My  AZ  Experience  

 April  18th,  2015  

   

     

     

Start  date:  January  10th,  2015           End  date:  April  18th,  2015  Student:  Blake  Dunk             Supervisor:  Brad  Hunter                                  

  2  

Preface    

The  purpose  of  this  final  report  is  to  capture  a  brief  description  of  the  agency  where  the  internship  was  served,  a  summary  of  the  student’s  accomplishments,  a  self-­‐analysis  of  performance,  recommendations,  and  overall  conclusion  of  hours  served.  I  would  like  to  acknowledge  my  university  supervisor  Dr.  Sandra  Klitzing  and  my  agency  supervisor  Brad  Hunter  for  making  this  all  possible.  With  the  ongoing  support  of  both  parties,  I  was  able  to  successfully  complete  all  the  requirements  necessary  to  complete  my  Illinois  State  University  internship  as  well  as  the  American  Conservation  Experience  requests.  I  would  also  like  to  acknowledge  a  few  others  in  the  ACE  organization  for  all  their  help,  encouragement,  and  advice  throughout  my  time  here:  A.J.  Conrad,  Jordan  Rolfe,  Mark  Loseth,  Hannah  Wendel  and  the  following  crew  leaders:  Jimmy  Gregson,  Dale  Thomas,  and  Gavin  Monson.                                                        

         

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Table  of  Contents    

Page  #  Preface/Acknowledgements_______________________________________________________________2  Table  of  Contents___________________________________________________________________________3  Agency  Description_________________________________________________________________________4  Summary  of  Student’s  Accomplishments______________________________________________5-­‐6  Self-­‐Analysis  of  Performance______________________________________________________________7  Conclusions  and  Recommendations______________________________________________________8  Appendix____________________________________________________________________________________9  

• VSP  Flyer__________________________________________________________________________10  • VSP  Evaluation____________________________________________________________________11  • VSP  Evaluation  Results___________________________________________________________12  

                                                     

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Agency  Description    

The  American  Conservation  Experience  (ACE)  is  a  non-­‐profit  organization  dedicated  to  providing  rewarding  environmental  service  opportunities  that  harness  the  idealism  and  energy  of  a  volunteer  labor  force  to  help  restore  America’s  public  lands.  ACE’s  conservation  corps  program  is  for  American  participants,  aged  18-­‐25  who  are  considering  land  management  as  a  career  path  or  potential  course  of  study.  Corps  members  serve  in  professionally  supervised  teams  as  they  explore  future  outdoor  careers,  learn  practical  field  skills,  and  develop  confidence  as  emerging  leaders  in  the  field  of  conservation.  Most  importantly,  members  are  offered  opportunities  to  learn  and  train  under  the  guidance  of  professional  mentors  within  ACE,  while  gaining  invaluable  career  perspectives  working  side  by  side  with  staff  from  the  National  Park  Service,  US  Forest  Service,  Bureau  of  Land  Management,  US  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  and  many  other  stewards  of  our  nation’s  public  lands.  

ACE  is  a  501(c)(3)  non-­‐profit  organization.    This  means  they  are  not  allowed  to  make  a  profit.    Every  single  dollar  has  to  go  back  into  the  organization.  For  every  volunteer  hour  put  in,  ACE  gets  paid  from  the  park/organization  for  that  work.  It  pays  for  the  insurance  and  maintenance  on  our  vehicles,  food  for  project,  staff  salaries,  utilities,  equipment,  and  tools.  National  Parks,  National  Forests,  Wildlife  Refuges,  wilderness  areas  and  other  public  lands  throughout  the  United  States  are  imperiled  by  a  combination  of  dynamics  that  threaten  habitat,  endanger  vital  ecosystems,  and  compromise  the  non-­‐negotiable  right  of  the  next  generation  to  explore  the  natural  world.  While  population  growth  leads  to  habitat  loss,  sacrifice  of  open  space,  and  acute  pressure  on  native  wildlife  and  plant  species,  America’s  land  managers  face  a  chronic  shortfall  of  funding  to  restore  our  nation’s  most  treasured  lands.  ACE  is  committed  to  capturing  the  growing  worldwide  spirit  of  service  by  providing  the  professional  level  of  coordination,  training,  and  supervision  necessary  to  translate  idealism  into  accomplishment  for  the  benefit  of  America’s  National  Parks,  Forests,  Wildlife  Refuges,  and  other  protected  lands.  

