Smiles and Tears

Raven 1’s first round project was a “split round,” which means the length of the project round was split over two (or more) locations. Raven 1 started in Winterthur, Delaware and then went to Danbury, Connecticut to work on a short term assignment with the Connecticut Mission of Mercy (MOM).

 

For our second project of our first round spike, my team and I traveled to Danbury, Connecticut to help CT Mission of Mercy (MOM) set up, run, and break down a free dental clinic. I arrived expecting just another project with long days, hard labor, and great company. I left MOM with tears of joy and gratitude, and a thorough understanding of why AmeriCorps NCCC is such an important program to so many individuals.



Raven 1 poses for a quick picture in the gym they transformed into a dental clinic



This adventure began in a large, empty gymnasium that required much heavy lifting of oodles and oodles of tables, chairs, food, and dental equipment. The physical strain was felt by not only me, but many other team members.

The sense of accomplishment at the end of the set up was quite rewarding. Our sweat and pain had turned an empty gym into a fully functioning dental suite, complete with areas of registration, triage, cleanings, fillings, root canals, sterilization, oral surgery, a pharmacy, and child care. This feeling in itself brought me much elation and great joy resonating from my heart.  The thanks from sponsors and volunteers made it seem already complete, but as we left and saw the line of people lined up to spend the night camping out awaiting dental treatment, the reality of what the next two days entailed really hit me.

We awoke Friday morning at a brisk 2:00 a.m. That early hour, plus a malfunctioning coffee brewer, left many of us in a grumpy mood. We got to the work site around 3:00 a.m. to start directing traffic. I never fully comprehended how big of a deal this was until the droves and droves of cars arrived.  They filled up every parking lot available, overflowed into a quickly filling parking garage, and once reaching max occupancy there, formed a single file line down the side of the road for what seemed like forever. The people then exited their cars and made the long trek uphill to the beginning of the line.

Around 9:00 a.m. we then made our way into the clinic itself. After a quick crash course in how to run the thing, we divided and conquered at several different stations that needed help. The almost superhuman feat of pulling off such an event was not the most rewarding experience however. The stories from the patients and their friends and family became my only source of energy and drive to continue at max power for such a long work day. Positive energy was everywhere. Despite sore feet and bodies and heavy eyes, we completed the day with enthusiasm and a newfound dedication and respect for the work MOM does.

Raven 1 Team Leader, Keiper supports a dental clinic procedure

Saturday was by far the toughest day I have yet to encounter in my AmeriCorps NCCC experience. It started the same as Friday, early and without a proper amount of coffee. However, the cause itself towards the end of the day took a much more personal stance in my mind and heart. Through a chain of events I cannot go very much into detail about, I realized just how poorly the care of my teeth has been.

It dawned on me how much an organization such as this actually affects those it helps, and gave me great pride and humility to be a part of such a wonderful event. I was not the only team member who cried that day. These people became more than just patients to me and everyone else involved. They became brothers, sisters, friends, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and lastly equals. I gained many new friends, of which I intend to keep in touch with for many years.



Raven 1 member Skylar assists with dental treatment at the CT MOM

The long days, arduous labor, and emotional strife of MOM left our Raven 1 team in awe of what we had accomplished together. I felt it very difficult to actually digest the mass amount of thanks that I received from countless masses of individuals, until we began to slowly drive away for the last time only to look out the window and see our sponsor crying, overcome with gratitude for the work we had done, for the people we helped, and most of all for the people we are. 



Raven 1 takes a picture with the project sponsors of the CT MOM project



I learned a lot about myself through this experience. I learned to love a stranger, to help a friend, to be a team, to trust myself, and most of all to soak in the little things. At the end of the day, it wasn’t the over 2,000 people we helped, or the over $1,300,000 worth of free dental work we helped supplied. It was seeing someone walk out, finally able to smile for the first time in their life.

