Annual Report 2006

The Minnesota

Conservation Corps‘

“can-do” spirit

enriches Minnesota’s

most valuable assets:

Our youth, young

adults and natural

resources.

2006 Annual ReportFISCAL YEAR END JUNE 30, 2006

Young Adult Crews

Summer Youth ProBase Camp

Project Sites

Greetings!

Whether you are a longtime friend ofMCC or just hearing about the programfor the first time, you understand thatMCC creates a better future for ourcorpsmembers and Minnesota’s lands.This model has been successful since the1930’s, but we continually strive toexpand and strengthen our programs.

This year, MCC crews reached furtheracross the state, with projects stretchingfrom Grand Portage Reservation in thefar northeast to Pipestone NationalMonument in the far southwest. Crewseven crossed into neighboring states onoccasion! Looking at the accompanyingmap, you can see how large an area wecover. Perhaps MCC completed a projectnear you. New project hosts, specialtycrews, a purposeful strategic plan, andAmeriCorps VISTA members have allcontributed to a stronger experience forour participants.

We are proud to share our year ofaccomplishments with you. Please enjoyour Annual Report, and take the opportu-nity to contact us to hear more about ourprojects, our impact, and our futureplans. Thank you for all of your contribu-tions and being part of who we aretoday.

Len PriceExecutive Director

John DeganBoard of Directors Chair

Over 280 proj

The Minnesota

Conservation Corps

provides hands-on

environmental steward-

ship and service-learn-

ing opportunities to

youth and young

adults while accom-

plishing priority cost-

effective conservation,

natural resource man-

agement projects, and

emergency response

work.

g Adult Crews

S mer Youth ProgramB Camp

P ct Sites

The Minnesota Conservation Corps

• Provides service-learning experiences that encouragepersonal responsibility, growth and a strong serviceethic

• Completes outdoor service projects which may involvecamping for several days at a time

• Equips participants with the technical and personalskills necessary to complete conservation projects andhave success in future education, careers, and commu-nity involvement

Summer Youth Program• Involves 15-18 year old youth for eight weeks in the

summer

• Joins youth from a variety of ethnic, socio-economicand geographic backgrounds to live and work togetheron diverse crews

• Is a residential program with a base camp in St.Croix State Park

Young Adult Program• Engages young adults, ages 18-25 years old, in a year

of service

• Operates 16 crews located through-out Minnesota

• Offers valuable technical field experi-ence for future careers, education and communi-ty involvement

Collecting native prairie seed at Rice Lake State Park.

jects completed this year

MCC is nationally recognized as an ECO Corps(Excellence in Corps Operations).

Support And Revenue

SupportFederal Grants $ 305,132 $0 $ 305,132Contributions $ 19,947 $0 $ 19,947In-kind Contributions $ 3,288 $0 $ 3,288State Appropriations $ 768,190 $ 911,810 $ 1,680,000

RevenueFee For Service $ 1,138,760 $ 0 $ 1,138,760Interest $ 20,464 $ 0 $ 20,464Miscellaneous $ 21,564 $ 0 $ 21,564

Total Support and Revenue $ 2,277,345 $ 911,810 $ 3,189,155

ExpensesProgram Services

Summer Youth $ 450,497 $ 0 $ 450,497Young Adult $ 1,736,621 $0 $ 1,736,621

Management and General $ 217,825 $ 0 $ 217,825

Fundraising $ 132,095 $ 0 $ 132,095

Total Expenses $ 2,537,038 $ 0 $ 2,537,038

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS ($ 259,693) $ 911,810 $ 652,117

NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR $ 494,658 $ 0 $ 494,658

NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR $ 234,965 $ 911,810 $ 1,146,775

UnrestrictedTemporarilyRestricted Total

MCC receives appropriations from the State of Minnesota on a biennial bases. In 2006 MCC received appro-priations of $1,680,000. Half ($840,000) of the appropriation is restricted for use in 2007.

MCC maximizes

the enthusiasm,

excitement and

energy of youth

and young adults

to create positive

outcomes.

2006 At-A-GlanceLives InfluencedSummer Youth Corpsmembers 89 youthSummer Program Staff 27 staffYoung Adult Corpsmembers 80 young adultsAmeriCorps VISTA 2 membersFull-time Staff 14 staffBoard of Directors 15 directorsMinnesota Citizens . . . countless

Emergency ResponseEmergency Response 2,795 hoursFire Suppression – direct 485 acresFire Suppression – indirect 4,243 hours

Community InvolvementEnvironmental Education 1,616 studentsAdopt-A-River Program 1,786 hours

Habitat ImprovedExotic Species Removal 1,092 acresPrairie Restoration 142 acresPrescribed Burning 9,916 acresShoreline Restoration 4 acres

Trail Construction and MaintenanceBoardwalk/Step Construction 4,738 feetBridge Construction 637 feetTrail Construction 34 milesTrail Improvement 747 miles

Planting ActivitiesPrairie Seed Collection 66 poundsTree Planting – Seedlings 9,790 treesTree Planting – Large 7,928 trees

