Submitted by AmeriCorps

Last week in The Sounder, we told you about a team from the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps Program, that would be donating time to spruce up local ball fields near the Orcas public schools. The project itself was a huge hit, as the crew spent last Saturday, April 16 edging, weeding, shoveling, leveling, raking and grooming to make the Upper Fields look “good as new.”

“It was nice to give back to a community that I relate to, because of my experience in youth sports,” said NCCC crew member Martin McCorrison, who hails from Dedham, Mass. “I felt like, going from my previous experiences, to being a part of a group that was helping clean up the field, that it was like I was almost closing a circle in my life.”

The ball field project was the NCCC’s “Community Day,” a commitment the program makes to each community in which they work. Derrick Shaefer, Baseball Field Coordinator for Orcas Island Parks and Recreation Department, oversaw and took part in the work day, as did Orcas 8th-grader Madison Pollock, who volunteered her time to work alongside the crew throughout the day.

“It was cool when Derrick was talking about baseball and how he wants the kids to have a field they can take pride in,” said Samantha Alfonse of Hamilton, N.J. “It’s nice to know that we can help achieve that and make sure it’s safe for kids to play on.”

The NCCC crew removed approximately 3,000 pounds of grass and worked on nearly 3,200 square feet of fields. The project comes at a perfect time since both the Orcas Minors (age 9-10) and Orcas Majors (age 11-13) baseball teams both have their season opening games this Saturday, April 23rd, at 1:30, when they each host Friday Harbor on their newly spiffed up ball fields!

The NCCC crew has been on Orcas Island serving at Four Winds Camp since March 24. Their time on Orcas ends on April 24. The AmeriCorps NCCC and its FEMA Corps units engage 2,800 young Americans in a full-time, 10-month commitment to service each year, addressing critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, and urban and rural development. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.