Still hard work. Still a good deal. - Squarespace · two-session summer youth program, ... leadership skills training, ... Still hard work. Still a good deal. 2012 leadership

Still hard work. Still a good deal.

ANNUAL REPORT | CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA & IOWA | 2012

2 | ANNUAL REPORT CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA & IOWA 2012

Letter from LenThis year Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is celebrating two birthdays.

Ten years ago, our organization transitioned from a state program to an independent nonprofit. And 80 years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps was launched as the nation’s first service program. We continue to engage young people in meaningful conservation work as we embrace the spirit of the CCC: hard work and a good deal.

In 2003, when we moved out of the Department of Natural Resources due to state budget cuts, many wondered if we would survive. Today we are going strong with more than 100 collaborators, including the DNR as our largest partner. Our success is led by a dedicated staff and board of directors, and made possible by hundreds of you who contribute through partnerships, funding, encouragement and ideas.

In 2012, we helped more than 500 youth and young adults find meaningful service. Our most notable accomplishments include a record year of disaster relief provided by our young adult field crews in response to Hurricane Sandy, the expansion of our Youth Outdoors afterschool program into Minneapolis and a new two-session summer youth program, which increased enrollment by 50 percent.

We are optimistic as we head into another decade of community service and natural resource work, committed to equipping young people for their future in the workforce. We appreciate your support in restoring resources and changing lives.

Thank you.

Civilian Conservation Corps (1933-42) Part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal, the CCC provided conservation and natural resource jobs to unemployed young men. More than 77,000 served in Minnesota.

Youth Conservation Corps (1971-81) This federally-funded summer program engaged youth in forestry work, habitat restoration, trail maintenance and environmental education. Nationally, annual enrollment peaked in 1978 at 46,000.

Young Adult Conservation Corps (1978-81) This year-round program served 25,000 young adults based at residential camps nationwide, including Minnesota and Iowa. Participants completed valuable conservation and community service projects for federal, tribal and state agencies.

Minnesota Conservation Corps — DNR (1981-2003) When federal funding ended, the state legislature created this program in the DNR to continue important natural resource programs for young people.

Minnesota Conservation Corps — nonprofit (2003-10) Community supporters and MCC alumni established Friends of the Minnesota Conservation Corps in 1999. The nonprofit assumed operations of MCC after state funding dissolved in 2003, enrolling about 115 young people.

In 2012, Youth Outdoors expanded programming into Minneapolis.

More than half of our field crew members served on the East Coast cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy.

For the first time, Summer Youth Corps offered two 4-week sessions in 2012. Still hard work.

ANNUAL REPORT CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA & IOWA 2012 | 3


Our programsAmeriCorps (ages 18-25)

Our AmeriCorps positions provide meaningful work for young adults in managing natural resources, responding to disasters, conserving energy and leading volunteers. Corps members receive a living allowance, health insurance and an education award.

Programs: Field Crews, Seasonal Trail Crews, Home Energy Squads, Conservation Apprenticeship Academy, Individual Placements and Youth Leaders

Youth (ages 15-18)

Our youth programs are led by AmeriCorps members and offer opportunities to connect with the natural world through hands-on conservation and neighborhood beautification projects, job and leadership skills training, environmental science education and recreation.

Programs: Summer Youth Corps, Youth Outdoors

My years of service with the Conservation Corps have been the most valuable years of my life.

— Darian Motamed, 2012 Field Crew leader

Real resultsConservation Corps changes lives and prepares young people for successful careers.

After serving in 2012, youth reported*...92% can better work on teams90% have a stronger work ethic92% can better use hand tools91% have more self confidence88% are more confident in their leadership skills91% feel better prepared for their next job93% are more knowledgeable about the environment91% are more physically fit and health conscious

After serving in 2012, young adults reported*...88% can better work on teams82% have a stronger work ethic98% gained or improved technical skills86% have more self confidence88% have a stronger sense of personal responsibility98% are proud of the work their crew accomplished93% are more knowledgeable about the environment91% are registered to vote

* Results of 172 youth/167 young adults who responded to surveys about their service in 2012.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa In 2010, MCC changed its name to Conservation Corps Minnesota, to be consistent with the brand we established in 2009 when we launched Conservation Corps Iowa.

Responding to disastersMore than half of our young adult Field Crew members served deployments of 30 days or more on the East Coast, leading cleanup in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Some remained over the holidays, separated from family, but willingly stayed to muck out houses full of debris, mud and mold, and manage volunteers from across the country.

