Congratulations to our AmeriCorps member of the month for September 2018, Amy Shirk!
Here is what Natalya Walker, Field Coordinator for Canyon Country Youth Corps, had to say about Amy:
Amy Shirk joined CCYC in February 2018 as a part of our Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP). Throughout the CLDP program Amy showed her potential to become a strong Crew Leader. She was one of the first to get her hands on a project, to troubleshoot chainsaws, and to clarify projects. She showed initiative, strength, and natural leadership.
During the Summer Youth Crew Season Amy co-lead a trail crew with Alex Roth. Together they maintained trails in Dark Canyon Wilderness, requiring backcountry camping with a group of 6 teenagers. This is not always easy. Most of the crew members had never camped before, let alone hiked into a site then asked to work 8 hour days. However, Amy and Alex created a strong crew dynamic with members that completed great work. Although the work in Dark Canyon Wilderness was tough, hot and buggy, Alex and Amy worked through it with their crew. Their members gained amazing skills in trail building and backcountry camping.
Throughout the summer season I saw Amy grow as a leader. She took great ownership over her crew, their dynamics, and decisions she made for the crew. As a result CCYC staff decided to put Amy on a crew without a co-lead as we trusted her ability to lead a crew on her own. Throughout the Fall season she will run a 4 person crew in chainsaw work on the Dolores River and San Juan River removing tamarisk and Russian Olive. Through the member training weeks and first few weeks working projects Amy showed initiative, organization, strength, and strong leadership. She takes her role as a leader and as an AmeriCorps member seriously. Overall, Amy is an excellent CCYC member and representative of AmeriCorps as she embodies our missions throughout her term.
Thank you for your service, Amy!