                 

   

 Works  Cited  

History  /  Mission  /  Cause.  (n.d.).  Retrieved  April  18,  2015,  from  http://www.usaconservation.org/about-­‐ace/history-­‐mission-­‐cause/  

 

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Summary  of  Student’s  Accomplishments    

Over  the  course  of  my  three-­‐month  term  volunteering  with  the  American  Conservation  Experience  I  was  scheduled  on  projects  in  Pine,  AZ  doing  trail  reconstruction,  Sedona,  AZ  doing  rock  work  and  ecological  restoration,  and  lastly  Chiricahua  National  Monument,  AZ  doing  trail  restoration  and  rock  work.  For  me,  each  project  was  an  experience  all  on  its  own  due  to  my  lack  of  skills  in  the  conservation  field.  I  saw  myself  slowly  understanding  what  the  conservation  movement  is  all  about  and  I  was  happy  to  put  forth  my  best  effort.  

In  Pine,  AZ  we  utilized  all  sorts  of  trail  tools  and  techniques  to  reroute  an  old  mountain  bike/hiking  trail  back  into  alignment  with  its  former  route.  This  was  my  first  project  and  I  gained  many  skills  in  trail  construction  as  well  as  how  to  efficiently  and  effectively  use  all  the  different  tools  that  I  had  minimal  experience  with.  The  work  consisted  of  using  rock  bars,  axes,  and  picks  to  move  large  obstacles  like  rocks  and  root  systems  that  were  nestled  in  the  way  of  the  new  trail  route.  Once  the  path  was  cleared,  we  utilized  shovels  and  mclouds  (rake-­‐like  trail  tool)  to  flatten  the  trail  and  create  a  functional  tread  with  a  durable  critical  edge  that  would  hold  up  against  future  erosion.  The  rerouted  trail  was  about  a  half  mile  long  and  contained  multiple  climbing  turns  that  were  constructed  from  scratch  to  safely  guide  the  fast  paced  mountain  bikers  down  the  path.    

In  Sedona,  AZ  the  main  focus  was  high  quality  stonework  at  a  popular  trailhead  located  near  the  Sedona  Airport.  The  work  consisted  of  gathering  material  from  a  rock  quarry,  transporting  the  stone  to  the  trailhead,  and  transporting  the  rock  again  to  the  work  site.  Once  at  the  work  site,  dry  stone  masonry  was  used  to  build  a  large  freestanding  stone  fence/wall  along  with  a  couple  circular  retaining  walls  that  also  acted  as  benches.  These  structures  act  as  a  vista  point  and  area  of  focus  for  people  to  enjoy  the  setting  without  causing  further  damage  to  the  area.  Once  all  the  rockwork  was  finished  we  focused  on  re-­‐vegetating  the  surrounding  areas  that  were  destroyed  and  fencing  off  the  remaining  areas  that  were  still  naturally  in  tact.  

There  were  a  lot  of  power  tools  utilized  to  create  and  shape  the  rocks  to  the  specific  sizes  needed  including  jackhammers  and  drills.  A  power  carrier  was  also  used  to  transport  the  rocks  up  to  the  work  site.  I  gained  the  most  experience  on  this  project  due  to  the  extended  length  of  time  that  I  spent  there  and  the  variety  of  tools  and  skills  utilized  to  revamp  the  trailhead.  After  drilling  the  rocks  at  the  quarry  they  were  then  split  using  plugs  and  feathers  and  transported  to  the  work  site.  Once  at  the  work  site  hammers,  chisels,  and  power  tools  were  used  to  create  perfectly  sized  rocks  for  each  tier  of  the  wall.  After  completing  the  wall  and  both  benches  we  transported  the  remaining  dirt  and  rocks  throughout  the  trailhead  creating  rock  islands  to  further  protect  the  vegetation.  Juniper  branches  and  cacti  were  placed  in  the  restricted  areas  to  create  a  barrier  and  cover  up  the  many  social  trails  that  were  created  over  the  years.  While  the  restricted  areas  were  being  seeded  with  native  grasses  and  extra  dirt,  a  permanent  fence  was  also  built  to  guide  visitors  to  each  part  of  the  trailhead.  All  of  this  was  completed  over  the  course  of  the  two  and  a  half  months  that  I  was  scheduled  in  Sedona  and  I  was  very  happy  to  see  the  end  result.  

