A vernal pool is a seasonally flooded wetland usually ranging in size from small puddles to shallow lakes. Water from snowmelt and spring rain collects in depressions of bed rock or hard clay. They may dry up and refill throughout the season or not fill at all depending on spring precipitation. By summer they are usually dried up for the rest of the year. In dry seasons seeds, eggs, or cysts can lie dormant and grow and reproduce when the pools fill with water again.

For my major project, I was tasked with identifying and propagating shrubs and trees best suited to shading out invasive reed canary grass. The idea was to develop a timeline and method of propagation that future AmeriCorps will follow years down the line when the meadow is ready to be reclaimed.

During my year of service as an AFNHA AmeriCorps member at Arthurdale Heritage, my primary focus has been on archival projects related to Arthurdale’s textile collections and community development initiatives tied to the site's fiber arts programming.

The first half of my service year has been so rewarding in a myriad of ways—I can’t wait to see what the second half has in store!

My AmeriCorps service has been an amazing journey. The experience of serving the Greenbrier Historical Society and especially the communities of the Meadow River Valley in western Greenbrier Valley through the Hidden History Project has been an eye-opening adventure that will hopefully continue into my future as well as the people and visitors to Greenbrier County.

Serving at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center through the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area has given me the opportunity to become a part of West Virginia’s booming tourism industry. As a lifelong West Virginia resident, I love being able to share the nature, history, art, and communities I love with others. 

BHC AmeriCorps member London details their experience assisting with the BHC Interpretive Garden.

The Historic Beverly Lantern Tours is an annual series of tours led by long-time volunteer and contributor to the Beverly Heritage Center, Karl Mulac. As per tradition, the Lantern Tours were scheduled for four nights, across two weeks in October, and took visitors through the Beverly Historical District as they listened to tales of crime, tragedy, and mystery from the last three centuries, the way lit by kerosene lanterns and the occasional sprinkle of humor.

During my AmeriCorps service with the Monongahela National Forest, I have had the opportunity to work with various nonprofits and community groups. My favorite and most significant collaboration has been with the Greenbrier River Watershed Association.

When I began my AmeriCorps service year, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I wanted to give back to my community and grow in my own skills, but I couldn’t have predicted just how much this experience would shape me.