Community Development
Benjamin Duvall-Irwin
Tucker Community Foundation: Uniting Nonprofits ...

Part of my scope of service as an AmeriCorps member serving the Foundation is to aid in the expansion and outreach within our serviced communities. With a small staff and a large rural region to cover, maintaining personal connections with individual communities remains challenging—something that technology alone cannot fully address. The major project I recently completed consisted of eight nonprofit information sessions designed not only as a 101 course to community foundations and applying for grants, but as regenerative networking opportunities for volunteers and staff in the nonprofit sector who often experience isolation and burnout.

Tucker Community Foundation: Uniting Nonprofits Across 9 Counties
Conservation
Benjamin Duvall-Irwin
125th Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Each year between December 14 and January 5, naturalists and bird lovers across the western hemisphere mobilize in the longest-running community science project in the world. Volunteers go out on one day to count birds in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The data collected by thousands of volunteers has been used as a valuable resource to understand trends in bird populations over the past century. On December 14, we ventured out for a Christmas Bird Count in Pocahontas County.

125th Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Benjamin Duvall-Irwin
Reviving an Ancient English Caroling Tradition ...

On Saturday, December 7th, I helped organize and uphold a unique and ancient English caroling tradition in Elkins, where we recreated this ancient English tradition at the Kump House in order to bless their apple trees, chasing out harmful spirits and waking the trees up for the coming winter so that they will have a bountiful harvest next fall. While this sounds strange, the event itself is more about bringing the wider Elkins community together in an evening of song and creating a fun tradition that will hopefully become a yearly event!

Reviving an Ancient English Caroling Tradition in Elkins, WV
Conservation, Heritage, Community Development
Benjamin Duvall-Irwin
2023-24 AmeriCorps Highlights

In our 2023-24 member service year, we supported 34 AmeriCorps members at 20 organizations whose sites, programs, and activities were visited by 39,860 individuals. These members delivered educational programs to an audience of over 5,000 individuals, treated and improved 1,052 acres of public land, and managed 1,501 hours of volunteer service. 1,184 individuals who participated in our stewardship education programs reported increased knowledge of environmental stewardship.

Heritage
Benjamin Duvall-Irwin
West Virginia Instrument Anthology at The ...

Madeline Ricks is an AmeriCorps member with AFNHA, serving as the Collections Preservation Coordinator for The Augusta Heritage center in Elkins, WV. She has begun writing a new blog series for the Augusta website. Beginning with the African origins of the banjo, Madeline will take readers on a journey through the histories and cultural impacts of the instruments played in West Virginia’s musical traditions.

West Virginia Instrument Anthology at The Augusta Heritage Center

Red Spruce Restoration and American Chestnut Planting Projects

Red Spruce Restoration and American Chestnut Planting Projects

The WV Division of Forestry has managed the Red Spruce Restoration project at Kumbrabow State Forest for the past three years. Local 4-H students have been helping them plant roughly 1,000 red spruce saplings each May. This project is part of the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI). Red spruce now covers about 178,000 acres at high elevations in the Allegheny Mountains and places on North Fork Mountain.

Read how Kacey is helping to restore Red Spruce and American Chestnut forests!

Weaving in Arthurdale

Weaving in Arthurdale

When Arthurdale was established in 1934, one of the most pressing concerns for newly arrived homesteaders (and the government that supported the project) was jobs. Weaving was a cottage industry that became one of the most important in the town.

For a number of years, there has been a small group of Arthurdale Weavers who get together to make projects on some of the historic looms that Arthurdale Heritage owns. When I began my AmeriCorps service in fall 2021, I was invited to take an introductory weaving class, and I was immediately hooked.

63rd WV Governor’s Cup Ski Race has Record-Breaking Number of Participants!

63rd WV Governor’s Cup Ski Race has Record-Breaking Number of Participants!

Recognized as the longest running race throughout the southeast, the 63rd West Virginia Governor's Cup Ski Race was presented by Alpine Festival and hosted by Timberline Mountain on March 11th-12th, 2023. This year’s race was record-breaking in its number of skiers with 222 participants! According to local ski history, this number surpasses the original record of 168 participants in 1980.

Never Too Old to Serve!

Never Too Old to Serve!

