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V, <br /> VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT <br /> AMERICORPS WEEK <br /> By Collin Fox <br /> Through preparation,planning, and partnership AmeriCorps Cape Cod, alongside the town of Mashpee and the <br /> Friends of the Mashpee Nation Wildlife Refuge, took on the tasks of improving native pollinator habitat, reducing <br /> nitrogen through shellfish, and building informational kiosks for conservation areas. <br /> Many of the projects were running simultaneously. AmeriCorps Service Members led volunteers installing one of the <br /> five native pollinator gardens while other members led volunteers building pollinator boxes,promoting bees, <br /> butterflies, hummingbirds, moths,wasps,flies, and beetles. These insects will, in turn, improve plant life and <br /> reproduction in the surrounding areas. The plants themselves will help improve the aesthetics of areas such as the <br /> Mashpee Community garden. <br /> While others dug plants, AmeriCorps members shaped lumber into several new informational kiosks to be placed in <br /> conservation areas throughout Mashpee. The kiosks were designed with the intent of resiliency and passing the test of <br /> time. AmeriCorps used pressure treated wood for the body of the kiosk, red cedar planks for the roofing, and six inch <br /> carriage bolts to hold it together. <br /> With the help of the Mashpee shellfish constable, Rick"York, AmeriCorps Cape Cod set to the task of reducing <br /> Mashpee water's nitrogen content. Shellfish stock was increased in Mashpee Bay with the introduction of a million <br /> new oysters. This was made possible by growing boxes created by AmeriCorps members. In turn, Mashpee's <br /> nitrogen load will decrease by two percent.To further help the shellfish, bags of calcium rich shells were created to <br /> help foster shellfish growth. <br /> Pollinator gardens and boxes will foster insect life and neighboring plant life and kiosks will allow people to enjoy <br /> Mashpee's conservation areas. All the while, shellfish, grown from introduced oyster seed,will fight eutrophication in <br /> Mashpee waters. AmeriCorps Week brought together resources from within the community to help make the town of <br /> Mashpee a greener and bluer place. <br /> 22 <br />