2007 Rockland Americorps Environmental Training Program Overview

The Americorps Training program gives new members an opportunity to learn about local environmental issues and accomplish projects by learning new skills together.  The skills learned during the training week help prepare them for their summer placement.  This is just a taste of the 2007 training program.   

Americorps members embarked on a hike at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area with local environmental expert Chuck Stead.  They learned about animal tracks, encroaching development on our precious parks and helpful tips for exploring the outdoors.

They learned the challenges that our local highway departments face in keeping Rockland streams clean and flowing.  Wayne Ballard, Superintendent of the Clarkstown Highway Department inspects debris collected by Americorps members. 

Keeping our walkways clear of high brush and weeds is an important component of roadway safety and maintaining pedestrian traffic.

Members worked with compost and learn about bio-dynamic farming from John McDowell & Alexandra Spadea of Camp Hill Farm in Pomona.  It is often a team effort to screen and mix the compost!

Members prepared a new planting bed for Camp Hill Farm, utilizing the double dig method.  Double digging is a common biodynamic farming technique which improves drainage and plant growth with a mixture of organic compost.

A day would not be complete without tending to some of the vegetables.  Straw is used as a mulch to help reduce weeds and retain soil moisture.

The entire team works together installing a community rain garden at Memorial Park in Spring Valley in an effort to help filter stormwater runoff and improve the aesthetics in the park.  In a collaborative effort with CCE Master Gardeners, Rockland County Solid Waste Authority, the Village Parks and Public Works Departments, Americorps members installed hundreds of plants. 

The existing site of the rain garden consisted of extremely compacted soil and no vegetation.  The site was prepared with recycled crushed glass as a bottom layer to help encourage stormwater runoff infiltration and compost to naturally feed the plants.

Recycled crushed glass provided by the Rockland County Solid Waste Authority was used below the soil mixture to help with drainage at the site.

Planting day begins….

Having fun in the mud!

Spreading the mulch to conserve soil moisture, prevent weed growth and add a nice finishing touch.

All in a days work.

Americorps members learn the basics of landscape design from Master Gardener, Kit Meenan at Haverstraw Bay Park.

Prepared by: Jeff Geller, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Training Coordinator