The Hardy County CVB was seeking ways to encourage responsible tourism. The catch? The position was through the AFNHA’s AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps? Isn’t that for those young, spirited college graduates seeking experiential learning as they map out their professional paths? What business does a 57-year-old grandmother, semi-retired and still falling short of daily step goals have in applying? Wouldn’t I be taking a grand opportunity away from someone more in need of the experience?

Camp Pioneer’s History Makes Memories

Camp Pioneer’s History Makes Memories

History and memory are intertwined. For a place such as Camp Pioneer, this is certainly true. Though I came to Camp Pioneer with little knowledge of what the 4-H experience offered, I can say that of the stories I’ve come across so far, 4-H Camp is one of the most memorable parts of that experience.

When I first arrived at Camp Pioneer to start my service, I remember the stacks of 4-H Camp group photos being among the first things to greet me in my new office space. They’d been framed by the previous AmeriCorps member and awaited their return to the walls of the main building for display. They had been displayed improperly before, prompting a need for a new display. This was a project I’d become a part of very soon, but not one I yet realized I’d help complete.

Reflections of Arthurdale by New Exhibit: Treasured

Reflections of Arthurdale by New Exhibit: Treasured

The new temporary exhibit at Arthurdale Heritage, Treasured: Contemporary Reflections of Arthurdale focuses on the threads which connect Arthurdale’s past to its present and future. Through rare and magnificent objects either on loan or in the archival collection, Arthurdale connects these pieces of historic significance to current and future projects. As the exhibit explains, these objects represent the stories of individuals and families who called this town home and they “now challenge us to press onward, imagining what we will achieve together.”

In our new exhibit, you can learn not only about Arthurdale’s history but also about our organizational efforts and plans for the future. Treasured will be on display until January 13 from Monday-Friday 10-3.  

Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding

Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding

On a cold clear night, when the moon is dark and a north wind blows, northern saw-whet owls take wing for their fall migration. Bird banders across the US and Canada set up their nets in strategic locations and watch the weather closely for good conditions, checking their nets regularly for birds.

Learn how volunteers at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge identify and track owls for study.

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Telling Civil War Stories with a New Window Exhibit

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Telling Civil War Stories with a New Window Exhibit

The Beverly Heritage Center is composed of four historical buildings, dating from 1808 to 1907 that showcase a range of architectural styles and original purposes. An element of exhibition design here is negotiating around this pre-existing infrastructure, such as the large windows in the Aries Hill Building (1907).

During the Civil War, several buildings in the town of Beverly were used as hospitals for both sides of the war. After the Battle of Philippi, one of the first amputations of the Civil War was performed in town by Dr. John Huff; where he used a butcher knife and a carpenter saw to treat a Confederate soldier who had been hit in the leg by a cannonball. In the First Campaign room, we display the saw used in this operation, so a depiction of this medical scene themed perfectly with the rest of the exhibit.

News at Adaland: Rediscovering Judicial Clothes and Continuing Christmas Traditions

News at Adaland: Rediscovering Judicial Clothes and Continuing Christmas Traditions

Adaland Mansion, previously known as the Modisett Mansion, is a Greek Revival house set at the top of the hills in Philippi, WV. Now it is a beautiful landmark that hosts a combination of historically inspired and modern events, such as weddings, tours, educational classes, private and public dinners and more! In early November the site closes to the public for a few weeks so volunteers can fill every space with glad tidings (and tinsel). Each room has a themed tree with shining ornaments to prepare for the free Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 3rd.

The Christmas cheer is here early at Adaland Mansion as the director, Jolynn Powers, excitedly opened a surprise donation.

300 Miles To Find A Home

300 Miles To Find A Home

Hello! My name is Joe Medica and my position through AFNHA is with the Green Bank Observatory serving as an Interpretive Trail Developer. I am originally from Schuylkill Haven, PA, which is in a part of Pennsylvania that is very similar to Pocahontas County. I found AFNHA when I applied through the official AmeriCorps website. I was matched with the program based on my experience in environmental work and field research. I interviewed with AFNHA staff as well as sites under AFNHA, and was paired with the GBO.