It was being able to cry on a teammates shoulder, overcome with emotion, and feeling the sense of security that only a true team can understand.  My teammates understand little things like supplying a homeless man with enough granola bars and water he can possibly carry, only for him to give you a hug with a face overcome in tears. They also understand what it’s like to see such wonderful people crying as you leave after a mission accomplished. I tear up as I write this, with countless amounts of thanks for such a priceless experience, and sincerely hope everyone who put forth any time or effort into this opportunity of a lifetime the best and brightest futures.

Smiling often and forever,

Henry

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”

― Mother Teresa

For more information about Raven 1’s first round project including photos of their housing check out their project debrief presentation. 

My first holiday away from home

This was the first year I have EVER been away from my family and friends on Easter (or really any period of time longer than a few weeks). I was almost dreading Sunday to come because homesickness was kicking in and I was imagining my family spending Easter together without me.  Needless to say I wasn’t expecting this Easter to be more than any other Sunday…who would’ve thought that this would probably be the best Easter I have ever had?! I feel that by the end of this weekend it brought our team closer together and makes me feel grateful for the sponsors we have at Winterthur.

I woke up Sunday morning, not expecting much.  I knew we had planned to make Easter baskets for each other, but other than that I was just planning to catch up on extra sleep I didn’t get throughout the week. When I went downstairs the first thing I saw was the dining room table with all of our bags plus Easter baskets, candy, and Edgar (the Raven unit mascot) chilling on the table with some ‘Peeps’.



Easter bags and candy with Edgar, the Raven Unit Mascot




Apparently our sponsor told all the staff that we weren’t able to go home for Easter, so they all chipped in to bring Easter to us at the Butler House where we stay.



Part of the lovely Easter spread Ashley and the Raven 1 team received



Rob, one of the supervisors of the garden department we work with here, stopped by the house to wish us a Happy Easter with a dinner for us to eat that night. This really meant a lot to me and made me grateful to be part of such an amazing team. It was one of those moments where all the days of hard work, some that I honestly thought went unnoticed, seemed to be worth it at this moment. For Rob to stop by and for all the staff to go out of their way to make us feel at home is something that wasn’t required and I could tell came from a sincere place. Actions go a long way, and all the staff at Winterthur really made the Easter I was dreading for weeks into a positive experience.



Dyed eggs from Raven 1's Easter day



The day I expected to catch up on sleep turned into a fun filled day of dying eggs, playing board games, and probably every child’s fantasy Easter egg hunt at the enchanted woods (decked out with a troll bridge, cool looking mushrooms that steam up, and miniature cottages for little people). I felt like I was at the Cornucopia at the hunger games. Cool stuff. Thank you Raven 1 and thank you Winterthur for making my Easter one of the most memorable experiences first round!

~ Ashley

A Wonder of Winterthur: Wild geese are my alarm clock

Keiper, Team Leader of Raven 1, created this reflection during her final week at Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware.

I wake up each morning to the sound of wild geese. I leave my window open at night so that they wake me up, rather than the droning noise of my alarm clock. It used to require more of an effort warming up my bones to go indulge in coffee, but stillness has entered into my soul since being here, and flourished within me, kind of like the English Ivy we pulled today.

Now I allow myself to be attentive to the sounds of the morning, and the fresh air that creeps in through the window. No cars, no trains, just the sound of an untouched morning. No effort required in getting out of bed- it happens naturally. 

Now I could write to you about the challenges I have faced as a Team Leader, or tell you the impact NCCC has made on the surrounding community, and I could definitely elaborate on the cohesiveness and personality of our team- but I will save that for another time. For today, I think I’ll just share with you a very simple response my entire being has experienced since serving here: there is no rush.

Being surrounded by beauty day after day seems to have sunken into my bones, the simplicity of it all is what is most striking- nothing here is elaborate or forced. Henry Francis du Pont, who left the Winterthur legacy, did not want a lot of structure in his gardens. This basically means he wanted things to grow naturally. When we prune trees here, they are to look like they were not pruned. Although a lot of effort and detail is invested in the care of the gardens, it looks effortless, it appears natural.

