|
|
Home 
Alumni Hands On e-Newsletter SCA Journeys
Alumni Hands On e-Newsletter SCA Journeys
SCA Journeys |
|
|
|
by Malinda Lovic, ’02, ’03, SCA Staff ’03-’06 I like to refer to SCA as my fortunate accident. I began my SCA journeys nearly 5 years ago as a Cornell graduate with a fresh new Bachelor of Science degree, and therefore deeply in debt, with no job in sight. I signed up for a nonprofit email list at my school based on a tip that nonprofits were more likely to hire people with little to no experience because the pay was typically lower than the for-profit sector. Then one day, I received an email informing me about the Student Conservation Association. That one email guided me toward a path I never could have predicted. Recalling a post-graduation cross-country drive with a college roommate, who opened my eyes to national parks like Mesa Verde and the Grand Canyon, I applied to SCA in an attempt to return to those places. “Back then,” there was no option to apply online, so I diligently filled out the paper version, made 3 copies as instructed and entrusted my future to the postal service. I didn’t get any calls about Mesa Verde OR the Grand Canyon, but somehow I ended up signing on with SCA anyway and flew to Idaho for training to lead a Fire Education team. I had no idea what that even meant at the time. After deplaning in Boise, I happened upon a familiar face from my freshman year dorm and discovered that he was also flying in to find out what being an SCA Fire Education Corps Team Leader was all about.  From that moment, I knew SCA would lead me to many exciting adventures and new friendships. Wilderness First Aid training and my first conference attendance in Utah. Donning the Smokey Bear costume at a county fair on Cape Cod (probably the shortest Smokey on record!). Road-tripping to SCA headquarters and meeting Liz for the first time. Seeing a real bear in the Tetons. Old Faithful in Yellowstone. Discovering my top 2 favorite hikes: in Zion, Angel’s Landing and the Narrows. Meeting the President of the United States and Secretary of the Interior. Living on an island. Watching the sunset over Boston’s skyline from the oldest light house station in the country. And that only covers the first year and a half…When I set out to start my first internship with SCA, I thought that “changing lives through service to nature” simply meant that my volunteering would help change the lives of others. I found a deeper meaning along the way, because SCA actually changed the path of my own life. And for that I am intensely grateful. Thank you to everyone who had a positive impact on my journey down that path. Malinda served on Cape Cod National Seashore as a Fire Education Corps Team Leader and at Boston Harbor Island National Park as a Transportation Interpreter. She joined the SCA staff as a Communications Rep in the Admissions department and more recently in Campus Recruitment at SCA headquarters. The photo above, taken in Yellowstone in 2002, is from Malinda’s Fire Education days, and shows Malinda (standing, left) with Cara Goar (standing right), Fire EducationTeam Leader Santa Monica; and Greg Kesterman, Fire EducationTeam Leader Grand Teton/Jackson Hole.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Hits: 2181 Comments
(3)
Cara Goar
written by Misty , May 20, 2007
Well I guess I should have put my email address, huh?
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Love you Cara hope we get in touch!
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Cara Goar
written by Misty , May 20, 2007
Hey, I'm an old friend of Cara's, trying to get a hold of her... anyone with any current contact info please email!!
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
I agree
written by Ewa Rajchert , January 25, 2007
I agree with Malinda that SCA "changed the path of my own life" as well. I did an internship in New Hampshire as a Mountain Stewart. I worked with a team of four to maintain trails in the White Mountains for 3 months (Summer 2006). I learned so much this past summer,loved working and spending my free time in the outdoors. It also helped me realize that I want to continue working in the outdoors, and continue my postgraduate studies in the environmental fields.
Votes: +0
report abuse
vote down
vote up
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed