Serve Idaho Winter Newsletter

Ten young adults from the Midwest and East Coast had a chance to experience Idaho for the first time October through December 2021, while doing riparian restoration in the White Clouds Preserve.

The group – Team Blue 7 – were AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps members tasked with focusing on the East Fork of the Salmon River to preserve the salmon population. Their work included planting a variety of trees including cottonwoods and willows to repair the degradation on the banks. They also installed fencing and caging to protect the plants from animals. 

The young adults, ages 18-26, also learned a lot about the impact of their work. The trees they planted will provide shade, cool down the river and offer habitat to the fish while protecting them from predators. In addition to working on strengthening the banks of the river through planting native trees, they also installed beaver dam analogs which will edit the flow of the river. The end goal of this project is to change the structure of the river to provide habitat to the salmon while encouraging their continued migration and spawning.

The team also volunteered at the Challis Community Center where they added a much-needed fresh coat of paint to the building's walls and the William Cobbly Senior Center. While in the area, they also delivered meals to seniors.

While in Idaho, they visited state recreation favorites Redfish Lake and Challis Hot Springs. Team members said they were amazed with the how bright the stars are in the Gem state. 

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential service program for 18-26 year-olds. AmeriCorps members gain valuable professional experience while helping others. Lodging and travel expenses are covered while you team up and travel as a full-time member supporting community service projects.

4-H Youth Development Instructor - Bonner's Ferry 

Duties include:

• Teaching, leading and facilitating youth development curriculum in STEAM based out-of-school time programs
• Facilitating family engagement events
• Serving as mentors and role models
• Teaching important life skills
• Giving youth positive opportunities to explore the world around them in a fun, engaging, non-formal learning environment
• Engaging new volunteers in their local programs to serve as 4-H leaders and event volunteers.

Duties include:

• Conducting needs assessments regarding collaborations and partnerships
• Recruiting potential partnerships as well as coordinating meetings, designing training materials and providing other support to public health agencies.
• Members will also conduct ASIST and QPR training for community members to increase the number of suicide prevention interventionalists throughout Idaho.

• AmeriCorps members serving across Idaho will be together in Boise for two days for personal and professional development March 14 -15 at the Hilton Garden Inn - Boise Spectrum. The opening keynote speaker is Ivan Castillo and the closing speaker is Brian Fretwell. Workshop sessions include: Get Results with "Yes, And;" Managing Teams Today; Unlocking the Power of Your Calendar; Human Ties: Conversations that Matter; and more. Cost is $50 to attend. Scholarships are available, the deadline is Feb. 17.