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MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS
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(415)868-0502(fax) - P.O. Box 31, Bolinas, CA, 94924
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Young Adults Serve Retreat and Wellness Center
Bolinas, Calif. - Ten members of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) are working on forest restoration at Commonweal, a health and environmental institute and retreat center in Bolinas.
The NCCC team is clearing brush, removing dead wood and invasive species, and refurbishing walkways at Commonweal for two weeks in March.
Commonweal offers a variety of programs that contribute to human and ecosystem health. Along with health and environmental research, an integral part of Commonweal is the Retreat Center, which offers a residential support program for people with cancer. The center is located on a 60-acre site on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and provides a safe, beautiful and restorative environment for healing.
NCCC Corps Member Mary Wynn stated, "We hope to help Commonweal by reducing fuel for forest fires and keeping the forest beautiful."
AmeriCorps NCCC is part of AmeriCorps, a network of national service programs created to improve the environment, enhance education, increase public safety, and assist with disaster relief and other unmet human needs. The Pacific Region campus, located in Sacramento, Calif. serves Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the territories of Guam and Samoa. The Pacific Region campus is one of four campuses in the United States; the others are located in Perry Point, Md.; Vinton, Iowa; and Denver, Colo.
NCCC members, 18-24, must complete at least 1,700 hours of service during the 10-month program. In exchange for their service, they receive $4,725 to help pay for college or to pay school loans. Other benefits include leadership development, team building skills, increased self-confidence and the satisfaction of knowing that they have made a real difference in communities across the country. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For information about applying to an AmeriCorps program, call 1-800-942-2677 (1-800-94-ACORP) or visit the website at
www.americorps.gov.