AmeriCorps Florida State Parks facts for kids

AmeriCorps Florida State Parks is a special program. It helps young people serve their community. This program started in 1997. It is part of the AmeriCorps national service network. Members work with Florida State Parks. They earn money and an education award. This happens after they complete at least 1700 hours of service.

How the Program Works

This program has 50 members. They are divided into two main groups.

• Individual Placement members: There are 30 of these members. Each one works at a specific state park. They might join up with teams for bigger projects.
• Team members: There are two teams, each with 10 members. One team works from O’Leno State Park near Gainesville. The other works from Wekiwa Springs State Park near Orlando. These teams often travel to other parks.

All members focus on managing natural resources. They also help improve park facilities.

What AmeriCorps Members Do

The work members do depends on the park's needs. However, all members help with important activities.

Helping Nature

• Restoring Habitats: Members plant native trees and plants. They also remove invasive exotic species. These are plants like Australian pine or Brazilian pepper. These foreign plants can harm local ecosystems.
• Controlled Burns: They help with "prescribed burns." These are small, controlled fires. They are like natural forest fires. These burns help keep the forest healthy.

Improving Parks

• Building Facilities: Members build and fix things in parks. This includes nature trails, bridges, and fences.
• Making Parks Accessible: They help make parks easier for everyone to use. This means building wheelchair ramps. They also widen doorways for better access.

Education and History

• Environmental Education: Members teach people about nature. They lead programs inside the parks. They also visit local schools to share their knowledge.
• Historical Preservation: They help restore and protect state historic sites. They also teach visitors about Florida's history.

A Look Back: The Program's Beginning

The AmeriCorps Florida State Parks program began in 1997.

• First Members: Fifty members were chosen in the first year. They were placed in five different park districts.
• Training: In January 1997, the first members trained at O'Leno State Park. They learned many skills. This included how to cut trees safely. They also learned about wildfire behavior and controlled burning. Some members even got licenses to handle pesticides. This helped them fight invasive plants and tree pests.
• Helping in Emergencies: In 1998, members helped during big emergencies. They went to Bunnell, Florida, to help after huge wildfires. They also helped after many tornados hit near Orlando. Working with FEMA, they cleared debris and rebuilt fences. They also helped give food to people who lost their homes.