Conservation Corps MN & IA 2013 annual report

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

ANNUAL REPORT

2013

letter from len Another year of Corps work is on the books. In 2013, we marked the 80th anniversary of the CCC with a party to celebrate our alumni and friends from those early days through today. The relationships we have forged over the years -- with project partners, elected officials, community groups, alumni, family and friends -- have supported us and allowed us to grow.

Our youth and young adult program participants accomplished a tremendous amount of conservation work in 2013 and proved once again what we claim in our motto: resources restored, lives changed. Though we see evidence of changed lives in our conversations with young people every day, we were heartened by a University of Minnesota study that showed Youth Outdoors alumni are higher academic achievers, regularly volunteer and plan to pursue higher education because of their Conservation Corps service.

This report highlights new and ongoing work our young people accomplished over the last year including disaster response, volunteer and alumni engagement, historic restoration, natural resources management and leadership development. We also received several awards for our work and accreditation with both the Charities Review Council and the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.

If it is true that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us, then let us proudly step up to support more than 600 corps members taking part in our 2014 programs. Together we can offer them life-changing experiences and lay the groundwork for those who will succeed them.

Thank you for continuing to help restore resources and change lives.

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2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

Our programs AmeriCorps (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 Crews, Conservation Apprenticeship Academy, Home Energy Squads, 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 skills training, environmental science education, volunteer leadership and recreation.

Programs: Summer Youth Corps, Youth Outdoors

real results

Conservation Corps changes lives and prepares young people for successful careers.

After serving in 2013, youth reported*...

95% 90% 96% 98%

can better work on teams are more confident in their leadership skills better understand different cultures in Minnesota are more knowledgeable about the environment

99% 93% 96% 96%

have a stronger sense of personal responsibility have more self confidence are more goal-oriented feel better prepared for their next job

After serving in 2013, young adults reported*...

90% 98% 88% 91%

can better work on teams have gained or improved technical skills have a stronger sense of personal responsibility are more knowledgeable about the environment

84% 88% 93% 96%

have a stronger work ethic have more self confidence are registered to vote are proud of the work their crew accomplished

* Results of 220 youth and 199 young adults who responded to surveys about their service in 2013.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report

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notable in 2013

Every year there is something new at the Corps, from new types of project work to increased opportunities in a specific community to unexpected events that take us to new places.

In 2013, we reached out to more alumni and volunteers, connecting them more closely to our ongoing work and mission. We responded to disasters, celebrated our history and tried our hand at new skills.

disaster response East Coast. In March we brought home the last of more than 100 corps members who each served at least 30 days on recovery efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Corps members served 24,000 hours and managed 20,000 hours of volunteer time.

bloggers In 2013, we were excited to have five of our field crew members blog all year about their experiences; they took turns posting stories and notes about their personal challenges, observations, project work, team relationships and life lessons. Visit conservationcorps. org/crewblog to read more.

Alaska. After a devastating late spring flood caused by an ice jam on the Yukon River, two dozen corps and staff members deployed to the remote town of Galena to help local residents recover their homes and communities. During the 60-day extended deployment, corps members devoted 10,000 hours to gutting houses, cleaning up debris, doing laundry, hauling wood and connecting with families.

historic restoration During the summer, a Corps crew renovated a 100-year-old historic icehouse on the shore of Lake Superior.

The property once featured a two-story lodge along with the separate icehouse to keep food fresh. The lodge and grounds are now owned by the National Park Service as part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

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2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

Oklahoma. In the wake of summer tornadoes that devastated many Oklahoma towns, 13 Iowa crew members and two staff members deployed for two weeks to assist with disaster relief.

alumni service

celebrating 80 years

Alumni from all four years of the seasonal Superior National Forest program reconnected over what they love: trail brushing, camping, canoeing, sharing meals and reminiscing. During the program’s four-year run, the Corps created 182 seasonal jobs, operating between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year.