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My  last  project,  which  took  place  in  Chiricahua  National  Monument,  was  also  mainly  rockwork  to  effectively  rebuild  a  former  CCC  wall  that  was  washed  away  by  a  recent  flood.  We  were  constructing  a  more  durable  style  of  retaining  wall  so  that  the  trail  will  remain  in  tact  against  future  incidents  of  erosion.  Chiricahua  is  a  highly  protected  wilderness  area  and  because  of  this  power  tools  were  not  usable  due  to  the  excessive  noise  they  create  that  disturb  the  wildlife  there.  This  created  very  challenging  rockwork  due  to  the  tougher  rhyolite  rocks  that  were  being  used  to  create  the  wall.  Everything  had  to  be  hand  chiseled  to  precise  dimensions  and  have  excellent  contact  within  the  wall  to  generate  the  most  durability.  Larger  rocks  that  were  too  big  to  move  by  hand  were  carried  by  a  high-­‐line  grip  hoist  system  to  their  correct  positions.  Even  though  this  was  my  final  project,  I  put  forth  my  best  effort  and  many  sections  of  the  wall  were  completed  further  bringing  the  project  to  a  close.  

                                                                 

  7  

Self-­‐Analysis  of  Performance    

Working  with  ACE  has  allowed  me  to  get  a  full  understanding  of  what  a  professional  job  in  conservation  would  be  like.  I  got  to  work  directly  with  personnel  within  the  National  Park  Service  as  well  as  the  US  Forest  Service,  which  I  am  interested  in  as  future  career  options.  My  strengths  that  were  developed  the  most  were  recognized  by  the  masonry  work  I  was  completing  throughout  my  term.  I  also  gained  a  lot  of  valuable  experience  in  trail  maintenance,  construction,  restoration,  and  re-­‐vegetation.  I  learned  many  techniques  and  terminologies  that  will  guide  me  in  completing  these  tasks  in  the  future  with  little  or  no  assistance.  Over  the  course  of  my  internship  I  had  a  few  shortcomings,  which  included  hiking  long  distances  and  carrying  large  amounts  of  weight.  I  have  gained  a  lot  of  strength  during  my  term  and  can  now  hike  longer  distances  without  fatigue,  but  I  still  struggle  with  the  amount  of  weight  I  can  hold  on  my  back.  I  want  to  be  able  to  backpack  long  distances  in  the  future  and  plan  to  challenge  myself  in  the  upcoming  years  to  overcome  this  weakness.  I  have  no  questions  about  the  future  and  am  pretty  confident  of  what  I  need  to  do  after  speaking  with  multiple  ACE  staff  members  about  how  I  can  improve  and  successfully  get  a  job  in  the  field  of  conservation.  

Overall,  I  effectively  completed  all  of  the  objectives  I  created  over  the  course  of  the  internship.  After  orientation  I  introduced  myself  to  the  heads  of  the  organization  and  also  got  to  know  many  of  ACE  staff.  I  developed  my  own  project  proposal  ideas  and  completed  the  forms  needed  by  the  university  supervisor  and  ACE  to  carry  out  the  volunteer  service  project.  The  volunteer  trash  clean  up  I  facilitated  and  organized  assisted  the  city  of  Flagstaff  to  clean  up  a  street  as  well  as  raise  awareness  about  ACE  to  the  public.  I  worked  with  a  variety  of  tools  and  machinery  and  became  very  skilled  using  a  few  of  them  including:  hammers,  chisels,  jackhammers,  mclouds,  and  pick  axes.  I  was  very  prompt  with  completing  certain  university  requirements  such  as  reports  and  evaluations  as  well  as  meeting  and  explaining  my  requirements  to  my  agency  supervisor.  I  also  took  the  time  to  reflect  and  comment  on  certain  aspects  of  the  work  being  done  to  my  agency  supervisor.  Towards  the  end  of  my  internship  I  was  also  able  to  establish  many  contacts  and  future  references  within  the  agency  and  other  government  organizations,  which  will  aid  me  in  applying  for  future  jobs  related  to  this  field.                              

