New to the desert

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps deploys young people between 18 and 24 from across the country, united by a desire to serve and learn, to assist communities nationwide with disaster response and community revitalization. But the teams aren’t just deployed anywhere, communities have to apply for and earn them. 

For the past five years, that behind-the-scenes work in Superior has fallen to Jim Schenck, a Town of Superior intern who serves as coordinator and liaison between community partners and incoming AmeriCorps teams. It's a role that feels second nature to him, having spent time in the Peace Corps and working in Central and South America himself.

This year, his efforts brought Grizzly 1 to town — a nine-member crew hailing from places like San Antonio, Bridgeport and Cincinnati, most of whom had never faced a desert rattlesnake or packed sunscreen as a job requirement. Some joined fresh out of high school looking for direction, others came with a specific passion for community leadership, and some, like team leader Tri Raynes, returned for a second year after time spent in disaster relief work. In exchange for ten months of hard, boots-on-the-ground service across the country, they earn a modest living stipend, valuable job training and an education award, walking away with chainsaw certifications, and, in their case, coding skills and a baby tarantula story to tell back home.

Meanwhile, Superior now has a newly-cleared area for disc golf and cleared walking trails in Telegraph Canyon, thanks to their work.  

The team arrived in Superior on Jan. 8. During that time, they worked on the Highway 60 park, trained for two weeks with the U.S. Forest Service to become certified in using chainsaws, spent two weeks at Boyce Thompson Arboretum working gardens and lining canals, and spent two weeks working on the Legends of Superior Trails. 

A grant from Arizona State Parks supported the trail work. Superior is a Gateway to the Arizona Trail, and they are working to create an established trail so people aren’t walking through creek beds, Schenck said. 

Sara Scheidt, 22, is from San Antonio, Texas, and serves as assistant team leader and public relations representative for the nine-person crew. 

She said she heard about AmeriCorps from a friend and was excited about “opportunities to help communities and see other states.” 

Another crew member serving as a public relations representative is Joshua Fraser, 21, from Bridgeport, Connecticut. 

“I always wanted to be a community leader,” he said.

He said the area he comes from is notoriously poor after the local economy crashed.

 AmeriCorps has been a “really good chance for us to learn new skills and develop leadership,” he said. 

In addition to the outdoor work, Fraser has had the opportunity to assist with creating posters and being a mailer for the town, while learning coding, 3-D printing and more. He hopes to take his learned skills back to help his community.

With the desert has come some learning experiences, including run-ins with a rattlesnake and a baby tarantula. The team has two safety representatives to assist with these situations, as well as make sure they pack enough water, have sunscreen, etc. 

“Most of our team is from the East Coast and aren’t used to the weather,” Scheidt said. 

The team leader is Tri Raynes, 22, from Cincinnati, Ohio. Raynes became team leader after serving as a corps member last year, and has assisted with disaster relief from Hurricane Helene, among other things. Based on her experience with AmeriCorps, she plans to go back to school to study public interest law. 

The crew has been housed at the old Superior High School, which is being renovated into a multigenerational center. There are suites in the building, and they have wifi, washing machines, showers and a kitchen. 

The town really embraces these teams, Schenck said.

Several organizations have provided meals for them, including the Optimists, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club.

NCCC crews work 10 months of the year, in rounds that range from six to 12 weeks. The hours they work are adjustable and are sometimes based on the weather, but it’s often 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the day job, members work on independent service projects. Grizzly 1 has been assisting a local church with Fish Fry Fridays, painting houses and assisting at the local food bank.

Superior was fortunate to be picked for a team. Schenck said that federal funding cuts caused all AmeriCorps and NCCC staff to initially be laid off and then be brought back. There are currently 20 crews working nationwide. 

“Teams were placed where they thought they would be successful,” Schenck said. 

He also added that Superior was recognized as “best sponsor” last year, also known as Sponsor of the Round. 

While there are many costs associated with supporting a team, the community is paid back ten-fold. For the current crew, Schenck said the chainsaw training was $6,000 to $7,000, and staff had to be with them full-time, so a contracted employee was always there. 

The Town of Superior is the primary sponsor; the other is Legends of Superior Trails, 501(c)(3). Fundraisers were also held to support the team, and donations came from APS and Resolution Copper. 

Grizzly 1 finished their work last week and are leaving town this Thursday. When the team leaves Superior, they will head to Fort Bragg in California to work at camps for the Boys & Girls Club.

While there is a limit to how many NCCC crews a community can get, “We’re already talking about what we would have a team do next year,” Schenck said.