By: Bill Basl, Director of AmeriCorps

It was an ideal Saturday in October to be in Shenandoah National Park.  The air was crisp, the hues of red, orange and yellow painting the autumn foliage, and an atmosphere of excitement by the hundreds of other national park goers eager to experience the serenity of a great national park treasure. Initially my trip began as a visit to see President and Mrs. Hoover’s Rapidan Camp and do some picture taking of the significant Civilian Conservation Corps presence at the park. It turned into much more, an opportunity to witness an AmeriCorps alumnus’ continued commitment and passion for service.

Matt Brinkley, a U.S. National Park Service (NPS) Ranger, has the responsibility of preserving history while sharing the story of a President and First Lady who established and built a Presidential retreat at what is now Shenandoah National Park. As he carefully drives visitors to the Hoover Retreat, Rapidan Camp, his guests eagerly anticipate seeing part of history rarely seen by many park visitors. Rapidan Camp, predecessor to Camp David, served as a presidential retreat for President Hoover during one of our nation’s most tumultuous economic periods, the Great Depression. The NPS’ excellent preservation of this historic site gives visitors a glimpse into the past, and public servants like Matt bring its history to life.

As an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) member at the former Perry Point campus, Matt eagerly reflects on his AmeriCorps experience and how that aspect of service helped him move forward in a career that today assists visitors to see, learn, and reflect upon the history of our country.  He talks about a President and First Lady as we walk in the carefully restored and preserved buildings that they walked on and lived in in the 1930’s.