Final Report of [YEAR]Community Crew
The Student Conservation Association in Partnership with
[Partner or Site Name Ex: Robert E. Lee Park- Baltimore, MD]
Crew Leaders - you and your co leaders names here
You must submit a final report at the end of your program. Make a copy of the reports for your own files before sending it to SCA. All reports must besubmitted in digital format, not paper. Reports are due within 2 weeks of completion of program. Use this template for creating your internal report. Please substitute all examples and descriptive text with your own crew information.
Introduction:
Example:Baltimore Summer Crew 1 worked in Robert E. Lee Park, which is located in Baltimore City, but it is leased to Baltimore County. We were one of three Baltimore Conservation Leadership Corps (BCLC) that worked on conservation service projects in Baltimore City and County parks. Robert E. Lee Park offers a variety of recreation activities within its 415 acres like hiking through the vast trail network, or canoeing and fishing on its 70 acre lake. The BCLC crew members worked on a diversity of projects at Robert E. Lee Park, including: planting native plants, removing invasive species, installing erosion control structures and building a rock culvert. The crew consisted of 7 new crew members, 2 alumni members, 1 new crew leader and one veteran crew leader.
The Crew:
Brief overview of your crew and leaders. Where they came from, if they are alumni, etc.
Example: The 2012Robert E. Lee Park Crew included 8 members from Baltimore City :
- Hannah Craig – Crew Leader, Education Major, University Maryland
- Sarah Flower –2x Veteran Crew Leader, Nursing Major, John Hopkins U.
- Melina Sutter - Three time SCA Alumni from Carver HS
- Sarah Morgan - BCLC Alumni from Fredrick Douglass HS
- Dakota Parker –Rising Stars
- Richard Paterson –Baltimore Community HS
- Logan Fitzgerald –Fredrick Douglass HS
- Vincent Volpe –Antioch HS
- Jason Sanderson –Civitas HS
- Peter Smith –Rising Start
- Kwamel Couther –Fredrick Douglass HS, selected for NM crew
Bio and Quotes: Provide a brief bio and quotes for at least 3 members
Example:
This was Kwamel’s first year with the BCLC program. He did an internship with the Real Food Farm, so he was familiar with CivicWorks and the BCLC. He was a very quiet person the first couple of weeks, but really blossomed towards the end of the program. Kwamel was one of the members chosen to participate in the New Mexico crew after the 6 week BCLC program finished. He really enjoyed both programs and hopes to work with the SCA in the future.
“We’ve worked around bugs and insects that we’ve never seen before. We’ve also learned the tools that we will be using and the safety necessary when using the tools... For this summer job, working with the SCA gives me the opportunity to get more job experience, get to learn about the outside world, to know other people, make new friends and to make some money to take care of me and my family and so I can just have money to spend during the summer time.” Kwamel Couther
Accomplishments:
Describe your work project(s). Comment on the location, type of work performed, amount of work accomplished, and the suitability of the project. Your work log will include this in detail. Describe the measures you took to minimize the group’s impact.
Accomplishments (first time working together as a group, improved work ethic, group accomplishments)
Example:
Projects Accomplished:
- Area cleared of Invasive or Non-native plants (in square feet): 2500
- Native Species planted (number of plants): 80
- Number of drainage structures (i.e. water bars, dips) built: 8
- Length of reinforced culvert built or maintained (in feet): 25
There are many areas of the park that are being damaged do to erosion. This erosion causes a lot of sediment to enter the streams and lakes in the park, which reduces the viability of the aquatic habitats. The team focused on two main areas. One area of concern was next to a culvert that was built in the early 1900’s. The soil next to the culvert was being washed away from heavy rains. The team used large rocks to secure the eroding section and essentially made a rock gutter/ culvert. The rocks hold the soil and give the runoff water a sustainable way to enter the stream below. Another erosion area that was degrading the lake was a steep trail that led down to the lake. The trail basically became a gully. Every time it rained, large amounts of sandy soil would be carried into the lake below. The team was able to shut down the trail with branches and timber check damsso that the erosion would be reduced.
The crew cleared approximately 2500 square feet of land near the dam. This area of land had been overgrown with exotic invasive plants like mile-minute vines, garlic mustard, porcelain berry, Japanese knotweed and many other unwanted species. Now that the land has been cleared the park rangers plan to replant this area with native plants. The native plants will supply local wildlife with shelter and food that is important to maintain the bio-diversity with-in the park.
Although the crew started off quiet and a bit disgruntled by the rules (i.e. no cell phones, hard hats at all times, long pants…) that soon melted away as the members grew comfortable with each other, the leaders and the conservation work. We were lucky to have some returning members on the crew that really had great attitudes, which helped get the crew through some of the tougher times. By setting great examples, their hard work ethic eventually spread throughout the crew and each week seemed to get easier. Although we don’t expect all of the members to want to return next year all but two said that it was one of their better summer work experiences.
Youth Development:
Describe your youth development and environmental education program: your goals, topics covered, and teaching methods used. Discuss the educational value of the program to the members. Also note particular resources, presenters or educational opportunities.
Example:This crew came from all across Baltimore to work together for 6 week. For many of these students it was their first introduction to working outside daily rain or shine. These students had this amazing experience and will remember what they did for their community and how they affect our earth. Several of the field trips influced the members but the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant created the most dialoge around waste, recycling and alternative energy. The Johnson controls presentation was also a hit for including mock interviews and a green job expert panel. This crew also focused on environmental education component such as reducing food wastes, watershed connections, local flora and fauna, energy conservation at home and job readiness skills.
Crew Highlights:
Describe any crew highlights that may be interest to our agency partners.
Agency/Partner Experience:
Provide feedback (positive and critical) about your agency coordinator and the general experience you had with the partner. Specifically comment on coordinator assistance, direction and availability, as well as logistics and tools.
Lessons Learned:
Describe key lessons learned from the program this period. Include any recommendations for next program cycle. Also include any program expectations that changed or were different than planned.
Special Thanks:
Example:Much appreciation goes to Johnson Controls and Baltimore County Parks for having a SCA crew join you this year! Special acknowledgement goes to Patrick Wilson for all the preprogram work, logistics and projects preparation. Thanks again!
Photos:
Include at least four pictures: group photo, photo of crew working, work structure/project and group activity. (Photos can also be inserted into different sections of the report to correspond with your text.)