Such genuineness is reflective upon those with whom we served. The horticultural staff at Winterthur, who supported, taught, and guided us, understood the importance of the stillness. They were all patient with us when teaching new skills (and you would have to be to teach me how to operate a front loader) but they never frowned upon our team's curiosity or whimsy. They supported our quest for knowledge, but did so in a way that allowed us to discover it on our own terms. I am at a place where I wonder two things: How did I end up here and  how could I be so blessed?

Of course it is critical to grow as a team, and Raven 1 did, but I also believe that it is important for each person to grown individually, to be challenged, to be inspired, to be aware. Many of us have that puzzling question of “what to do after AmeriCorps NCCC!?” but…not here, not at Winterthur.

Things are too beautiful to be preoccupied by such thoughts. I was able to enjoy the present moment here better than I have in a long time. I was able to explore my center of gravity again, something I had longed for since I started AmeriCorps NCCC.

They say just being outside in nature relieves stress- now imagine working outside everyday- digging your hands in the soil, tending to the flowers, letting the vitamin D soak in and the ancient trees rustle around you.

I allowed myself to be open to and connect with Winterthur’s wonder. I hope that its magic continues to flow through the team and myself as our journey moves ahead. I hope someday again, somewhere, I can wake up to the geese.

~ Keiper

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
~ Mary Oliver ~ 

What in the world is Winterthur?

When my team and I first discovered that we would be spending six weeks at Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware for their first round project, some questions arose, “What exactly is Winterthur? Is it a garden or a museum, an estate…? Who is this Francis du Pont character?”  

My team is composed of a diverse group of individuals from nine different states but only one originally from the East Coast. The more research we did on the project, the more the anticipation was building.

A cloud of curiosity lingered over us as we traveled north from our campus in Perry Point, Maryland. 



The Mansion property on the estate of the Winterthur which serves as office space



As we entered Winterthur and began to drive down the hill, everyone on the team was quiet (which is very rare) but no words were necessary for the team to recognize how fortunate we were to be serving at the uniquely stunning Winterthur. 

Henry Francis du Pont established the Winterthur Corporation in 1930 with intentions of maintaining Winterthur as a place for education, historical preservation, and enjoyment to the public. In 1951, Winterthur Museum and Gardens opened to the public. Winterthur is very unique in that in offers history, art, beauty, and learning.

The museum collection consists of rare early American decorative arts. Winterthur also has a research library that serves as an academic center for American art and culture that reaches out internationally.

Winterthur has approximately 80,000 visitors each year, including over 1,000 school children who are given the opportunity to experience and learn from Winterthur through scholarships.

The museum is filled with priceless antiques that demand upkeep. Originally with Henry Francis du Pont, the garden staff consisted of 50 members; it now currently holds 15 gardeners. The staff is usually pulled from their regular duties, so NCCC helps fill this gap which in turn directly benefits the entirety of the estate.

What we did in Winterthur
Raven 1 was a valuable asset to Winterthur Garden and Museum. We were able to complete projects that had been set aside for years because they required larger numbers than available before we arrived. The team entered the project during the most pivotal time of the year and was able to help prepare for not only its most active season, but also for Point-to-Point, a steeple race that is the largest event of the year for Winterthur.  This was critical for the health of the surrounding environment and also necessary in preparing for the special event.

Skunk cabbage gives birth to cabbage patch kid, Henry

   

Winterthur consists of almost 1,000 acres of land with an overwhelming amount of trees and plants.

