Volunteer Spotlight: Piedmont Community Service Crew

Meet members of the Piedmont Community Service Crew (PCSC), a youth-led service organization that has partnered with FOSC on infrastructure projects at our native plant nursery.

Founded just over 20 years ago by Ken Li, who leads the crew to this day, through the Venturing program of Scouting America, PCSC emphasizes youth leadership through hands-on community service. As Ken shared, “I like working with this age because they are on the cusp of development where they can take on lots of responsibilities with a little guidance that normally might be assumed to be exclusively the domain of adults (their parents). PCSC is centered on doing service work, but has evolved to where we also strive to take on activities where some of our more motivated members ‘own’ an event and do the associated planning and direct their peers to do the work.” 

PCSC members lead the planning, fundraising, and execution of ambitious projects, from building tiny houses for unhoused youth to local environmental work like improving our nursery.

This past year, outgoing crew presidents Elena and Stephanie helped lead several large volunteer workdays at the nursery, bringing together dozens of youth volunteers for a variety of projects. New co-president Claire Aubrecht also spearheaded the design and construction of a new kiosk installed at the nursery entrance.

FOSC: What drew you to working with FOSC, and what has it meant to contribute to the nursery specifically?

Elena: I am very passionate about the climate and climate change, so in my time with PCSC I have always been working to find environmental services near me. PCSC's history with Friends of Sausal Creek also made it an easy choice to work with them! Being a big plant nursery with many different aspects, it was perfect for a large group where everyone could get to do something they wanted to do. Anything that involves giving back to the environment has so much importance and meaning to me, I truly believe it is every human's responsibility to help it and do everything we can to give back to it. So doing something so small as working in a plant nursery for a couple hours is just a quick way to give back to the Earth that has given us so much.

Stephanie: The first event I ever did with PCSC was actually at the native plant nursery, so working with them this past year has been such a full-circle moment! I also liked that the nursery has such a direct impact on the community and local environment. It’s been nice contributing to a space that people genuinely use and care about.

FOSC: Can you describe what your role as crew president of Piedmont Community Service Crew entails? How do you select what projects to spearhead?

Stephanie: As co-crew president, I helped organize projects, coordinate with our VP teams, and make sure events run smoothly. This year, Elena and I wanted to focus more on larger group volunteer events that felt both productive and social. When choosing projects, we usually look for things that will make a real impact and that people will actually enjoy being a part of. 

FOSC: Can you share a recent project you’ve worked on at the nursery? What did you learn through the process- either technical skills, or about the needs and context of the space? How can you see yourself harnessing these skills in the future?

Claire: We recently finished the kiosk project and I learned a lot about the process, from the starting sketch to assembling the finished product. I've learned how important it is to follow through with projects and with the people involved, and maintain a good balance between taking initiative and stepping back to let others gain some experience.

Elena: [Working on the kiosk] I learned how to use a jigsaw to cut the wood and got better at reading directions and blueprints. I think being comfortable with wood working (even things as simple as using a drill) will become very helpful for me later in life when I need to do those things in my own home and I don't have an adult with experience to help me.

FOSC: Was there a moment during one of your projects that surprised you or stuck with you?

Elena: Something that surprised me was just how much a group of people can get done in a couple hours. The second time we went to the nursery with about 20 people we got to dig holes, build metal work tables, scrape and refinish a few benches, weed, and make good headway on creating hoops for the plant tables.

Stephanie: By the end of the day, there was a noticeable difference in the space. It made the work feel really rewarding.

Claire: Going into the native plant nursery event I really thought it was just going to be a lot of digging around in dirt, but I was pleasantly surprised by how many different options the nursery had. I gravitated more towards a demolition station, but planting irises beforehand was just as meditative as breaking an old bench.

FOSC: How have these projects put your leadership skills in action?

Elena: These projects have helped me learn how to multitask by making sure to check in on every group and try to help multiple people at once. The second time we went to the nursery, it was mostly up to me to split the groups up, explain what was going on to everyone, and help if any issues came up. Another skill I used was dividing up work for efficiency so that we could complete all of the projects we wanted to.

Claire: As a leader it's important to distinguish between being directive and being constructive, that it's about the good impact it will have and the learning experience people gain along the way. I'm glad that I was able to help others grow their skillset and provide a service that was within my ability!