A year of hard work and community building: HCT bids farewell to amazing AmeriCorps members

Who the heck would be standing in the middle of the Herring River in March, mucking out the vital waterway to boost fish passage? AmeriCorps Cape Cod members, that’s who!

These amazing folks come from all over the country and make an 11-month commitment to fulfill a variety of environmental and disaster preparedness needs across the Cape. They clear trails, battle invasive plants, teach kids about the environment and a whole lot more.

AmeriCorps Cape Cod members also become a big part of the community, building friendships and relationships in every Cape town. That’s why it’s so hard to say goodbye when their term ends.

This week, staff and volunteers from Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) and town of Harwich Conservation Department staff gathered to salute two AmeriCorps members who have made a real difference over the past year. Lillian Pogany worked closely with HCT on a variety of projects and Sophie Wigington pitched in on numerous town Conservation Department efforts.

‘It’s really changed my perspective’

Fortified by cake and seltzer at the Brooks Park pavilion, we had the chance to thank the duo for their contributions and wish them well in future endeavors. “I wish everybody had an opportunity like this,” said Pogany. “It’s really changed my perspective. I’ve learned how important community building is, and I could write a dissertation on all the wonderful things I’ve learned from HCT volunteers.”

For Wigington, working with AmeriCorps “confirmed my love for field work and getting my hands dirty,” she said. “I’m just grateful to have been able to make a tangible impact.”

Pogany and Wigington teamed up to plan the annual Tour de Trash, sponsored by HCT and the town of Harwich. Volunteers scoured the streets of town on an April Saturday, “harvesting” hundreds of pounds of trash and recycling from problematic perches along roadsides.

The pair also helped plan the Regional Health & Environment Fair at the 204 Cultural Arts Municipal Building, which was hosted by town conservation departments from Harwich, Chatham, Orleans and Eastham, along with community partners. The event featured health screenings, gardening and environmental sustainability tips, tick and mosquito education and family fun activities.

But it was perhaps the biggest unplanned event that created the most work during their term on Cape Cod. The blizzard that socked our shores in February left a tangled mess of fallen trees, blocking nature trails and clogging up the Herring River. It’s great to know that AmeriCorps members will pitch in on cleanup duty when Mother Nature gives us the elbow.

‘Unparalleled’ skills and connections

“With AmeriCorps, we’re able to do more things for the community that we wouldn’t be able to do without them — things like environmental education, planting native species and land stewardship,” said Amy Usowski, Conservation Agent for the town of Harwich, who served as an AmeriCorps member earlier in her career. “They have the real drive to serve their community and become part of their community.”

Connor O’Brien, HCT’s Director of Land Stewardship, observed that the AmeriCorps program provided the kind of experience that often leads to jobs in the conservation field. “The skills they develop and the community connections that they build are unparalleled among other programs,” he said.

He’s also a big fan of how young AmeriCorps members and more seasoned HCT volunteers share knowledge, work together and form meaningful relationships during stewardship efforts.

With AmeriCorps graduation approaching, we asked Pogany and Wigington about what was ahead. Pogany will be staying on Cape Cod as an AmeriCorps supervisor, planning member projects on the Outer Cape. Wigington is headed out on a grand adventure to Australia for a couple of months, and then will look for a job that will provide the kind of field work thrills that she came to love with AmeriCorps.

The warmth and camaraderie of our farewell party at the pavilion made it easy to see the beauty and value of hard work and community building. HCT is grateful for the awesome contributions made by Pogany and Wigington and all AmeriCorps Cape Cod members. They make our peninsula a better place, and we’re sure the future is bright for all of them.

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