The Corps is a great experience: Make lifelong relationships. Create a lifetime of memories. Make a huge impact on our world.

— Dave Smith, 2012 Field Crew member

Managing fireAll Field Crew members are trained and certified to conduct prescribed burns and suppress wildland fires. Prescribed burning helps restore habitat by cleaning up leaf litter, returning nutrients to the soil and controlling invasive plants.

Building trailsCorps members built and improved 885 miles of trail for a variety of users. They worked on both motorized and non-motorized trails for biking, hiking, ATV, snowmobile and other recreational uses.


Still hard work.


Cleaning up riversField Crews helped clean up 22 miles of the Iowa River as part of the 10th annual Project AWARE (A Watershed River Expedition) in July. Hundreds of volunteers canoed the river to clean up trash, and 45 corps members assisted with logistics and removed large objects such as stoves, tires and a trashed floating platform made from 50-gallon drums.

Conserving energyHome Energy Squads installed energy-saving measures in 4,485 homes, saving homeowners an average of $176 per year in energy costs.

Protecting land & water35 Conservation Apprentices served alongside natural resource professionals in Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation Districts to learn hands-on skills in managing soil and water resources. In 2012, apprentices managed more than 1,000 acres of invasive species, took 2,700 water quality samples and maintained 224 acres of restoration areas.

Working with the Sherburne SWCD staff was the best technical and hands-on experience I could hope for.— Marta Behling, 2012 Apprentice


Unplugging, digging in135 young people served in one of two 4-week Summer Youth Corps sessions, a significant increase from previous years when we employed about 90 youth during one 8-week session. Youth left the program with goals to do more recycling, practice Leave No Trace, work outdoors and continue learning American Sign Language.

Creating leadersAs the program expanded from Saint Paul into Minneapolis, Youth Outdoors engaged 84 youth in afterschool educational and service-learning projects during fall and spring semesters and a four-week summer session. The youth develop and lead service projects in their communities to engage people in making a difference.

We enjoyed having the crews here, and appreciated their attention to detail, strong work ethic and cheerful disposition.

— Tim Loose, USFWS


Still hard work.


2012 leadership development135 youth enrolled in the Summer Youth Corps84 youth enrolled in afterschool Youth Outdoors43 young adults served in seasonal field crews165 young adults served in year-round field crews14 young adults served as single placements21 young adults served in Home Energy Squads35 young adults served as conservation apprentices46 young adults served as youth leaders

Corps members engaged their communities with …Environmental education — 7,489 peopleCommunity outreach — 1,308 hours

Corps members received …24,551 hours of personal development training30,891 hours of technical skills training7,495 hours of youth education & training

Before I joined the Conservation Corps I was really shy. But now... I can talk to people and smile and look them in the eyes.

— Breona Houskin, 2012 Youth Outdoors participant


2012 accomplishment highlightsAnimal exclosures & fence installation — 84,716 feetBoundary work & signing — 2,813 hoursBuilding & grounds maintenance — 6,816 hours Campsite establishment/maintenance — 848 sitesConstruction & carpentry — 3,538 hoursDebris removal — 100 tonsDock & pier construction — 325 feetEmergency response & recovery — 19,048 hoursErosion control & slope stabilization — 15.5 acresFire suppression — 34,997 acresForest inventory — 13 plotsGIS/GPS data & mapping — 7,177 hoursHistoric building/landmark restoration — 4 structuresHome energy-saving upgrades — 4,485 homesInvasive species management — 20,064 acresMan-made feature & trail user surveys — 816 surveysTrail construction — 34 milesTrail improvement — 851 milesNatural resource facility maintenance — 2,065 hoursOak wilt management — 86 treesPlanting — 150,451 plants & treesPrescribed burning — 32,412 acresPublic access maintenance — 1,092 hours Rain garden installation/maintenance — 11 acres

(479,160 sq ft)Recreation area maintenance — 245 acresRetaining wall construction — 737 feetRiver obstruction removal — 296 milesSeed collection/nursery activities — 4,951 hoursSeeding — 480 acresTimber stand improvement — 526 acresTrail structure installation — 27,566 feetTree, plant & wildlife surveys — 2,636 surveysVegetation removal — 4,342 acresWater quality sampling — 2,739 samplesWildlife structure construction — 101 structures

Project Partners

The quality of the work done by the crew — and associated decision making — is the finest I’ve seen in the 14 years I’ve worked with the Corps in our state parks.

