Written by Tessa Collar and other Elm 5 members
If you’ve been to Bender Mountain for a hike recently, you might have noticed that there are some new trails, switchbacks, and views of the Ohio River along the ridge trail. This work was done by Elm 5, an AmeriCorps NCCC Summer of Service team who served with Western Wildlife Corridor from June 22nd to August 2nd. The team of 10 worked with Western Wildlife director Matt Trokan to improve trail accessibility, by building culverts, installing water bars, and completing reroutes. The team also removed invasive honeysuckle, clearing the way for native flora and fauna to come back. AmeriCorps NCCC is a federal program that provides 18-26 year olds from across the country the opportunity to serve a community in need in the US.
The NCCC Summer of Service program focuses on addressing environmental stewardship and affordable housing issues. While serving at WWC, Elm 5 removed 21,825 pounds of non-native, exotic vegetation, mainly honeysuckle, from 23.25 acres of Western Wildlife Corridor nature preserves. They also constructed 0.44 miles of new, accessible hiking trails by mapping out routes, raking and removing vegetation, bench cutting, adding switchbacks, rock structures, and water drainage features. In total, four completed reroutes replace old trails that were less accessible due to incline and erosion. The team repaired 1.27 miles of existing trails to be more accessible, safer, and prevent further erosion of soil and tree roots by adding water bars, rock structures, water drainage features, replanting native vegetation, and resurfacing paths. They also installed 14 water bars, and 19 other rock structures and water drainage features on new and existing trails. In total, Elm 5 contributed 2694 hours of direct service this summer, with each Corps Member contributing an average of 307.4 service hours.
During their time in Cincinnati, the team stayed in the Clifton area where they enjoyed close access to the zoo, library, shops, and restaurants during their down time and weekends. Elm 5 enjoyed fireworks at Ault Park on the 4th of July, as well as the Rock and Roll Carnival in Northside that weekend. The team explored the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Zoo, Contemporary Arts Center, Newport Aquarium, and Findlay Market. The whole team was new to Cincinnati, with members originally from Puerto Rico, New York, Kansas, Idaho, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. Elm 5 found Cincinnati to be a welcoming and lively city and were glad to spend the summer in Clifton, downtown, on Bender Mountain, and at the Kirby Nature Center.
Elm 5 members were grateful for the opportunity to have an impact on the community and they learned many new things along the way. Team members gained skills including trail building, plant identification, water bar installation, patience, communication, leadership, and resilience. The team greatly benefitted from the continuous support from Western Wildlife board members, director, community members, neighbors, and the Sisters of Charity. These experiences, skills, and personal connections will help members throughout their lives as they build confidence and enter the workforce, contributing to their sense of direction and purpose. Elm 5 would like to extend their thanks to the Western Wildlife Corridor and the city of Cincinnati for an unforgettable summer.
