HCT Welcomes AmeriCorps Member Emrys Odell

Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) welcomes Year 26 AmeriCorps Cape Cod Member Emrys Odell. Emrys and 10 other AmeriCorps Cape Cod (ACC) members are living on Cape for a year of service focusing on land management, environmental education, volunteer engagement, and disaster preparedness efforts across Barnstable County. ACC members serve 2-3 days per week on group service projects that can include aquaculture, land stewardship, and educational events in schools. ACC members serve the rest of the week individually with local government and non-profit organizations.

Sometimes referred to as “the domestic Peace Corps,” the national AmeriCorps program began in 1994, evolving from several federal traditions of community service opportunities. AmeriCorps Cape Cod is starting its 26th year, and is funded by Barnstable County and through grants from the Massachusetts Service Alliance and the Corporation for National and Community Service.  Housing is provided by Barnstable County, the Cape Cod National Seashore, and the Town of Barnstable. 

This year, Emrys will be serving with Harwich Conservation Trust, The Harwich Department of Health, Harwich Conservation Department, and Harwich Cemetery Department.  While serving with HCT, Emrys will be helping with land stewardship, assisting the Boundary Quest team in surveying HCT properties, and coordinating the town-wide Tour de Trash spring cleanup event while serving with the Town of Harwich Conservation Department. 

Emrys grew up in the woods in Cooperstown, New York. Their connection with the outdoors began in the lakes and valleys of upstate New York.  For college, they moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Global Environmental Studies from Clark University. Emrys has worked in native plant nurseries and greenhouses, stewarded community gardens, and landscaped professionally.  Emrys feels that their experience working with the land and environmental studies education are sure to help them make meaningful impact on the Cape Cod environment.

Emrys has a passion for ecological restoration and is grateful to have found AmeriCorps Cape Cod to further their skills. The opportunity to work with ecologically minded people drew them to the program and they are excited to work hard and learn. In addition to their love for nature, Emrys enjoys creative writing, playing guitar, and the visual arts. While they are here, they hope to explore the Cape’s natural beauty, savor the food, and go Contra dancing.  So far, they have been enjoying the opportunity to connect and learn from HCT volunteers and other conservationists on Cape Cod.

You can find Emrys serving with HCT on Tuesdays and Wednesdays connecting with volunteers, maintaining trails, and engaging in a variety of stewardship activities.  If you see Emrys and their fellow

 AmeriCorps members helping enhance and preserve our Harwich conservation lands, be sure to give a heartfelt thank you!  To receive email updates about HCT volunteer opportunities and guided walks,

 visit  www.harwichconservationtrust.org and at the top click “Sign up for eNews.”