— Harley Hanson, Minnesota DNR, Division of Parks and Trails

Federal AmeriCorps/ServeMNFederal Emergency

Management AgencyNational Park ServiceU.S. Bureau of ReclamationU.S. Department of

AgricultureU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Forest Service

StateBoard of Water and

Soil ResourcesIowa Department of

Natural ResourcesMinnesota Department of

Natural Resources

Local governmentAnoka CountyAnoka SWCDBecker CountyBeltrami CountyBeltrami County SWCDBlackhawk County

Conservation Board (IA)Brown’s Creek

Watershed DistrictCapitol Region

Watershed DistrictCarlton County SWCDCarver SWCDCass CountyCass County SWCDCedar River

Watershed DistrictCity of BemidjiCity of ChanhassenCity of EdinaCity of FridleyCity of OakdaleCity of RochesterCity of ShorewoodCity of Saint PaulCity of StillwaterClearwater River

Watershed District

Comfort Lake Watershed District

Cook County SWCDCottonwood SWCDCrow Wing SWCDDakota County SWCDDouglas CountyDouglas SWCDEast Ottertail SWCDFilmore SWCDForest Lake

Watershed DistrictHardin County

Conservation Board (IA)Hennepin CountyHubbard SWCDItasca CountyItasca SWCDLac Qui Parle SWCDLake of the Woods SWCDLower Mississippi River

Watershed Mgmt OrgMarshall SWCDMartin CountyMartin SWCDMiddle St. Croix

Water Mgmt OrgMille Lacs SWCDMinnehaha Creek

Watershed DistrictMississippi Watershed

Mgmt OrgNorth St. Louis SWCDPennington SWCDPine County SWCDPope SWCDRamsey CountyRamsey SWCDRamsey Washington Metro

Watershed DistrictRedwood SWCDRenville CountyRenville SWCDRice CountyScott County SWCDSherburne SWCDS. St. Louis County SWCD

Stevens SWCDStillwater High SchoolStory County

Conservation Board (IA) Thirty Lakes

Watershed DistrictThree Rivers Park DistrictTraverse SWCDVadnais Lake Area

Watershed Mgmt OrgWadena SWCDWashington

Conservation DistrictWashington CountyWashington County SWCDWoodbury County

Conservation Board (IA) Wright County SWCDYellow Medicine SWCD

NonprofitAudubon Center of

the NorthwoodsBig Sand Lake AssociationDeep Portage Conservation

ReserveEagle Bluff Environmental

Learning CenterFergus Falls Fish and

Game ClubFood at FirstFriends of Hickory Hills ParkFruit OasisGreat River GreeningHabitat for HumanityIowa Natural Heritage

Foundation Jay C. Hormel Nature CenterLady Slipper Scenic

Byway AssociationLutsen TrailbreakersMetro BloomsMinneapolis Park &

Recreation BoardMinnesota Deer Hunter’s

AssociationMinnesota Historical Society

Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society

Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society

National Wild Turkey Federation

Neighborhood Energy Connection

North Country Trail Association

Northern Pine Riders Snowmobile Club

Pelican Group of Lakes Improvement District

Portage Crooked Lake Improvement Assn

Prairie Island Indian Community

Redwood Area Communities Foundation

Rural Renewable Energy Alliance

Second Harvest Food BankSugarloaf Interpretive

Center AssociationSummit Hill AssociationSuperior Hiking Trail

AssociationThe Nature ConservancyTrinity Lutheran ChurchTrout UnlimitedUniversity of Minnesota

DuluthUpper Sioux CommunityUrban FarmingViking SportsmenWellstone ActionWestwood Village Home

AssociationWill Steger FoundationWolf Ridge Environmental

Learning CenterYMCA Youth Farm and

Market Project


Still hard work.


Financial StatementsStatements of Activities and Changes in Net Assets, Year Ended December 31, 2012

Minnesota Unrestricted Temporarily TotalSupport & Revenue Restricted

Support AmeriCorps $615,023 $615,023American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) $504,950 $504,950Charitable Donations $13,572 $13,572In-kind Contributions $18,637 $18,637Foundation & Corporate Contributions $29,209 $99,856 $129,065State General Funds (State FY13) $256,000 $256,000Revenue Legacy Funds $1,134,345 $250,000 $1,384,345 Other Partner Support $4,168,832 $4,168,832Interest & Miscellaneous $6,766 $6,766Total Support & Revenue $6,491,335 $1,095,856 $7,587,191 Net Assets Released from RestrictionsState Natural Resource Fund $449,996State General Operating Funds $310,545Legacy Funds $250,000Foundation Grants $132,682Total Released $1,143,223 ($1,143,223)

