AmeriCorps NCCC Serves with Camp Orkila

— from Grace Zokovitch —

From Mar. 27 to May 15, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) team, Blue 6, is working in Eastsound, Washington on Orcas Island. The nine-person team is serving at YMCA Camp Orkila on various project around the camp.

Camp Orkila was founded in 1906 and aims to strengthen the surrounding community and provide unique experiences to young people. The camp offers sessions throughout the year to schools in the area, provides a space for different groups participating in outdoor retreats, invites children from all over to participate in seasonal camp sessions, and more. It is located in the forests and along the beach of the striking island and has a large outdoor recreation component.

The AmeriCorps NCCC team was brought in to complete several projects that will make the camp safer for campers, mitigate potential fire, and help promote a sustainable ecosystem in the area.

Sarah Fradkin, a team member in Blue Six says, “I am really enjoying working on this island and getting to interact with the people at this camp. They’ve been really friendly and welcoming, and I’m glad we get to be here serving this community and helping sustain this beautiful environment.”

Blue Six is working on a range of projects that include cutting and removing trees, installing regulation fire breaks, and removing invasive species. The team hopes to truly impact the environment in a sustainable fashion and leave the camp safer for campers and visitors who access to the beautiful sites.

The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and its FEMA Corps units engage 2,800 young Americans in a full-time, 10-month commitment to service each year. AmeriCorps NCCC members address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development; FEMA Corps members are solely dedicated to disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery work. The programs are administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS is the federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.