SCA Adirondack Program 2011

Hi, my name is Bart Haralson and I live in Ithaca, New York. I graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a degree in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science. For the last couple of years I have worked at Taughannock Falls State Park. I enjoy working outdoors and making the park a place that everyone can enjoy. I like to be around friends and go to new places. I also enjoy taking care of animals. I have three dogs, a few chickens, and a guinea pig. I like to learn new things about invasive species and their affects on different areas. In my spare time I like to go hiking in the parks in my area and watch movies. I joined the SCA Adirondack program to learn new outdoor skills and to meet new people. I have been to the Adirondacks at Raquette Lake for two weeks for a field biology. I hope this will be a great learning experience for me.

After graduating from Indiana University in December of 2010 with a degree in criminal justice and linguistics, I decided I didn't want a regular desk job right out of college. I've lived in Indiana my entire life, and while I've gotten to travel, I felt the need to move somewhere with a little more geographical diversity. The mountains have always called my name (in the Midwest there's no real mountains to speak of), so I decided to work at a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains for the winter. I'm always looking for a new adventure and love to travel and move around, hoping that one day I'll find somewhere that I want to call home for longer than 5 months. I love doing almost every outdoor activity: running, biking, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and most recently snowboarding. I'll try just about anything once.
After moving to the middle of nowhere and working for a company that truly believes in going green, I realized that I wanted to work for an organization that promotes conservation and preserving natural resources. This eventually led me to the SCA, and I'm extremely excited to share my love for the outdoors and work towards making the park a better place for everyone that uses it.

I graduated in May 2010 from SUNY Geneseo where I focused on Geology and Environmental Studies. I spent a summer working for Geocorps America as speleologist/field technician locating caves in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas and five months in Wyoming where I was a hydrology and soil intern for the Bureau of Land Management (in a program run by the Chicago Botanic Gardens). During college, I spent several spring breaks cleaning the Kentucky River with Living Lands and Waters and another on an SCA team in the Grand Canyon. I enjoy playing music, fishing, camping and hiking. Although I grew up in NY (Hastings-on-Hudson), I feel I have not spent enough time in the Adirondacks. I look forward to living and working in and exploring these beautiful mountains for the next 5 months.

Let it be drawing, acting, photography, crocheting, gardening or cooking- I love art of every medium and enjoy exploring different modes of creative expressions. A placid pacifist in love with life, I am humbled by the beauty of the world. From earliest childhood, I have considered nature to be my greatest teacher; filled with deep respect and gratitude, it is my joy to work for and offer all I can in giving back to the land and our mother earth. Born in California, I found my peace within forests and along creeks, captivated by the flora and fauna of the natural world and fascinated with all forms of life. Growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii, I have been blessed with some incredible opportunities that opened my mind to whole new worlds; conservation, globalization and sustainability, became focus points that have totally altered my prospective and understanding of the environment and the role of modern society in it. As my interests became passions, I was changed from a quiet observer to a motivated and active participant in life. At 18 years old, I am overwhelmed with an eagerness (almost desperation) to get out and explore the world, and choosing the paths of my adult life; however watching and listening to some of my peers and family members, I’ve become aware that society seems to have setup a mindset for a rather narrow range of commonly acceptable directions for youth to follow at this stage in their lives- and I have had a hard time accepting this mindset. So I began a search for alternative opportunities, with hopes of finding meaningful work and committing myself in some kind of (peace oriented) service, wanting to make a positive difference and pursue something outside of myself. That drive is what led me to find the Student Conservation Association. And what an incredible opportunity!

There are a lot of different definitions for “success” as there are many meanings to the word “satisfaction” but one sense of this that I have come to appreciate, would be in taking off my boots after a hard day’s work in nature, laying down at night-sore and ready for sleep, knowing that I’ll be up again with the sun, boots on and ready to give it all I’ve got all over again. It feels good to give back.