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Conclusions  and  Recommendations    

  Through  this  internship,  ACE  was  able  to  provide  me  with  a  quality  experience  and  a  step  into  the  professional  lifestyle  that  I  desire  for  my  future.  Being  able  to  work  directly  with  federal  agencies  that  I  have  career  interests  in  gave  me  a  first  hand  experience  of  what  it  would  be  like  to  work  in  those  organizations.  I  got  to  meet  and  talk  with  NPS  and  Forest  Service  professionals  about  how  they  got  to  where  they  were  and  what  steps  they  took  to  obtain  the  experience  needed  for  such  work.  I  really  became  interested  in  rockwork  and  masonry  after  completing  the  Sedona  project  and  then  continuing  rockwork  in  Chiricahua.  I  have  gained  the  most  experience  in  that  category  and  think  I  am  well  on  my  way  to  be  a  master  in  masonry.       I  would  like  to  continue  practicing  and  challenging  myself  to  learn  more  about  conservation  and  the  different  types  of  work  that  can  be  done  in  that  field.  I  have  gained  many  leadership  abilities  and  would  also  like  to  continue  my  experience  living  and  working  in  the  outdoors.  Leading  others  and  developing  my  skills  to  eventually  achieve  a  responsible  status  within  an  organization  are  my  future  ambitions.  After  completing  this  term  with  ACE,  I  have  realized  all  the  opportunities  that  they  can  provide  including  future  internships  working  directly  with  NPS  or  Forest  Service  agencies  through  their  EPIC  (Emerging  Professional  Internship  Corps)  program.  I  have  also  been  able  to  meet  and  discuss  the  ways  to  navigate  and  successfully  apply  for  federal  jobs  via  usajobs.com.       My  advice  to  the  ACE  organization  is  to  really  try  and  motivate  the  volunteers  to  work  their  way  up  in  the  agency  or  move  on  to  bigger  things  within  this  field  of  work  bringing  with  them  all  the  valuable  experience  gained  while  working  in  ACE.  My  recommendation  to  Illinois  State  University  is  to  simply  add  more  classes  dealing  with  conservation  and  outdoor  recreation.  While  I  enjoyed  and  learned  a  lot  in  all  my  classes  in  the  Parks  and  Recreation  program,  I  did  feel  like  I  wanted  to  learn  more  about  outdoor  recreation,  national  parks,  monuments,  and  wilderness  areas  and  how  we  can  conserve  them  for  future  generations.                      

         

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Appendix      

                                                                         

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OPERATION: CLEAN UP BEAVER ST.! I am a volunteer working with the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and

I need your help! I will be organizing a trash clean up for Beaver St starting at Cedar Ave going all the way to Aspen Ave downtown and back. This may take around 3+ hours and I only need up to 5 volunteers. If you can help make our street a little greener and take a few hours out of your Sunday to learn about

conservation, please call the number below and RSVP. THANK YOU!

Phone: 847-284-4443

IT’S TIME FOR A CLEAN UP!

March 22nd at Noon Please meet in front of 309 W Cedar Ave Flagstaff, AZ on:

Questions  or  comments  please  contact:  

Blake Dunk Phone: 847-284-4443

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Beaver  St  Trash  Clean  Up  Evaluation    

On  a  scale  of  1-­‐10,  how  much  did  you  enjoy  the  clean  up?  (Circle  One)    

1          2          3          4          5          6          7          8          9          10    What  are  some  things  that  could  be  done  to  improve  this  project  for  the  future?        Did  the  coordinator  explain  what  and  whom  the  clean  up  was  for?  (Circle  One)    Yes       No    If  so  what  did  you  enjoy  most  about  the  discussion?        Would  you  attend  another  trash  clean  up  in  the  future?  (Circle  One)    Yes         No                                          

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Beaver  St  Trash  Clean  Up  Evaluation  Results  

Volunteer  Responses        

êQuestionsê                            Volunteer  #1   Volunteer  #2                      Volunteer  #3   Volunteer  #4  

1.  On  a  scale  of  1-­‐10,  how  much  did  you  enjoy  the  clean  up?  

10   10   10    

9  

2.  What  are  some  things  that  could  be  done  to  improve  this  project  for  the  future?  

Not  much.  Project  was  very  well  done  and  organized.  

The  project  was  very  well  planned  and  coordinated  

so  I  wouldn't  change  anything.  

More  people,  more  roads,  also  more  trash  grabbers.  

More  people.  

3.  Did  the  coordinator  explain  what  and  whom  the  clean  up  was  for?  Yes  or  No  

Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes  

3a.  If  so  what  did  you  enjoy  most  about  the  discussion?   Enjoyed  talking  about  the  positive  impact  ACE  and  any  group  of  dedicated  

citizens  can  make  on  the  community.  Liked  how  many  people  said  thank  

you.  

Hearing  about  ACE's  involvement  in  the  community  

and  how  much  people  appreciate  

it.  

How  the  clean  up  impacted  the  

community  and  how  important  what  we  were  doing  was  for  the  environment.  

How  involved  ACE  is  with  the  

community  and  how  appreciative  the  community  

was.