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Elizabeth Titus Putnam and the Student Conservation Association

"As a twenty-year old Vassar College student in 1953, Elizabeth Titus Putnam was inspired by her experience of the aurora borealis in Grand Teton National Park to create a modern-day conservation corps for students. She used her connections and entrepreneurial instincts to make it happen. Today, the Student Conservation Association boasts 3200 student volunteers from all fifty states and many foreign countries-all from the dream and determination of a college student a half-century ago." - From pbs.org/nationalparks

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA is a six-episode series directed by Ken Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan (SCA Board Member).

Premieres Sept. 27 on PBS (check local listings)

More on "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

• Preview Introduction by Ken Burns
• Summary of the Screening Event
• Photos from the Screening Event
• The National Parks: America's Best Documentary?

Sarah was in SCA's Boston Community Program (Harbor Island Ambassadors) this summer and with this essay, she won 2nd place in the Boston Youth Essay Contest.

Sarah, Left, with SCA Members

By Sarah Park

I promise to konservieren sie, conservi, and behoud. It does not matter what language conservation is said in, it needs to be done, and it is time for the human population to clean up the messes we have created. Most people they are just one and their actions do not have a big effect. If everyone starts to think that way their numbers will add up. I refuse to be one of those numbers.

We need to stop taking this world for granted because we are destroying it. We must ensure future generations do not have to suffer for our generation's actions. We need to start conserving and preserving the land, sky, and waters, which provide life.

Photos By Justin Poehnelt

Cutting a tree over a hiking trail in the Frank Church Wilderness with a two person crosscut saw.

More by Justin

• Trail Bridge Construction - 60 Second Time Lapse Video
• Florida Trail Bridge Construction - Photos
• More Photos on Justin's Flickr