The team completed a broad range of small and large projects serving beside and learning from the horticultural staff such as:

• Pruning, watering, and mulching of over 500 trees on the land
• Planting several new trees and approximately 250 native plants
• Landscaping  75 acres of the land
• Removing and chipping dead trees
• Clearing unwanted brush and invasive species
• Construct, repair, and restore the irrigation system which is invaluable for Winterthur to function properly
• Restored numerous streambeds and banks on the Winterthur property; part of this required utilizing the wood chipper to remove debris
• Painting/sanding signs and fences, building/restoring almost 9 miles of fences
• Painting and installing communication poles
• Demolishing a rotted, unsafe pavilion for the public

We got green thumbs



Raven 1 got their green thumbs in Winterthur, DE



Each member genuinely enjoyed working alongside and learning countless skills and interesting facts from Winterthur’s horticultural staff. It is now common for us to test our new knowledge by pointing out new plants and trees we’ve learned about, or interesting facts about the garden and Winterthur.

The garden department staff  has also inspired the team to investigate edible plants, landscaping, and gardening. One Corps Member, Jerramie, used the always-crowd-pleasing garlic mustard in a pasta sauce he created on the Ameri-budget.

We learned how to use some tools for the first time

The staff at Winterthur taught us a variety of skills and gave us hands-on learning experiences through one-on-one training and instruction with equipment and horticultural contents.



Emily and Maddi use weed wrenches to remove roots and weeds from the garden.



Here’s a short list of some of the useful tools we learned to use:


• Weed wrench
• Shovels
• Hand saws
• Weed eaters
• Loppers
• Pitch forks

We learned how to operate a manual transmission 

The staff also trained us to use a variety of utility vehicles; several members on the team did not previously know how to drive a manual transmission. Through consistent practice the members on my team learned how to operate vehicles with manual transmission for the first time.

Here are some other vehicles we learned to operate:

• Toolcats
• Bobcats
• Mowers
• Dump trucks
• Front-end loaders

We appreciate the patience and willingness from the horticultural department to teach us about the garden and how to use tools and equipment.



What we liked best and how we grew as a team

It is no surprise that each member of the team embraces the serenity of the garden by going on strolls, practicing yoga in the Sundial Garden, having an Easter egg hunt in the Enchanted Woods, or reading outdoors in their own favorite place.



Raven 1 poses for a team photo at Winterthur Museum and Country Estate in Delaware.

Left to Right:  Michael, Andre(Romerio), Skylar, Maddi, Ashley, Cassie, Jerramie, Henry, Emily and Keiper



We feel blessed to be a part of Winterthur, feeling that the peacefulness and beauty of the garden is reflected upon all those that work at Winterthur. 

While on this project we’ve fostered a connection with the Winterthur community; we also feel a strong connection to the estate itself and the spirit that Henry Francis du Pont was trying to establish.

It is evident how much pride the team takes in Winterthur because we got to see the fruits of our labor and we were able to display our accomplishments.

We were also given multiple service learning opportunities including a garden walk, museum tour and restoration tour to make the connection with the historical impact Winterthur has on the community, Delaware and the world.  Our projects at Winterthur that involved clearing brush and invasive species taught us that if we feed off of the energy of one another we can accomplish great things when working together that may not have been feasible with one person.



Cassie from Raven 1 does chainsaw work on her birthday



It’s amazing that one place we knew nothing about previously could teach us so much in only six weeks.

 
"In these surroundings, so intimately connected with the lives of our forefathers, we see fine craftsmanship and soundness of workmanship; we see the economic and cultural development of our country, and in addition the symbols through which the founders of our Republic expressed their patriotism and love of country." - Henry Francis du Pont

~Keiper, Raven 1, Class 18, Team Leader



Have you ever been to a NCCC induction ceremony?

Each AmeriCorps NCCC campus has an induction ceremony which celebrates the start of a new service year and the completion of Corps Training Institute (CTI). Read Henry’s thoughts about the Class 18 induction experience!


I felt excited to start the service year…Outside the induction hall, two bald eagles flew overhead while the team waited to walk into the ceremony. Our team took the eagles flying overhead as a symbol of the hard work we would be doing for America this year. We did cheers and stomps outside while waiting to go into the ceremony to pump us up and show our team pride. Since CTI was intense with long hours of training, we finally felt everything was coming together at induction.



