OwatonnaCity of Prior LakeCity of Red WingCity of RochesterCity of SavageCity of ShorewoodCity of Saint PaulCity of StillwaterCity of White Bear LakeCity of WoodburyClearwater River

Watershed DistrictCook SWCDCottonwood SWCDCrow Wing SWCDDakota CountyDakota SWCDDouglas SWCDEast Ottertail SWCDFillmore SWCDForest Lake

Watershed District

Freeborn SWCDHardin County

Conservation Board (IA)Hubbard SWCDItasca CountyKittson County SWCDLake CountyLake County SWCDLake of the Woods SWCDLower Mississippi River

Watershed Mgmt OrgMarshall CountyMarshall SWCDMartin SWCDMiddle St. Croix Water

Mgmt OrganizationMille Lacs SWCDMinneapolis Park &

Recreation BoardMinnehaha Creek

Watershed District

Mississippi Watershed Mgmt Organization

Mitchell County Conservation Board (IA)

Olmsted County ParksPennington SWCDPolk County

Conservation Board (IA)Pope SWCDRamsey Conservation

DistrictRamsey CountyRamsey SWCDRamsey Washington Metro

Watershed DistrictRedwood SWCDRenville CountyRenville SWCDRice Creek

Watershed DistrictRoot River SWCDSarah Creek

Watershed DistrictScott SWCDSherburne SWCDShingle Creek

Watershed DistrictSouth St. Louis SWCDSouth Washington

Watershed DistrictStearns County SWCDSteele SWCDStevens SWCDStory County

Conservation Board (IA)Three Rivers Park DistrictTodd SWCDWadena SWCDWashington CountyWashington SWCDWoodbury County

Conservation Board (IA)Wright SWCDYellow Medicine SWCD

NonprofitApostle Islands

Historic Preservation Conservancy

Audubon Center of the Northwoods

Audubon SocietyThe Conservation

Foundation (IA)Ducks UnlimitedFriends of the

Mississippi River

Great River GreeningHabitat for HumanityHartley Nature CenterHeadwaters Science CenterIowa Natural Heritage

FoundationIowa Wildlife CenterIzaak Walton LeagueJohnson County Heritage

Trust (IA)Lutsen TrailbreakersMinnesota Deer Hunter’s

AssociationMinnesota Historical

SocietyMinnesota Horse CouncilMinnesota Prairie

Chicken SocietyMinnesota Trout UnlimitedNational Parks

Conservation AssociationNational Wild Turkey

FederationNeighborhood Energy

ConnectionNorth House Folk SchoolNorthern Pine Riders

Snowmobile ClubNorthland ArboretumPheasants ForeverPrairie Island Indian

CommunityPrairie Wetlands

Learning CenterProject Get OutdoorsRainy Lake

Sportfishing ClubRuffed Grouse SocietyRural Renewable

Energy AllianceSalvation ArmySecond Harvest Food BankSugarloaf: North Shore

Stewardship AssociationSuperior Hiking Trail

AssociationThe Corps Network The Nature ConservancyTrout Lake AssociationUnion Park District CouncilViking SportsmenWhiterock Conservancy (IA)Will Steger FoundationWolf Ridge Environmental

Learning CenterYouth Farm

The crew came to the work site ready and willing to work… with a “can do” attitude. — Cindy Larom, Bureau of Reclamation


Minnesota Unrestricted Temporarily Total RestrictedSupport & RevenueSupportAmeriCorps $936,401 $936,401Charitable Donations $17,915 $17,915In-kind Contributions $76,139 $76,139Foundation & Corporate Contributions $12,500 $103,808 $116,308State General Funds (State FY13) $945,000 $945,000RevenueLegacy Funds $967,006 $967,006Other Partner Support $3,842,147 $3,842,147Interest & Miscellaneous $19,362 $19,362Total Support & Revenue $6,423,487 $1,048,808 $7,472,295Net Assets Released from RestrictionsState Natural Resource Fund $569,860State General Operating Funds $346,455Foundation Grants $107,856Total Released $1,024,171 ($1,024,171)ExpensesMinnesota Program ServicesYouth Programs $1,483,492 $1,483,492Single Placement Programs $563,283 $563,283Young Adult Field Programs $4,255,339 $4,255,339Management & General $472,724 $472,724Fundraising $59,746 $59,746Total Expenses $6,834,584 $6,834,584

Organizational Totals (MN & IA) See Balance Sheet for details.