In 2013 we celebrated 80 years since the Civilian Conservation Corps began, with a party at the state fairgrounds DNR complex featuring live music, games, a silent auction and a ceremony honoring five CCC alumni who attended.

volunteers With funding and partner support from REI, we strengthened our volunteer outreach in 2013. Along with our annual St. Croix cleanup, we led volunteers in making seed bombs and promoted volunteerism at our 80th birthday celebration and during youth-led neighborhood service projects. Our AmeriCorps young adults also managed volunteers during deployments and at events. In total, the Corps engaged 2,949 volunteers in 15,546 hours of service.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report

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Much of the work we do each year is ongoing, building on relationships established through years of hard work and remarkable results. In 2013, we were honored with several awards and accreditations and accomplished a mountain of good work.

ongoing in 2013

apprenticeships In its third year, the Conservation Apprenticeship Academy placed 35 young adults in Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout Minnesota to work one-on-one with conservation professionals.

trail work In 2013, crews completed a third year of work to improve accessibility to one of the North Shore’s most popular sites, Shovel Point at Tettegouche State Park. In total, Corps crews constructed or maintained 885 miles of trails throughout the state and region.

awards

prescribed burns The Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation has significantly increased the capacity of southeast Minnesota crews to perform prescribed burns that restore and maintain natural prairies and oak savannas. In 2013, a grant helped our southern district purchase a six-wheel utility vehicle for Rochester field crews. In total, crews conducted prescribed burns on 32,412 acres.

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Conservation Partner of the Year

2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

Ongoing work in 2013 earned the Corps several awards: RNeighborWoods Mayor’s Urban Forestry Volunteer Award (five years of tree planting), Story County Youth Volunteer Award (four years of work in Iowa) and Carlton SWCD Conservation Partner of the Year (five years of work).

cross pollination Four times a year participants from different programs plan a joint day of service and education, called All Corps Days. Service can include everything from creating rain barrels to fixing bikes to maintaining rain gardens.

youth crews For many years Summer Youth Corps crews have worked with the Will Steger Foundation. Last year they built steps leading to a new conference center under construction in Ely, Minn. In 2013, 158 youth took part in SYC.

Youth Outdoors crews culminate their semester experience with spring service projects. This crew worked on building a bench at the Garden of Good Hearts in West Saint Paul. In 2013, 162 young people participated in YO.

accreditations

CCC legacy

In 2013, the Corps received two significant accreditations that recognize its record of hard work done well.

After 33 years, the North Star Chapter of the CCC closed shop. In its heyday, the chapter boasted 280 members who gathered regularly.

Conservation Corps Minnesota helped coordinate chapter activities and is honored to have supported the CCC legacy.

Conservation Corps was awarded the Charities Review Council “Meets Standards� seal. The Corps was also certified as a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report

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2013 accomplishment highlights

2013 leadership development

Animal exclosures & fence installation — 124,853 feet Boundary work & signing — 4,827 hours Campsite establishment/maintenance — 493 sites Construction & carpentry — 8,013 hours Debris removal — 164 tons Dock & pier construction — 310 feet Emergency response & recovery — 14,226 hours Erosion control & slope stabilization — 21.5 acres Fire suppression — 30,114 acres GIS/GPS data & mapping — 6,822 hours Historic building/landmark restoration — 56 structures Home energy-saving upgrades — 1,754 homes Invasive species management — 13,559 acres Man-made feature & trail user surveys — 1,276 surveys Natural resource facility maintenance — 3,295 hours Oak wilt management — 1,530 trees Planting — 142,754 plants & trees Prescribed burning — 24,827 acres Public access maintenance — 1,118 hours Rain garden installation/maintenance — 39.5 acres Recreation area maintenance — 75 acres Retaining wall construction — 550 feet River obstruction removal — 300 miles Seed collection/nursery activities — 5,248 hours Seeding — 231 acres Timber stand improvement — 119 acres Trail construction & improvement — 1,048 miles Trail structure installation — 12,545 feet Tree, plant & wildlife surveys — 1,135 surveys Vegetation removal — 2,377 acres Water quality sampling — 3,049 samples Wetland restoration — 60 hours Wildlife structure construction — 46 structures

158 youth enrolled in the Summer Youth Corps 163 youth enrolled in Youth Outdoors 15 young adults served in seasonal field crews 170 young adults served in year-round field crews 14 young adults served as single placements 8 young adults served in Home Energy Squads 35 young adults served as conservation apprentices 56 young adults served as youth leaders

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2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

Corps members engaged their communities with …

Environmental education — 13,008 people Community outreach — 3,542 hours Corps members received …

18,444 hours of personal development training 43,910 of technical skills training 6,469 hours of youth education & training

The Corps is an ideal way to figure out your aspirations in life, all the while learning practical skills and establishing meaningful relationships with others.

