I serve with a team of six other enthusiastic people on the Trails Across Texas crew. We travel to state parks all around Texas to do chainsaw work, build bridges, make new trails, and install signage. If you read our previous blogs Susan and Tait will talk to you about the work we do and what it’s like to be involved in a team. I want to talk to you on my perspective of that it’s like to navigate the life of a crew member. In my mind serving for the Conservation Corps has three main parts: Group time, alone time, and city life. This is what a week in the life feels like for me.

In the crowd I hear the best

In the crowd of six other interesting people I hear six other interesting people

I hear the minds traveling and the opinions running rapid

I hear the playful insults and the sweet compliments

I hear the words of wisdom and the words of fools

In the crowd I hear the best

In the city I hear the loudest

In the city I hear the sound of vehicles and traffic humming

I hear the homeless ask for money and the preacher ask for money

I hear the police sirens and the ambulance screaming to be heard

I hear the poets and great writers

In the city I hear the loudest

In the quiet I hear the most

In the quiet I hear the wind howling

I hear the birds and the wild animals

I hear my soul speaking

In the quietness I hear the most

Serving is about getting things done for America, but it’s also about growth and self-
development. My crew has been an incredible resource in helping me deal with every challenge that comes. Working on a crew for the Conservation Corps is both amazingly hard and just amazing.

Cassandra Machart – Trails Across Texas Crew Member