Reflections on AmeriCorps Service

​During my year serving as the Watershed Engagement Coordinator at Friends of the Mad River, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to design educational and engagement opportunities on climate and watershed ecology, learn about the field of environmental conservation, work with partners, volunteers, and landowners, and explore the beautiful mountains, rivers, and valleys of Vermont.

My primary responsibility is to design and implement educational programs for the Mad River Valley community. I developed a climate and ecology book club and collaborated with the town libraries to host our monthly book discussions. I also co-lead and host workshops, documentary screenings, and field trips, usually with a local “expert” on topics ranging from floodplains and animal tracking to forest bathing, snowshoeing, and nature journaling. These events have been an amazing opportunity to creatively engage and connect our community with the watershed through fun and educational events. It’s been rewarding to see people engage with the natural world and develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues through conversations and personal reflection during these experiences.

One memorable experience happened early in my service term on a field trip I led with a floodplain expert from the Vermont DEC. It was a bitterly cold November morning, the first frost of the season, but all of that was forgotten as we learned about the diverse plant and animal life on the site, the importance of floodplains in filtering water, providing habitat for wildlife, and mitigating floods. I was fascinated by the myriad signs of beavers we saw, including a beaver dam and a giant felled tree.

 Serving the Mad River Valley community through education and engagement provides natural opportunities to learn and hone my interest in conservation. As someone completely new to the field, it’s been an amazing opportunity to interact with and collaborate with conservation partners and organizations, some of whom have then led field trips I've hosted. In organizing educational programs for the community, I’ve learned about different ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and the importance of protecting biodiversity. In providing engagement opportunities to the community, I’ve participated in hands-on conservation projects, such as planting trees and removing invasive species. I’ve been a direct recipient of my service and have been able to curate the programs we run to align with what the community needs and what I am interested in.

One project that I particularly enjoyed was working with a team of 100+ volunteers to reforest a riverside parcel that used to be an old hay field. Through this project, I learned the principles of riparian buffer restoration, including what native tree species are wildlife-friendly, how tree nurseries operate, and how to work with volunteers and landowners. Most importantly, this project highlighted the transformative power of collective action in protecting and preserving natural ecosystems since none of the work could have happened without the willing landowners, volunteers who planted 1200+ native trees and shrubs, and partner conservation organizations that provided support in various forms.

​As someone who values aesthetics, I’ve been blessed to call Vermont home for the past 10 months and to have the opportunity to explore the state's diverse landscapes and witness its different inhabitants change their lifestyles with the seasons. Whether running along the North Branch or Winooski rivers in Montpelier, hiking, skiing, biking, or driving to work through the Mad River Valley, every new day provides the opportunity to see and experience a different side and season of the mountains and rivers. To say I’m constantly amazed by the natural beauty of Vermont would be an understatement. I’ve also had the chance to share this fascination with Vermont’s beauty with others through a seasonal photo contest to get people to share photos depicting their love for the Mad River watershed.

One of my magical interactions with Vermont’s inhabitants was spending a dark, wet night in April helping amphibians cross a road in Waitsfield. It was an amazing experience to witness the biological process that returns frogs, toads, and salamanders to the vernal pools where they were born. It was also incredibly gratifying to contribute in a small way towards making their mating journey easier by helping them cross the roads between their winter forest habitat and spring wetland habitat and to know that other volunteers were doing the same in other parts of the watershed.

My year of AmeriCorps service has been a transformative experience that has shaped my personal and professional development. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Mad River Valley community and contribute to environmental stewardship and conservation in the region. It’s been a pleasure to serve alongside a dedicated and passionate team of colleagues and board members at Friends of the Mad River who have given me the space to design different service projects and programs that align with my interests, encouraged me to attend conferences and workshops to augment my learning and supported my collaboration with other community-based organizations.

Written by Onome Ofoman, current AmeriCorps service member through the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB).