AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. Members are assigned to one of five campuses, located in Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa. The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits—secular and faith based, local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national or state parks, Indian Tribes and schools members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned. Drawn from the successful models of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the U.S. military, AmeriCorps NCCC is built on the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens and that national service programs work effectively with local communities to address pressing needs.

With AmeriCorps NCCC, I worked with Destiny Ranch in Lodi, California, the Lakeside River Park Conservancy outside San Diego, California, Inside the Outdoors Outdoor Science School in the San Bernardino mountains, California, and the North Willamette Valley and ReStore in Mount Angel and Silverton, Oregon.

Click here for Operation Solace, my electronic journal of my year of service.

Click here for my photographic journal of my experience.

Click here for pictures my fellow teammates took.