Team Mansion

Since Badgers 1, 5, and 6 participated in the Summer of Service project this summer, we were off track with the rest of the AmeriCorps' schedule.  To get back on track for round 4 we had a few mini projects.  One project involved helping Greater D.C. Cares with their Service Projects for 9/11 National Service Day.  We put kits of supplies and tools together for each of the projects and then we all split up to lead the different projects.  There was a big variety of projects.  In the morning Emma, Eric, Joe, and I went to a school where beautification needed to be done.  We lead volunteers in planting, weeding, and just making the area look nice.  In the afternoon Emma and I went to work with DC Scores.  This is a nonprofit that interested me right away.  It incorporates sports (soccer specifically!), creative expression, writing, service learning, and teamwork to provide youth in urban areas an after-school alternative.  The kids commit to literacy workshops every other day.  On the other days they have soccer practices and develop leadership skills.  DC Scores is a branch of America Scores.  There are currently 14 cities affiliated with this program.  It was a great day where we had the chance to work with the kids and understand more about what the program is about.  Below is a video of the team doing their cheer, which they made all of us learn.  Though, it's easy to say I think they do it best : ) check it out.  (u might see this on Real World DC at some point because the cast happened to be working at this event, too. haha)  Though I am happy with the work that was done in this week, I wish that I had taken a little more time for myself to reflect on the day.  I think it is still a struggle to really take in what happened that day and what people have been going through since then.  I encourage everyone to remember to take time and reflect on what it means to you.

The following week we mixed and split up our three teams again.  The firefighters were a team and then the rest of us were split into two teams.  Zach took over my team, now known as TEAM MANSION, while Tyler went with the other team (known lovingly to us as team weedwack.)  This was such a fun week.  We were in Virginia at the Mason Neck State Park.  We called ourselves team mansion because of our amazing housing in the state park which looked out in the water and had eagles flying all around us.  This state park is also known to be an eagle reservation.  While we helped to rebuild their trail and the trail steps, they provided us with some education about the area.  Zach was particularly good at spotting the seagulls.... not so much the eagles though.  So many funny moments in such a short time span.  This was a great time and the team that has this project long term in the future is lucky.