Expenses Minnesota Program ServicesYouth Programs $1,064,649 $1,064,649Single Placement Programs $777,720 $777,720Young Adult Field Programs $4,563,711 $4,563,711Management & General $408,686 $408,686Fundraising $61,060 $61,060Total Expenses $6,875,826 $6,875,826

Organizational Totals (MN & IA) See Balance Sheet for details.Change in Net Assets $751,522 ($35,867) $715,655Net Assets, beginning of year $2,567,969 $532,485 $3,100,454Net Assets, end of year $3,319,491 $496,618 $3,816,109

IowaSupport & Revenue

Support Charitable Grants $11,500In-kind Contributions $291Revenue Partner Support $395,315Total Support & Revenue $407,105

ExpensesIowa Program Services Young Adult Program $377,964Management & General $24,851Total Expenses $402,815

2012 REVENUE

3%GRANTS

97%PARTNER SUPPORT

(Fee-for-service)

2012 EXPENSES

94%YOUNG ADULT

PROGRAM

6%MANAGEMENT

& GENERAL

2012 EXPENSES

65%YOUNG ADULT

FIELD PROGRAMS

15%YOUTH

PROGRAMS

8%MANAGEMENT

& GENERAL

11%SINGLE

PLACEMENTPROGRAMS

2012 REVENUE

55%OTHER PARTNER

SUPPORT(Fee-for-service)

7%ARRA8%

AMERICORPS

2%CHARITABLE

GIFTS

18%LEGACY FUNDS

4%STATE GEN OP FUNDS

6%STATE NATURAL

RESOURCE FUNDS


<1%FUNDRAISING

Balance Sheet 2012 2011

AssetsCurrent Assets $4,030,726 $3,234,887 Fixed Assets $69,997 $61,060 Other Assets $7,110 $9,533 Total Assets $4,107,833 $3,305,480

Liabilities & Net Assets Current Liabilities $291,723 $205,026 Total Liabilities $291,723 $205,026 Net Assets $3,816,110 $3,100,454 Unrestricted $3,319,492 $2,567,969 Temporarily Restricted $496,618 $532,485 Total Net Assets $3,816,110 $3,100,454 Total Liabilities & Net Assets $4,107,833 $3,305,480

Income & Expense Statement Revenue $7,994,296 $7,900,834 Expenses $7,278,640 $7,331,149 Increase in Net Assets $715,656 $569,685

Volunteers In 2012, corps members managed 11,445 volunteers who contributed 31,655 work hours, much of it on Hurricane Sandy disaster response.

Cleaning up trashMore than 50 volunteers, led by a Conservation Corps youth crew, cleaned up 1.5 miles of St. Croix River bank near Stillwater in July. Volunteers, ranging from age 9 to 70-plus, pulled buckthorn and picked up debris, everything from pop bottles to tires. The cleanup was made possible by the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation and the Andersen Corporate Foundation with promotional support from REI.

Tending rain gardensCrew members cleaned up rain gardens along the Central Corridor in November as part of an All Corps Day event focused on urban sustainability along the Corridor and the Hiawatha Light Rail Line. Four times a year, AmeriCorps members from different Conservation Corps programs collaborate on service projects, education, training and reflection around an environmental theme.

Adopting the riverThe 21st Great Mississippi Riverboat Cleanup in June was hosted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Padelford Packet Boat Company and Conservation Corps Minnesota. Corps members supervised 84 volunteers who put in 336 total hours cleaning up more than 5,000 pounds of debris from riverbank areas between Saint Paul and the Wakota Bridge.


Still hard work.


Foundation & organizational$25,000+Fred C. and Katherine B.

Andersen Foundation

$10,000-24,999Carl and Verna Schmidt

FoundationLloyd K. Johnson

FoundationREISmartWool

Advocacy Fund

$5,000-9,999Andersen Corporate

FoundationBest Buy Children’s

FoundationBetty A. Lewis University

Environmental Charitable Trust

ERM Foundation — North America

The David B. Gold Foundation

ITC Charitable Giving Program

McNeely Foundation

Pentair FoundationXcel Energy Foundation

Up to $5,000Carlson Family

FoundationEnterprise HoldingsMetro SalesSaint Paul Garden ClubShakopee Mdewakanton

