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VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT <br /> AmeriCorps Cape Cod's Thirteenth Canal Clean Up <br /> By Hannah Baranes <br /> This past April, for the thirteenth time,AmeriCorps Cape Cod partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of <br /> Engineers' (USAGE) Cape Cod Canal park rangers to host Canal Clean Up. For the first eleven years of Canal Clean <br /> Up, AmeriCorps members recruited community volunteers to walk along sections of the Canal and pick up trash, so, <br /> over time, the Cape Cod Canal became cleaner as the event became more popular. Thus, in recent years, AmeriCorps <br /> and the USACE have begun planning additional beautification projects for volunteers to participate in along the Canal. <br /> Last year,volunteers planted two new gardens and painted a mural on a concrete retaining wall along the Canal's service <br /> road. This year,we invited volunteers to clean up and repair areas hit by this year's winter storms and to help with <br /> seasonal maintenance projects. We had originally hoped to either build outdoor fitness equipment along the Canal, or to <br /> paint a second mural telling the story of the Cape Cod Canal; however, federal budget cuts made it difficult for the <br /> USACE to fund new projects. We are hoping that AmeriCorps Cape Cod members of the more affluent future will be <br /> able to implement these projects someday,but, as I mentioned,there was still plenty to do along the Canal for this year! <br /> In addition to picking up trash along the entire 7.5 mile-long northern bank of the Canal, volunteers installed fencing, <br /> hauled fallen trees off of steep hillsides,revamped the two gardens that were planted last year, did trail work, installed <br /> interpretive signage, pruned,weeded, and raked. And, despite Canal Clean Up falling on a gray and rainy New England <br /> "spring"day, we had about 175 community volunteers participate in the event! The day turned out to be quite a <br /> success... and quite a bit of fun. <br /> Four different local organizations—Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve,the National Marine Life <br /> Center, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Buzzard's Bay Coalition—volunteered to set up educational <br /> booths at Canal Clean Up,and a group of AmeriCorps members spent the day engaging our younger volunteers with <br /> environmental crafts: <br /> Numerous local business also contributed snacks,raffle prizes, equipment,and entertainment for Canal Clean Up. <br /> Special thanks to the Falmouth Fiddlers, Sailworld Cape Cod, Eastern Mountain Sports,Taylor Rental,Marc Anthony's <br /> Pizza, Cape Cod Bagel Company, Coca-Cola, Cape Cod Potato Chips... wait, there's more!... Starbucks Buzzards Bay, <br /> Dunkin' Donuts Buzzards Bay, Idgy's Gluten Free Dining, and Stop and Shop. <br /> 18 <br />