We're very excited to say that we received a three-year federal grant for AmeriCorps Cape Cod
— Misty Niemeyer, Program Manager AmeriCorps Cape Cod
AmeriCorps Graduation Celebrates Service to Cape Cod
Year 27: 18 members, 170 projects, 30,000 hours of service
Click on image about to watch video short about AmeriCorps Cape Cod graduation.
13 August 2026 – BARNSTABLE, MA – AmeriCorps Cape Cod celebrated its 27th graduating class at the Tilden Center at Cape Cod Community College. The event brought a big shout out to a group of young adults who worked through threats of funding loss to give 30,000 hours of service to the region.
What did AmeriCorps Cape Cod do?
This year 18 corps members provided more than 1,700 hours of service each, working on projects ranging from trails to shellfish to education.
They delivered more than 170 group service projects – including 123 natural resource projects, 56 environmental educational events, and 83 marine mammal strandings.
Why does service matter?
Service creates a lifetime impact, said Mark Forest, chair of the Barnstable County Commissioners.
“I was a VISTA volunteer in the 70s,” he said. “that experience was transformative.”
“Don’t leave your service spirit behind in this room,” he told the group. “National service it not merely a line on your resume or a gap year. It is a life-long lens.”
How does AmeriCorps impact Cape Cod?
AmeriCorps Cape Cod plants seeds for future leadership and service in the region – nearly 140 alumni from the program have become part of the fabric of Cape Cod and 59 currently live and work here, many in essential natural resource roles.
Since 1999, it has delivered a cumulative 1,068,000 hours of service directly to Cape projects. This winter’s blizzard offers a perfect example.
During that historic storm — which left most of region in the cold without power for days — regional shelters offered a safe place to more than 600 people. The AmeriCorps members played a key role in opening and running the shelters 24/7 for the duration of the storm.
What was unique about this year?
This 27th cohort had a decidedly bumpy year to start. Federal cuts threatened to decimate the program before it began. Barnstable County jumped into the gap with supplemental funding while state attorneys general from several states successfully sued the federal government to release the budgeted funds.
Is there a future for AmeriCorps Cape Cod?
But now, the future is again looking stable.
“We’re very excited to say that we received a three-year federal grant for AmeriCorps Cape Cod,” said Misty Niemeyer, Program Manager AmeriCorps Cape Cod.
“So that provides us an incredible amount of stability … we’ll be bringing on 20 AmeriCorps members in the fall, in October.”
“One of the reasons its great to be part of these graduation ceremonies and celebrations, is we get a chance to see these new movers and shakers, these new people stepping into the community to become leaders,” said Forest.
“And this bond that comes out of this experience between them and Cape Cod, is a bond that basically lasts a lifetime.”
AmeriCorps Cape Cod by the numbers
According to a just released report:
- There were 18 Year-27 members.
- Each member completed more than 1,700 hours of service.
- The group completed more than 170 group projects.
- Projects included 123 natural resource management projects, 50 environmental education events, and 83 marine mammal strandings.
- During winter storm Hernando, members provided more than 100 hours of emergency response with 24/7 support to four regional shelters serving more than 600 people.
- Since 1999, the program logged 1,068,800 service hours, valued at almost $30M.
- Since 1999 it has completed nearly 5,000 natural resource management projects, as well as 2,615 environmental education activities reaching 67,00 people.
- To date 139 alumni stayed or returned to Cape Cod and 59 currently live and work here.
For more information
See AmeriCorps Cape Cod Restored, prior reporting on how Americorps Cape Cod came through the federal cuts.
