Olivia Redler, team leader of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, rakes up sticks at the Carl R. Hansen Woods in Elgin. (Photo by Kevin Beese/For Chronicle Media)

NaTerra Tansel could have done without the crazy weather, but the AmeriCorps volunteer came away with one big plus from her time spent in Cook County forest preserves.

“I finally know what an oak tree looks like,” the Pennsylvania resident said, with a smile.

Tansel was part of an eight-member AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps crew that provided more than 1,900 hours of volunteer time – a value of more than $43,000 – to the county this spring and early summer.

The volunteers — all first-time visitors to the Midwest — finished up their six-week stint with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County earlier this week.

“There was a lot of variety in the work we were able to do,” said team leader Olivia Redler, a resident of southern California.

The NCCC crew focused on activities to improve the ecological health of the forest preserves and support programs that inspire people to form a lasting connection with nature. Forest Preserve staff provided training and educational opportunities to the crew; and the Forest Preserve Foundation made a financial contribution to support the crew members’ time with the district.

The AmeriCorps team cleared brush, helped eradicate invasive plants, worked at Brookfield Zoo and manned booths at community events.

Along with Tansel and Redler, members of the AmeriCorps work crew were: Stefany Stanbury and Andrea Young, both from Florida; Patrick Valdez from northern California; Carlie Beatrice from Cape Cod, Mass.; Tre Ruckstuhl of Reno, Nevada; and Samuel Cobb of Jackson, Miss.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a part of AmeriCorps, a network of national and community service programs that engage 75,000 Americans each year in service work that benefits an array of communities.

While Tansel loved getting in touch with nature during her volunteer stint, she would have been happy with fewer appearances by Mother Nature.

“I didn’t like the bipolar weather,” Tansel said. “It would rain, then it would be sunny and windy, and then we would freeze and there wasn’t any transition. And the weather had such intensity.”

The crew stayed in a heated and air-conditioned tent on Department of Homeland Security property during their work stint.

Elliot Medina, senior resource tech with the Forest Preserve District, said the AmeriCorps crew was a great addition to county work crews.

“They added a tremendous amount of manpower for us,” Medina said. “The additional time that they were able to provide really helped us out.”

One of the volunteer crew’s last duties was clearing brush from parts of Carl R. Hasnen Woods in Elgin. After Forest Preserve crews cut trees, members of the AmeriCorps crew lugged brush to a burn pile.

“It’s been wonderful and interesting,” Ruckstuhl said of his time in the county forest preserves. “I’d never done work in a forest preserve before.”

“This was great life experience,” Beatrice said.

The AmeriCorps crew will now head to two assignments in Iowa.