ADIRONDACKS- here I come!

Hi, my name is Chris. I grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. I recently graduated from University of Vermont with a degree in Environmental Science. I have spent many summers in the Adirondacks I lived on an island during my summers in the Adirondacks and I would spend my days having fun by getting lost in the woods. Running around in the woods is where my desire to be an environmental scientist began. I'm really looking forward to working in the Adirondacks again. Besides nature I love playing soccer and dancing. Other interests of mine are internet pop culture and playing frisbee.

Hey all, my name is Marlon Troubnikoff. I've lived in Germany and Italy for most of my life, with the exception of several years in Virginia and Delaware. I am currently doing trail work in the
southwest as a volunteer with American Conservation Experience. Though I eventually intend to pursue a career in International Relations, I have recently discovered, much to my delight, that at this point in my life there is nothing better than hiking and working outside each day. In addition, I have been enjoying the opportunity to explore more of the US, and I am continually amazed by its natural beauty and diversity. These are things worth preserving, and I hope to make a positive contribution in this regard so that others may derive as much happiness from them as I have. I greatly look forward to working in the Adirondacks this summer and elsewhere in the next few years, and I hope to see and experience as much as possible along the way.

I am a super senior at Western Michigan University and am from Batavia, Illinois. I have a double major in Textile and Apparel Studies and Spanish, however I took 2 environmental classes this past semester and completely fell in love with them. Now I have finally found something I want to do for the rest of my life. My two awesome teachers have opened my eyes to great literature (which I will bring to share this summer) as well as the inspiration I need for this summer and on out ;)

I have a website you guys should check out. I made it for my last assignment in my nature and society class.
Enjoy and see you soonnn!

http://getoutanddosomething.tumblr.com/

The SCA Adirondack program is based out of the William C.Whitney Headquarters on Little Tupper Lake near the outskirts of Long Lake, NY. This program serves the Adirondack State Park in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The Adirondack Park is a unique 6 million acre mix of private and public lands in northern New York State. Established in 1892, the Adirondack holdings are under state constitutional protection. Any change to how land within the park boundaries is managed requires a change of the state constitution to be ratified by two consecutive offices, therefore making it one of the most protected wild places on the planet!

The Adirondacks comprise some of the most rugged and remote country in the eastern United States. High mountains, lakes, rivers and ancient glacial basins make up its varied North Country landscape, of which over 1 million acres are protected wilderness allowing no motorized access. As the largest intact temperate forest in the world, approximately 14% of the viable remaining wetlands of the continental US are found within the park boundaries. The park’s management system is currently a study model for more than 30 countries that are developing or reviewing their National Park systems. All of this makes the Adirondacks a unique, rewarding place in which to work, play, live and protect.

The NY Adirondack Program is currently in its 12th season of service. Each May thru October a team of 20 interns join 3 staff members for 5 months of conservation service work throughout the majority of the 6 million acre park. The service projects include traditional trail maintenance and construction including bridge building, rock staircases, and tread and drainage work, along with fire tower restoration, construction of Adirondack style lean-to’s, and historical building restoration. The program is also involved in an 8 year partnership with The Nature Conservancy on invasive plant species management within the park boundaries.

Crews are generally made up of 4 to 6 members who serve for 5 or 10 days in remote backcountry or front country locations. Each crew has a crew leader organizing the details and management of that particular project. Every Adirondack Corps member has an opportunity to lead 2 or 3 projects throughout the summer, providing an experience that increases their leadership skills.

Before members are set loose in the park comprehensive training is provided to them.
Communication, Leadership, Team Collaboration, and Trail Construction and Maintenance techniques are covered to prepare teams for the season of service work. Chainsaw safety, Risk Management, Wilderness Advanced First Aid and CPR, Outdoor Living Skills, help the crews work safely in the field. Finally a sense of Adirondack cultural and natural history helps members grow an appreciation of the unique habitat they will be a part of for a summer.