— Brian Strandberg, Field Crew Leader

Project partners Federal AmeriCorps/CNCS Federal Emergency Management Agency National Park Service U.S. Bureau of Reclamation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service State Board of Water and Soil Resources Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service Iowa Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ServeMinnesota University of Minnesota

City of Edina City of Fridley City of Oakdale City of Owatonna City of Prior Lake City of Red Wing City of Rochester City of Savage City of Shorewood City of Saint Paul City of Stillwater City of White Bear Lake City of Woodbury Clearwater River Watershed District Cook SWCD Cottonwood SWCD Crow Wing SWCD Dakota County Dakota SWCD Douglas SWCD East Ottertail SWCD Fillmore SWCD Forest Lake Watershed District

The crew came to the work site ready and willing to work… with a “can do” attitude.

— Cindy Larom, Bureau of Reclamation Local government Anoka Conservation District Anoka SWCD Bayfield County Beltrami County Bemidji Area Schools Benton County SWCD Blackhawk County Conservation Board (IA) Brown’s Creek Watershed District Capitol Region Watershed District Carlton County Carlton SWCD Carver SWCD Cedar River Watershed District Chisago SWCD City of Bemidji City of Chanhassen

Freeborn SWCD Hardin County Conservation Board (IA) Hubbard SWCD Itasca County Kittson County SWCD Lake County Lake County SWCD Lake of the Woods SWCD Lower Mississippi River Watershed Mgmt Org Marshall County Marshall SWCD Martin SWCD Middle St. Croix Water Mgmt Organization Mille Lacs SWCD Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

Mississippi Watershed Mgmt Organization Mitchell County Conservation Board (IA) Olmsted County Parks Pennington SWCD Polk County Conservation Board (IA) Pope SWCD Ramsey Conservation District Ramsey County Ramsey SWCD Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District Redwood SWCD Renville County Renville SWCD Rice Creek Watershed District Root River SWCD Sarah Creek Watershed District Scott SWCD Sherburne SWCD Shingle Creek Watershed District South St. Louis SWCD South Washington Watershed District Stearns County SWCD Steele SWCD Stevens SWCD Story County Conservation Board (IA) Three Rivers Park District Todd SWCD Wadena SWCD Washington County Washington SWCD Woodbury County Conservation Board (IA) Wright SWCD Yellow Medicine SWCD Nonprofit Apostle Islands Historic Preservation Conservancy Audubon Center of the Northwoods Audubon Society The Conservation Foundation (IA) Ducks Unlimited Friends of the Mississippi River

Great River Greening Habitat for Humanity Hartley Nature Center Headwaters Science Center Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Iowa Wildlife Center Izaak Walton League Johnson County Heritage Trust (IA) Lutsen Trailbreakers Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Horse Council Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society Minnesota Trout Unlimited National Parks Conservation Association National Wild Turkey Federation Neighborhood Energy Connection North House Folk School Northern Pine Riders Snowmobile Club Northland Arboretum Pheasants Forever Prairie Island Indian Community Prairie Wetlands Learning Center Project Get Outdoors Rainy Lake Sportfishing Club Ruffed Grouse Society Rural Renewable Energy Alliance Salvation Army Second Harvest Food Bank Sugarloaf: North Shore Stewardship Association Superior Hiking Trail Association The Corps Network The Nature Conservancy Trout Lake Association Union Park District Council Viking Sportsmen Whiterock Conservancy (IA) Will Steger Foundation Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center Youth Farm

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report

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financial statements Statements of activities and changes in Net Assets, year ended December 31, 2013 Minnesota

Unrestricted Temporarily

Restricted Support & Revenue Support AmeriCorps $936,401 Charitable Donations $17,915 In-kind Contributions $76,139 Foundation & Corporate Contributions $12,500 $103,808 State General Funds (State FY13) $945,000 Revenue Legacy Funds $967,006 Other Partner Support $3,842,147 Interest & Miscellaneous $19,362 Total Support & Revenue $6,423,487 $1,048,808 Net Assets Released from Restrictions State Natural Resource Fund $569,860 State General Operating Funds $346,455 Foundation Grants $107,856 Total Released $1,024,171 ($1,024,171) Expenses Minnesota Program Services Youth Programs $1,483,492 Single Placement Programs $563,283 Young Adult Field Programs $4,255,339 Management & General $472,724 Fundraising $59,746 Total Expenses $6,834,584

2013 revenue

Total

13%

AMERICORPS

$936,401 $17,915 $76,139 $116,308 $945,000 $967,006 $3,842,147 $19,362 $7,472,295