Sioux CommunityTradition Creek

Matching giftsAmeripriseTravelers Foundation

DonorsIndividual$75-149 Anonymous (1)Gordon AlexanderJustin BakkenEdwin BerniardCarissa ButlerJohn DeganMonty DehnNina EaginMiriam GieskeRalph & Mary HalbertRobert & Ramona HessRichard LeopoldCandice McElroyAdrian SchottroffNoreen S. SchuetteCathy SherwinDiane SimondiCarey SmithTimothy TrostMark van der LindenSusan Vento

up to $75Anonymous (2)Waneta AndersonCindy AngerhoferEric AntonsonAnn BarnesTimothy BeasterPaul BergstromLou Ann & Pete BoserJill BowdenKaren BowenRandy & Marcia

Brennan

William R. BreonCharissa BrudnakDavid CaryLisa CassioppiValerie J. CervenkaGary & Jane ClementsCindy DalenJeff DalenMargaret DavisRobert DeringerMavis FisherEllen FraleyJohn FriedmeyerMichelle GenereuxBromley GriffinChristine HammesRalph HansonHarley HansonCarter HedeenDaniel HeilmanAnna JeffersonKathie JohnsonAlyson JohnsonMartin KellerAmy KerberAmy KlugEllie KruegerCharlene LaitiConnie LanphearSimba Lee BloodJohn LillyEileen LindbergSusan LopezRoni McKennaJohn McSwiggenFrantz NielsenJeremy Oestmann

Sara Otterson GroverKira PetersonJames PirklJames PittengerPeter PohlNicole & Patrick

PokorneyKara PrzybillaAllison QuinnJacob ReberMark ReberMike RobergGary & Dana RocchioBreanne RoyerMegan RoyerJanine SchugJames ShafferMark & Janet SkeieNicole SkurichAllen SmithKathleen SpencerKen StanleyThomas StoneAndrew StuckeyPatty StupcaRichard ThomasKathy TingelstaJean & Levone

UhlenkottAnna & John WestonSean WickhemJoseph & Susan

WieselerMary Lou WilmSharon WynnYO Phalen CrewYO W. Minnehaha Crew

Anonymous (1)Jim AntonsonFrank BonifacioEugene C. BullisValerie CarlsonLuke DovreErik DovreStephen EdwardsChristine GoepfertJennifer GoepfertCindy Green &

Dave DornDave & Mary Hile

Anthony IndelicatoRobert JensenTim Johnson-GrassNolan JungclausPhyllis KahnJerJian KohAnna & Jacob KuceraRichard LoeMargaret LongletCarol McElroyErika MorkShawn MurphyMichael & Beth Nevala

Steward’s Circle ($150+)

Barbara & Neil NormandinLen & Stephanie PriceJulie SeeleyAmanda SenechalMichael ShoafstallBarbara SommerDenise & Gary StelznerJohn VelinSteve WoodsErik Wrede &

Maria Reyes Wrede



MissionConservation Corps provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to youth and young adults while accomplishing conservation, natural resource management and emergency response work.

Our goals are to help young people from diverse backgrounds become more connected to the environment, engaged in conservation, involved in the community and prepared for future employment.

2013 Board of Directors

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John Lilly, ChairRetired Manager,DNR Parks and Recreation

Christine Goepfert, Vice ChairMidwest Program Manager,National Parks Conservation Association

Barbara Sommer, SecretaryOral Historian and Author

Jer Jian Koh, TreasurerXBRL Financial Consultant, Merrill Corp.

James Cannon, Jr.Employment Coach, Twin Cities RISE!

Yer Chang, MPPResearch and Evaluation Consultant

Monty DehnRetired Hennepin CountyDeputy Sheriff, CCC alumnus

Jennifer GoepfertEnglish Teacher, Stillwater Area High School

David HileRetired Hennepin County LawEnforcement Professional

Jill JohnsonMidwest Urban Forestry Coordinator, U.S. Forest Service

Larry KramkaEnvironmental Services Sector Lead, Houston Engineering

Anna KuceraMarketing and Public RelationsDirector, National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter

Richard LeopoldDeputy Director, Polk County Conservation Board, Iowa

Shawn R. MurphyCEO, Tradition Creek

Michael NevalaPrincipal Environmental Scientist, Metropolitan Council

Mark SkeieFounder, Mapping Your Retirement

John VelinRetired Executive Director, LCCMR

Printed on 100PCW paper using soy inks.

Documents

Still hard work. Still a good deal. - Squarespace · two-session summer youth program, ... leadership skills training, ... Still hard work. Still a good deal. 2012 leadership