Barbershop trio of NCCC members sing "Happy Birthday" to Kate

I sang twice during the ceremony…
I was a part of the barbershop trio which sang happy birthday to Kate Raftery, NCCC National Director , whose birthday was the exact day of our induction ceremony. I didn’t find out I would be singing the birthday song until a few days before the ceremony.  The trio of birthday singers included me and two other Corps members from other teams. A few days before the ceremony, we spent some time practicing to perfect our harmonies.  At the induction rehearsal, the day before the ceremony, the trio sang the birthday song live for the entire Corps.  What a cool experience! Team based singing!

 

Henry singing the National Anthem

 I also sang the National Anthem for the ceremony, which was a major highlight for me and the Raven 1 team. During the national anthem, while others were looking at me thinking about America, I was looking at the faces of the people who would be my family and friends.  I got tears in my eyes because I realized this Corps is making a big impact on my life.

The speeches were inspiring…

All of the ceremony speeches were excellent. I thought Rusty, the NCCC Atlantic Region Community Council president, did a really terrific job to inspire the Corps. (Read Rusty's speech here.) I also enjoyed listening to the speech from Kiera, a class 17 NCCC Atlantic Region alumna, because she reassured us of our commitment and awe at what we too can accomplish.(Kiera's speech is here.)   Kate, the National Director of NCCC,  also really connected with us through her remarks. (Check them out here.)



Kiera, Class 17 Alumna, speaking to members



Mmmmm...Raven cake

Cake and hugs with the Corps…The ceremony also included refreshments and I remember eating cake and punch afterwards while hugs, congratulations, and goodbyes were shared with friends and Corps Members.

Ta-da! You’re it! The announcement that Raven 1 was the blog team also happened at induction and it was unexpected.  The announcement was informal.  During the reception part of the ceremony, we saw a photo of our team pop up on the projector screen with a sentence that we would be the national blog team!  We all felt so excited and honored to be the featured team for the Atlantic Region that we took to the stage to take a photo with the announcement slide.



Raven 1 finds out they are the national blog team at induction



All in all, the induction ceremony was moving and memorable for everyone.  I hope everyone reading this has an opportunity to experience a NCCC induction ceremony!

~ Henry

NEXT Raven 1 Blog Post:  Raven 1 shares a summary of their round 1 project in Delaware.

Raven 1 Team: Meet Maddi from New Jersey

 Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1.Run. Read. Eat. Serve. Meet Maddi.

Maddi

From: New Jersey

Age: 22

Before NCCC: I was interning for a meeting planning company that specialized in pharmaceutical events.

About me: When not out running, I spend most of my time reading and eating. After attaining a BS in Public Health Education from James Madison University, I worked at an assisted living community and a meeting planning company.  I also traveled to Guam to work with a non-profit specializing in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. 

Team Specialty Role:  Corps Ambassador Program Representative (CAP) Team Trainer

Most excited about this year:  I am excited about being exposed to a variety of work environments.

Now you have met Raven 1!

Raven 1 Team: Meet Ashley from California

 Now that you’ve seen the Raven 1 team introduction video, it’s time to hear directly from the members of Raven 1.Meet Ashley from the Raven 1 blog team, she represents the Atlantic Region Corps on the Community Council.

Ashley

From: California

Age: 23

Before NCCC:  I recently just graduated from college. I was working at an after school program. There weren't too many job opportunities available and felt like I was waiting around for something to happen. I figured that I might as well create my own path and do something interesting instead of waiting around.

About me: I graduated from Sonoma State University with a BA in Sociology. My professional experience of working/mentoring at risk youth, being a camp counselor, and recreational leader is balanced by my hobbies of playing basketball and other sports,  going for hikes, and photography

Team Specialty Role:  Community Council Representative

Most excited about this year: To step out of my comfort zone. By doing this I feel it will give me more confidence in life after AmeriCorps.

Next Raven 1 Team Post:  Maddi from New Jersey