OTHER PARTNER SUPPORT (fee-forservice)

20%

LEGACY FUNDS

8% 4%

STATE NATURAL RESOURCE FUNDS

3%

CHARITABLE GIFTS

STATE GEN OP FUNDS

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL SINGLE PLACEMENT PROGRAMS

$1,483,492 $563,283 $4,255,339 $472,724 $59,746 $6,834,584

52%

2013 expenses 8%

7%

1%

FUNDRAISING

22%

YOUTH PROGRAMS

62%

YOUNG ADULT FIELD PROGRAMS

Organizational Totals (MN & IA) See Balance Sheet for details.

Change in Net Assets Net Assets, beginning of year Net Assets, end of year

$585,564 $3,319,492 $3,905,056

Iowa Support & Revenue Support AmeriCorps Corporate Grants In-kind Contributions State Grant Revenue Partner Support Total Support & Revenue Expenses Iowa Program Services Young Adult Program Management & General Total Expenses

24,637 $496,618 $521,255

2013 revenue $167,962 $2,000 $8,360 $4,090

2%

27%

AMERICORPS

71%

PARTNER SUPPORT (fee-forservice)

$446,792 $629,204 $628,689 $24,880 $656,714

GRANTS

2013 expenses 4%

MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

96%

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM

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2013 annual report | Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa

$610,201 $3,816,110 $4,426,311

balance sheet

2013 Assets Current Assets $4,614,144 Fixed Assets $78,411 Other Assets $7,110 Total Assets $4,699,665 Liabilities & Net Assets Current Liabilities $273,640 Total Liabilities $273,640 Net Assets $4,426,025 Unrestricted $3,904,770 Temporarily Restricted $521,255 Total Net Assets $4,426,025 Total Liabilities & Net Assets $4,699,665 Income & Expense Statement Revenue $8,101,499 Expenses $7,491,584 Increase in Net Assets $609,915

2012

$4,030,726 $69,997 $7,110 $4,107,833 $291,723 $291,723 $3,816,110 $3,319,492 $496,618 $3,816,110 $4,107,833 $7,994,296 $7,278,640 $715,656

Donors Foundation & organizational $25,000+ Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation $10,000-24,999 Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation | REI SmartWool Advocacy Fund | Youthprise $5,000-9,999 Andersen Corporate Foundation | Best Buy Children’s Foundation | Betty A. Lewis University Environmental Charitable Trust | ERM Foundation – North America The David B. Gold Foundation | McNeely Foundation Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board | Pentair Foundation Saint Paul Parks & Recreation | Xcel Energy Foundation Up to $5,000 Aallways Associates, Inc. | Beez Kneez, LLC | Beltrami Electric Cooperative | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota | CCC Chapter 33 | Cedar Cultural Center | The Coleman Company, Inc. | Enterprise Holdings | Heritage Embroidery and Design HOURCAR | IBM Employee Services Center | ITC Midwest Izzy’s Ice Cream | Lilydale Garden Center | Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior | Dr. David Mancini Chiropractic | Metro Blooms Metro Sales | Midwest Stihl, Inc. | Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce | Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Minnesota Deer Hunters Association | Minnesota Historical Society | Minnesota Landscape Arboretum | Minnesota RollerGirls | Minnesota Wanner Company | Nice Ride Minnesota | The Outing Lodge at Pine Point | Peace Coffee Saint John’s Abbey & University | Science Museum of Minnesota | Seward Community Co-op | Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community | Summit Brewing Company Tamarack Log Building Tools, Inc. | Tamarack Nature Center Thomson Reuters | Three Rivers Park District | Tradition Creek Vertical Endeavors | Water Park of America | Your Cause, LLC Zipps Liquors | Zombie Productions, LLC

Matching Gifts Ameriprise | Hewlitt Packard | Travelers Foundation

This young volunteer helped remove buckthorn during the St. Croix River cleanup, made possible with support from the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation and the Andersen Corporate Foundation. Support from the Lloyd K. Foundation also funded volunteer efforts and service projects in northeast Minnesota.