WildlifeBirdbanding 1,510 birdsWildlife Surveys 598 surveys

Training OpportunitiesPersonal Development Training 2,450 hoursTechnical Skills Training 8,090 hours

OperationsProject Hosts 90 hostsYoung Adult Crews 16 crewsSeasonal Young Adult Crews 3 crewsSummer Youth Crews 13 crewsTotal Corpsmember Hours 109,950 hours

Minnesota Conservation Corps2715 Upper Afton Road, Suite 100

Maplewood, MN 55119(651) 209-9900

[email protected]

John DeganChairAttorney – Blue Cross Blue Shield

Terry Anfinson1st Vice Chair Restorative Justice Consultant

Joan Peters2nd Vice ChairThree Rivers Park District BoardCommissioner

Karen BowenSecretaryFormer Assistant MN DNRCommissioner

Former Three Rivers Park DistrictManager

David HileTreasurerRetired Hennepin County LawEnforcement Professional

Windy BlockCity of St. Peter

Mary ClearyNonprofit Accounting and FiscalManagement Consultant

Monty DehnCivilian Conservation Corps Alumnus

Judith JamesInstitute for Recording and ProductionFaculty

Educational ConsultantFormer YCC Camp Director

Jim KielsmeierPresident/CEO National YouthLeadership Council

Jane KrentzFormer State Senator

Research Fellow at the University ofMinnesota

Midwest Coordinator - NationalCaucuses of Environmental Legislators

Associate Director of Church Relations –Hamline University

Mike NevalaMetropolitan Council PrincipalEnvironmental Scientist

MCC Summer Youth ProgramCorpsmember Parent

Ken SalzbergLaw Professor – Hamline University

Minnesota Groundwater Association

Mark SkeieFounder of Mapping Your Retirement,Inc

Former 3M Department and ProjectManager

Joann SplonskowskiDirector of the Becker County HistoricalSociety

MCC Young Adult ProgramCorpsmember Parent

MCC Project HostsFederalApostle Island National

LakeshoreChippewa National ForestIsle Royale National ParkMinnesota Valley National

Wildlife RefugePipestone National MonumentSt. Croix National Scenic

RiverwaySuperior National ForestTrempleau National Wildlife

RefugeVoyageurs National ParkWindom Wetland

Management District

StateCedar Creek Natural History

Area (U of M)DNR Ecological ServicesDNR FisheriesDNR ForestryDNR Management ResourcesDNR State ParksDNR Trails and WaterwaysDNR WildlifeLake Superior CollegeMHS - Forest History CenterMHS - Birch Creek BattlefieldUniversity of Minnesota Duluth

Local GovernmentAitkin County Land DepartmentAnoka Conservation DistrictBeltrami County SWCDCarlton County Land DepartmentCarnelian Marine Watershed

DistrictChisago County Public WorksCity of Duluth, MNCity of Bloomington, MNCity of Hastings, MNCity of Maplewood, MNCity of Minneapolis, MNCity of Rochester, MNCity of Roseville, MNCity of St. Paul, MNCity of Taylors Falls, MNCity of Two Harbors, MNClearwater County Land

DepartmentDakota County SWCDGrand Portage ReservationGreat River GreeningHassan TownshipItasca County Land DepartmentLake County Land DepartmentLincoln County SWCDLower Minnesota Watershed

District Ramsey County SWCDRamsey County Parks Red Lake WMAScott County SWCDSherburne County SWCDSouth St. Louis County SWCDSpring Lake Watershed DistrictSt. Louis County SWCD Stearns County SWCDThree Rivers Park DistrictTwo Rivers Watershed DistrictWashington Conservation District

Non-ProfitAudubon Nature PreserveBemidji Boys and Girls ClubBoulder Lake Management

AreaCamp Courage NorthDeep Portage Conservation

ReserveFriends of the Mississippi RiverFriends of the MN ValleyLakes Area Habitat for

HumanityLaurentian Resource CouncilLee & Rose Warner Nature

CenterLong Lake Conservation CenterMaltby Nature PreserveMinnesota Deer Hunters

AssociationMinnesota Prairie Chicken

Society North Country Trail AssociationNorthland ArboretumPheasants Forever Quarry Hill Nature CenterRiver Bend Nature CenterScience Museum of MinnesotaSiseebakwet Lake AssociationSoutheast Como Improvement

AssociationSt. Anthony Park Garden ClubSt. Louis River Citizens Action

CommitteeSugarloaf Interpretive Center

AssociationSuperior Hiking Trail

AssociationThe Nature ConservancyWildlife Science CenterYMCA Camp MenogynYMCA Camp Ihduhapi

Board of Directors

“Like the CCC, the MinnesotaConservation Corps trans-forms the lives ofMinnesota youth, and itswork remains with us inso many ways.”

—Monty Dehn

Civilian Conservation Corps Alumnus

Bridge built by the Summer Youth Program at Tettegouche State Park.