Veterans Serving and Protecting Washington's Environment

By Stephanie Jackson, WCC Veteran's & Project Coordinator






Since 2011, the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) has hired veterans for conservation work throughout Washington. Our first all-veteran, all-star crew was hired through various fund sources, including Department of Natural Resources Jobs Now Act. Since that inaugural crew started, the WCC has expanded veteran positions on all crews

Boots on the Ground: Puget SoundCorps to remove creosote at Kitsap beaches

By Stephanie Jackson, WCC Project Coordinator, and Jasmine Davis, WCC Outreach Assistant, Ecology Washington Conservation Corps




Member Alex Stowe stages creosote debris for airlift, 2011



Member Shawn Montgomery removes marine



Puget SoundCorps crew clearing a derelict dock at Maury Island, 2012

Through a partnership between the Washington departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and

Boots on the Ground: Unexpected service in New York

First person accounts by WCC responderscompiled by Bridget Mason and Janna Sargent, Ecology Washington Conservation Corps



WCC Supervisors provide updates via smart phones and Skype™


A gymnasium serves as a makeshift shelter for displaced residents at Lehman College inBronx, NY



Nor'easter dumps snow andadds new challenges for responders



AmeriCorps members serve food and coffee to

Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps head east

by Joye Redfield-Wilder, communication manager, Central Regional Office



Photo of a WCC crew from 2011
Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps sent 48 crewmembers to the East Coast to assist communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. They left on Halloween from Ellensburg and will arrive Saturday, Nov. 3, for a 30-day stint helping neighborhoods in New York and elsewhere on the Eastern Seaboard

Boots on the Ground: State Legislature Expands Puget SoundCorps

by Bridget Mason, Washington Conservation Corps



WCC members removing creosote-treated logs on Lopez Island.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Farrell, WCC Coordinator
The special session of the 2012 Washington State Legislature adjourned April 11 with excellent news for the WCC’s Puget SoundCorps. The Legislature dedicated $13 million to Puget SoundCorps projects, resulting in up to 20 new crews

Boots on the Ground: House of Representatives lauds WCC efforts

by Bridget Mason, Washington Conservation Corps

We have an update to our Feb. 15th Boots on the Ground story!

On Feb. 23, 2012, the Washington State House of Representatives adopted a resolution honoring the 12 WCC members who, “served tirelessly to assist the tornado victims of Missouri and commend their display of leadership in tornado relief efforts...the House of Representatives express its

Boots on the Ground: WCC recognized for Missouri response efforts

by Bridget Mason, Washington Conservation CorpsMembers and staff from Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps — affiliated with the federal AmeriCorps program — aren’t accustomed to spending their workdays seated in a clean, comfortable building.They usually spend their days outside — rain or shine — planting trees or building trails.Jan. 31, 2012, however, was an altogether unique day for WCC

Boots on the Ground: WCC provides critical support for Olympic Peninsula wildfire fighting efforts

By Bridget Mason, WCC Coordinator, Washington Conservation CorpsAdaptability is not just a slogan for our Washington Conservation Corps members. It’s a fact. We must continuously stay flexible to meet community needs whenever help is required.Washington Department of Natural Resources asks for firefighting helpOn September 6, 2011, our WCC members were working hard on their typical projects –