Lessons & Reflections from the National Butterfly Center

This week, we have TEN energetic and enthusiastic youth from the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps—and I must confess, it feels like the cavalry has arrived. These young adults are so excited to be here and so focused on leaving their mark that they are knocking out our punch list at a record pace!!! In addition to removing hundreds of deleterious Salt Cedar from the property, they’ve planted a dozen Texas Ebonies, cleaned the trails and ravine, mulched the garden beds, assisted with a controlled burn, and more.

While cleaning the ravine, they found a geo cache named Marridot Travel, Bug Hotel, GC1EM7D; it’s the new version of the old ‘message in a bottle’, and this one’s been floating around since 2008. You can see where it’s been by following this link: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=090a3094-72d9-4c2a-b288-273a945c95f7.

The AmeriCorps crew added to it by signing their names, date and site, and inserted the fortune from a cookie Luke, from Minneapolis, has been carrying with him that says, “Traveling to the South will bring you great pleasure.” Next, they will decide where to drop it, for some other lucky travelers to find!

I have so enjoyed my short time with these bright, young people! Seeing this place and all our work- in-progress through their eyes has emboldened me to imagine MORE and encouraged me to dream of things I might not have dared before. Day after day, these kids lace up their steel-toed boots and report for duty ready to kick a** with strangers and a small stipend. Their travel to South Texas has brought me great pleasure. I hope it’s done the same for all of them!