Manchester, NH

For 8 days the Manchester Leaders have been partaking in WIlderness First Responder classes. Not only are they learning how to handle injuries in the front and back country but they are extensively practicing technique. 

Here Michael Milkavich is practicing the bowline knot.

Tyler Pitts is taking the lead in treating a severe head trauma. 

Julia Walsh is creating a sling for an arm injury.

Here Lan Tran is pictured in the back carrying the litter they made using camp materials for a person who is unable to hike out after an injury. 

In the afternoon we provided much needed infrastructure improvement to the Blodget Parks trails. This included closing social trails, trail corridor brushing, and full bench tread maintaince. 

On Saturday, April 13, the Manchester CLC took part in a special service event, teaming up with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension to do some work in the 4-H gardens located at the Massabesic Audubon Center. Our service was performed in conjunction with the Audubon Center’s Earth Day celebration, giving our members the opportunity to showcase their work to the larger community.

Over the course of the day, our group succeeded in constructing nine new frames for garden beds. The old frames had rotted out, so this project also included deconstructing the existing frames and removing A LOT of screws that were repurposed to the new construction. We also helped to turn the garden’s large compost pile, which gave our students the chance to use their ingenuity and problem solving skills. Some of the compost even became a ramp that a wheelbarrow could be wheeled across in order to move more compost further down the pile! Needless to say, it was a lot of fun.

Over 400 members of the Manchester community attended the Earth Day event, which included eco-themed games and activities, live music, and displays from conservation groups in the area. The SCA New Hampshire Corps also had a large presence at the event, showcasing the service learning projects they have been working on at elementary schools across Manchester. All in all, the day was a great opportunity for the group to do the same type of meaningful conservation service work that we do each week, with the added bonus of involving the community in this process. 

On Saturday April 6th, 10 SCA Manchester crew members and 4 leaders fearlessly headed out to Rock Rimmon Park to take on the tire graveyard! Rock Rimmon Park has long been a place where people and companies have illegally dumped tires. Over the years, hundreds of tires have built up in the park along the Merrimack River. On Saturday, April 6^th, the fourteen of us removed SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY tires out of the park.

Our crew arrived around 9:30 AM and scoped out what lay ahead of us, and we immediately got to work. We tried every tactic of moving tires, we carried them (sometimes 8 at a time!), we rolled them, and we threw them like a discus. Despite the work being fairly “tire”ing, everyone kept working hard and helping each other along the way.

Morale stayed high as we worked together as a team to move as many tires as possible. We could not have accomplished as much as we did if it weren’t for the team work and positive attitude that everyone maintained throughout the day. We were encouraged along the way as neighbors stopped by in amazement and gratitude to thank us for our service. All in all, it was a completely successful day!