“It takes a village to raise a child” is a saying that has  been heard by most people, but in the case of Baldwin County’s Bicentennial Park, one could say it takes a village to raise a village.

The park is tentatively set to officially in December 2009 in line with the celebration surrounding the bicentennial of Baldwin County, which is Dec. 21, 2009. Before that can happen, there is a lot of work to be done.

A group of AmeriCorps students, working out of Weeks Bay Natural Research Reserve in Fairhope, has set up camp on the shores of Hastie Lake in Stockton and is helping clear out the first nature trails making up phase one of Baldwin County’s 367-acre bicentennial park.

“We are currently working on phase one, putting in the first of several nature trails, some of which will eventually go through the wetlands,” said Nick Warren, special historic projects coordinator for the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History. “The AmeriCorps students are helping clear the trails by removing large root systems and things that could pose potential problems later.

Director of Archives John Jackson explained that machinery had already been used to clear the preliminary paths, but the root systems and uneven ground remaining had to be dealt with before the machines could come back and make the trails safe and convenient for guests.

That is where the AmeriCorps students put their muscles and labor to work.

“We’re here clearing the trail for the Aaron Burr Trail,” said Emily Smith, a 23-year-old New York native and two year AmeriCorps member. Smith is one of the two team leaders working with the group in Alabama.

Smith said the AmeriCorps group is based at Weeks Bay to do environmental work.

“We want to provide environmental access and more information about nature,” said Dylan White, 23-year-old Massachusetts native. He said Warren had been instrumental in helping the students see where their work would lead.

“Nick was awesome,” White said. “He helped us, he explained what the park is about and how our job is important to it.”

Warren said the partnership between Archives and History and the AmeriCorps group was mutually beneficial.

“This project allows these groups to get out, experience the outdoors and make a contribution,” he said, adding that the volunteer groups helps Archives and History get the work done on a slim budget.

The project has given the students , most of whom are from the northern United States, the chance to experience the wildlife of Alabama.

“For a lot of us, this is our first experience camping in this manner,” said Jen Whitten, a 22-year-old, Vermont native. “We got a chance to go out in canoes and travel the wetlands. We saw bugs and birds. I’ve even seen my first water moccasin.”

White agreed with Whitten. “We’ve seen alligators, spiders, snakes, large lizards and every kind of flying bug.”

The AmeriCorps volunteers have also been introduced to shrimp and jellyfish. They joked about the bugs, heat and humidity, but agreed that they would do it again.

“This will open (the area) up,” said Whitten.” There is talk of making it handicap accessible. It’s nice to know that we’re helping people experience that.”

Though the group is working on environmental projects, the over-branching AmeriCorps program this year focuses on disaster.

“We have certain projects we work on, but if disaster comes, we’re among the first to respond,” said Jamie Carpenter, a 24-year-old Nebraska native.

There are currently AmeriCorps groups working in San Antonio on shelters and evacuation projects, helping wildfire areas in California and in Iowa performing mucking in flood-devastated areas.

Mucking is the process of digging out the mud and other deposits left after flood waters resend.

The group working in Bicentennial Park are based at the AmeriCorps campus in Colorado as part of the National Program. AmeriCorps teams perform a required four projects throughout the year.

The AmeriCorps members are not the only volunteers helping bring Bicentennial Park to fruitation. They got involved because of another group of community workers, the aftercare youth participating in the Short Term Expeditions Program, which is an Outward Bound Discovery program for at-risk youth.

“Our Medical Director Dr. Lynn Yonge got Outward Bound involved in the overall project,” said Smith. Yonge oversees the AmeriCorps projects in this area, and is the Director of the Five Rivers Base of Outward Bound Discovery. Yonge not only brought the AmeriCorps volunteers to the park, but used it as an outlet for the STEP youth too.

“We’ve had kids from the STEP program out here, it’s a 20-day wilderness program for adjudicated youth,” said Rob Brekke, STEP Program Coordinator. “The goal of the program is for them to serve the community and give back.”

Children who have completed the program receive a 10-day follow-up, and program staff check in on them after three, six and 12-month intervals, termed “after-care”.

Brekke said the current STEP group set up camp on the other side of the river from the park, arriving there by canoe, while some of the after-care youth worked with AmeriCorps people.“Some of the after-care kids came and helped these guys set up camp and whatever else they needed.’

Brekke is working with Archives and History to help bring in organizations that can help with the park with long-term plan.