Change in Net Assets $585,564 24,637 $610,201Net Assets, beginning of year $3,319,492 $496,618 $3,816,110Net Assets, end of year $3,905,056 $521,255 $4,426,311

IowaSupport & RevenueSupportAmeriCorps $167,962Corporate Grants $2,000In-kind Contributions $8,360State Grant $4,090RevenuePartner Support $446,792Total Support & Revenue $629,204ExpensesIowa Program ServicesYoung Adult Program $628,689Management & General $24,880Total Expenses $656,714

2013 revenue

52%OTHER

PARTNER SUPPORT(fee-for-service)

20%LEGACYFUNDS

13%AMERICORPS

8%STATE NATURAL

RESOURCE FUNDS

STATE GEN OP FUNDS

3%CHARITABLE

GIFTS4%

2013 expenses

62%YOUNGADULTFIELD

PROGRAMS

22%YOUTH

PROGRAMS

8%SINGLE

PLACEMENT PROGRAMS

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

7% 1%FUNDRAISING

71% PARTNER SUPPORT(fee-for-service)

27%AMERICORPS

2%GRANTS

2013 revenue

96%YOUNGADULT

PROGRAM

4%MANAGEMENT

& GENERAL

2013 expenses

financial statementsStatements of activities and changes in Net Assets, year ended December 31, 2013

balance sheet

2013 2012AssetsCurrent Assets $4,614,144 $4,030,726Fixed Assets $78,411 $69,997Other Assets $7,110 $7,110Total Assets $4,699,665 $4,107,833Liabilities & Net AssetsCurrent Liabilities $273,640 $291,723Total Liabilities $273,640 $291,723Net Assets $4,426,025 $3,816,110Unrestricted $3,904,770 $3,319,492Temporarily Restricted $521,255 $496,618Total Net Assets $4,426,025 $3,816,110Total Liabilities & Net Assets $4,699,665 $4,107,833Income & Expense StatementRevenue $8,101,499 $7,994,296Expenses $7,491,584 $7,278,640Increase in Net Assets $609,915 $715,656

Anna Kucera, Chair Marketing and Public Relations Director, National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter

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

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

Barbara Sommer, Secretary Oral Historian and Author

Keri Grittner, Treasurer Accounting/Business Instructor, Rasmussen College

Andrew Arlt Environmental Science & Biology Teacher, SALT High School

James Cannon, Jr. Employment Guidance Counselor, Ramsey County

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

Monty Dehn, emeritusRetired Hennepin County Deputy Sheriff, CCC alumnus

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

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

Jill Johnson Urban Forester, Corps Alumnus

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

Richard Leopold Deputy Director, Polk County Conservation Board, Iowa

Yolanda Lewis Organizational Leadership Consultant

Shawn R. Murphy CEO, Tradition Creek

Mark Skeie Founder, Mapping Your Retirement

Sofia Troutman Segment Manager, Skyline Exhibits

John Velin Retired Executive Director, LCCMR

MissionConservation 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.

2014 board of directors

MINNESOTA & IOWA

60 E Plato Blvd Ste 210 | Saint Paul MN 55107 | 651 209 9900 | conservationcorps.org | facebook.com/conservationcorps | twitter.com/conservcorps

Printed with agri-based inks on paper with PCW content.

conservation corps mn & ia 2013 annual report

Documents

conservation work

conservation corps service

summer youth corps

youth programs

lenanother year of corps

youth outdoors alumni

handson conservation

meaningful work