Individual Donors

steward’s circle ($150+) Craig & Patty Acomb | Eric Antonson | Jim Antonson Ann Barnes | Deborah Berg | Frank Bonifacio Valerie Carlson | Thomas Crane | Joseph Dolson Mark Doroff | Kari Grittner | Cindy Green & Dave Dorn Rolf Hagberg & Carrie Plamman | R. Lee Hickerson Robert Jensen | Jill Johnson | Phyllis Kahn | JerJian Koh | Anna & Jacob Kucera | Richard Loe | Carol McElroy | Cari Morgan | Erika Mork | Shawn Murphy Michael & Beth Nevala | Barbara & Neil Normandin Len Price | Amanda Senechal | Andrea & Cathy Sherwin | Michael Shoafstall | Mark & Janet Skeie Barbara Sommer | Denise & Gary Stelzner | John Velin | Jim Wilfert | Erik Wrede & Maria Reyes-Wrede (Bold = $500+)

$75-149 Anonymous (1) | Gordon Alexander | Justin Bakken | Lou Ann & Pete Boser | Charissa Brudnak | David Cary | Lisa Cassioppi | Gary & Jane Clements | Laurel Cutright | Nelly Devault Stephen Edwards | Heidi Eschenbacher | Miriam Gieske Christine Goepfert | Jennifer Goepfert | Gary Heaser | Pamela Helfer | Dave & Mary Hile | Anthony Indelicato | James & Alda Jensen | Diane & Gordon Kepner | Amy Kerber | Larry Kramka | Connie Lanphear | Denise Leedham | Richard Leopold Johannes Magdal | Candice McElroy | Daniel & Maurreen Moriarty | Sofia Troutman | Susan Vento | Mark Wilson up to $75 Anonymous (2) | Karen Amundsen | Cindy Angerhofer | Edwin Berniard | Patricia Blume | Michael Bosanko | Matthew Case Shelly Chamberlain | Yer Chang | Linda Cox | Theresa Custodio Margaret Davis | John Degan | Robert Deringer | Sheila Ferguson | Mavis Fisher | Dan Funk | Michelle Genereux Gareth Griffes | Ralph & Mary Halbert | Tony Hallman Christine Hammes | Ralph Hanson | Harley Hanson | Peter Hark & Mary Jo Cristofaro-Hark | Fadumo Hassan | Carter Hedeen | Brian Hubbard | Mike Kaehler | Yolanda Lewis Troy Maggied & Ela Kakde | Kathy McCarthy | Roni McKenna Brian Miller | Andrew Moua | Yee Moua | Karen Nelson John Norton | Lee Nou Cheng | John & Elaine Obinger | Brian Ogdahl | James Pirkl | James Pittenger | Emily Richardson Adrian Schottroff | Janine Schug | Matt Skogen | Nicole Skurich | Wendy Skurich | Allen Smith | Kathleen Spencer Ransom & Julie Stafford | Valerie Steffl | Thomas & Angie Stone | Scott Swendsen | Brooke Tapp | Juline Thomley Stephen Wagner | Mary Lou Wilm | Michelle Wilson

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa | 2013 annual report

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Mission Conservation 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.

MINNESOTA & IOWA

60 E Plato Blvd Ste 210 | Saint Paul MN 55107 | 651 209 9900 | conservationcorps.org | facebook.com/conservationcorps | twitter.com/conservcorps

2014 board of directors Anna Kucera, Chair Marketing and Public Relations Director, National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter

James Cannon, Jr. Employment Guidance Counselor, Ramsey County

Larry Kramka, First Vice Chair Environmental Services Sector Lead, Houston Engineering

Yer Chang Performance Improvement Specialist, State of Minnesota Department of Human Services

Christine Goepfert, Second Vice Chair Midwest Program Manager, National Parks Conservation Association

Monty Dehn, emeritus Retired Hennepin County Deputy Sheriff, CCC alumnus

Barbara Sommer, Secretary Oral Historian and Author

Rita Garcia President & CEO, Business Partners Plus, Inc.

Keri Grittner, Treasurer Accounting/Business Instructor, Rasmussen College Andrew Arlt Environmental Science & Biology Teacher, SALT High School

Jennifer Goepfert District Specialist for Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports, Saint Paul Public Schools Jill Johnson Urban Forester, Corps Alumnus

Scott Keefer Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Richard Leopold Deputy Director, Polk County Conservation Board, Iowa Yolanda Lewis Organizational Leadership Consultant Shawn R. Murphy CEO, Tradition Creek Mark Skeie Founder, Mapping Your Retirement Sofia Troutman Segment Manager, Skyline Exhibits John Velin Retired Executive Director, LCCMR

Printed with agri-based inks on paper with PCW content.