By: Katya Muller 

Throughout this AmeriCorps NCCC voyage, Oak 7 ventured near - to Vinton with its Park and Recreation Department - and far, journeying as far as New Orleans to complete disaster recovery work. Other undertakings the group of 11 accomplished included: mentoring at-risk youth in southeast Michigan; teaming up with Habitat for Humanity in Mobile, Ala.; installing energy and water efficiency kits and working hand-in-hand with the local recycling department in Dubuque; and in northwest North Dakota, partnering with the Upper Souris Wildlife Refuge to remove invasive plant and weed species, assisting the Roosevelt Park Zoo in order to meet its required standards, helping maintenance efforts at Pioneer Village, a community of historical establishments, and completing riverbank restoration the city of Carpio.  Oak 7 is returning to Vinton on July 23 to wrap up their service year and graduating from the program on August 5, 2010.