West Virginia has become a second home to me in the nine months that I have been here. I first arrived in Green Bank on Labor Day weekend, and the adjustment to the conditions here was a bit of a shock. The lack of any wireless signal took a bit of getting used to, but with plenty of Ethernet cords and some adapters, I’ve been able to maintain a little bit of connection to the outside world. It isn’t my first time moving away from home, but this is definitely the furthest I have moved, with the trek from the GBO back to my part of PA coming in at 300 miles.

Red Spruce Indicator Species

Red Spruce Indicator Species

Wild and wonderful West Virginia contains a wondrous and unique ecosystem of red spruce. This species of tree and the ecosystem it creates is historic to West Virginia. In the 1800s and into the 1900’s it was a highly sought-after tree for lumber. Now, it’s the focus of some of the conservation work taking place in West Virginia and the Central Appalachians. The lumbering industry took a heavy toll on this ecosystem, reducing the acreage of red spruce forests from over 500,000 to just a little under 30,000. This means the other species that rely on this ecosystem for habitats, like the endangered cheat mountain salamander and the West Virginia northern flying squirrel, also suffered. Today, conservationists are working to restore this ecosystem in order to create healthy spruce forests and bring back the biodiversity this ecosystem creates. So, how do we know the actions being taken are working? That's where indicator species come in.

Homes for Bluebirds

Homes for Bluebirds

On March 19th, the Green Bank Observatory and Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area hosted an event with the Deer Creek Defenders 4-H club in Green Bank to build bird boxes for the local bluebird and tree swallow population. These boxes were built to replace old boxes initially deployed by Dave Curry, the founder and main proponent of the citizen science program involving these boxes here on the Observatory grounds. The boxes that were replaced were either those deteriorated by the elements or knocked down by predators that got a little too greedy.

Wild and Wonderful Women of West Virginia: Celebrating Women’s History Month

Wild and Wonderful Women of West Virginia: Celebrating Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month. So . . . Happy Women’s History Month!! This month is built to honor and celebrate all the women in the past, present, and future. How I’m celebrating this month is by sharing the untold stories of some of our influential women in Randolph County’s history. This past month I have been spreading the word on social media to share the stories of these amazing women.

Environmental Education with Project Learning Tree

Environmental Education with Project Learning Tree

When I became the Education and Outreach Aide for the West Virginia Division of Forestry, I was looking forward to teaching others about the environment. Since my arrival in West Virginia I learned about Project Learning Tree (PLT) - a program that has helped me discover engaging teaching modules. PLT is an environmental education program made for educators to work with children from preschool to grade 12. PLT has been training teachers and educating students about the environment since the mid-1970s and is used in all 50 states. According to the PLT website, the program “reached 138 million students and trained 765,000 educators!”

More Than A School – Collective Memories from Bolling School Alumni

More Than A School – Collective Memories from Bolling School Alumni

What do you remember about your early school experiences? Can you recall the exact details of your classroom’s layout? What about the smells of the hallway? Do you remember all of your teacher’s names? What about significant moments in time – do you remember where you were when you found out about these life-changing events?

The Wild and Wonderful World of Rural 19th Century Medicine

The Wild and Wonderful World of Rural 19th Century Medicine

One of the Beverly Heritage Center’s most intriguing artifacts is an account book from the mid 19th century. It is an unassuming thing, the covers have been lost long ago and the pages darkened from their original white to a soft brown. In addition to the change in their color, the pages stiffened over time and some of the edges are prone to flaking. It sometimes feels like the book will fall apart in your hands as you flip through it.

Crossroads and Witnessing Change in Rural America

Crossroads and Witnessing Change in Rural America

As a lifelong West Virginian, the story I seemed to hear growing up was that we here in the Mountain State had been left behind. Before I was old enough to understand it, I learned about the “Brain Drain” and how all the people who could leave the state were going out to get better jobs in other places. From outside sources, I learned the stereotypes about West Virginia and the idea that people here were simply stuck in the past. Progress was happening somewhere in the world - but not here.

Re-discovering the Heritage and Culture of West Virginia

Re-discovering the Heritage and Culture of West Virginia

When I found myself looking to make a change but not ready to retire, I decided to hit the pause button and do something different. Signing up with the AmeriCorps program to serve a year as a Heritage Tourism specialist was my way of giving back to the community while transitioning into the phase of my life. In return, devoting time to learning about the history and culture in West Virginia and discovering historical places has become a rewarding adventure.

 

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