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Diverse Backgrounds, Singular Commitment: NPS Academy Great Smoky Mountains 2013, Day 1

Submitted by jthurston on Tue, 03/12/2013 - 12:14


By Apoorva Mahajan, NPS Academy 2013

This week on Conservation Nation, we're bringing you blog updates from session 2 of NPS Academy 2013. Here, Apoorva Mahajan reflects on his first day at the Academy in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Blacksmithing!

After an exhausting day (and often night) of travelling to Gatlinburg, TN and settling into the Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft, the SCA NPS Academy moved into full gear. Around 30 SCA orientation go-ers, a host of SCA Peer Mentors and Facilitators, and NPS guides and staff convened and set out for a day at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

First on the day’s itinerary, however, was a hearty breakfast at Arrowmont at 7:30 AM. Matt Kulp introduced himself and his passion for wildlife and all manner of swimming creatures, as well as his own journey in the National Park Service. We then forayed into the Great Smoky Mountains. An hour-long drive on the Cades Cove Loop led us into the heart of the National Park, where we partook in a number of interpretation-based activities. The goal was not only to experience the culture and heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains, but also to orient academy attendees with the ins and outs of interpretation and cultural immersion at the National Parks. Among the activities in which SCA members participated were a tutorial in period blacksmithing, a guided walk through a preserved, late-1800s village, and making our very own pinch pots. Like happy school children, each attendee left with a dinner bell to show for his or her efforts.

A movie viewing and visitor center stop were in order to further expose SCA attendees to the background of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. During the presentation that followed, Dale Ditmanson, Superintendent of the Park, spoke on his experiences with the National Park Service, the mission and aims of the organization, and the challenges and rewards that come with working in the NPS. A hand-packed sack meal later, we started to make our way back to Arrowmont for the remainder of the day’s activities.

At Arrowmont, we organized leisure activities around the daily, unstructured ‘community time’, after which we were treated to a keynote presentation. Lance, our facilitator, spoke on the importance of a key element in all relationships, including our own with the NPS: trust. Without trust, Lance explained, few personal and professional relationships can take root and thrive. Within the SCA, being entrusted with caring for our nation’s natural resources is the first step in becoming an active and successful intern.

Our individual cultural backgrounds, too, play a role in shaping our service in the NPS and SCA. Even as a diverse group with various backgrounds and upbringings, we found that what we have in common - a commitment to preserving the environment - far outweighs our differences. By appreciating and embracing our diversity, we can provide the best possible service to our nation’s diverse people and landscape.

So ended the first day of the NPS Academy at the Great Smoky Mountains. With any luck, the rest of our week will prove equally informative and enjoyable.

 

SCA Alum Blazes New Trails with "Trail Mix" Volunteer Club

Submitted by jthurston on Tue, 02/05/2013 - 17:41
For 16-year-old SCA alum Jordan Chow, serving a three-week stint with SCA was just the beginning. After his 2012 summer crew position at Allaire State Park in New Jersey, Jordan came home and took a closer look at conservation volunteer opportunities in his own community in Chappaqua, New York. "I returned from SCA and found out that there were no similar volunteer opportunities at our school," he says. "But I wanted to continue what I did at SCA and give back to the environment by working on trails... so I started a group with two of my friends. What initially began as a three-man operation turned into a crew of thirteen – and it's still growing."
 
 
Jordan's volunteer group, dubbed "Trail Mix," focuses on helping local parks maintain their trail systems. Jordan and his friends manage all aspects of the club, from working out logistics of events to recruiting new members. While Trail Mix is based at Horace Greeley High School in Westchester County, the group travels to participate in projects around the greater metro area. Since the club's inception in September, the group has already organized six independent service events – including two at Westmoreland Sanctuary in Mount Kisco, three at Teatown Reservation in Ossining, and one on the South County Trailway. After Hurricane Sandy, Trail Mix members came down to New York City to join other SCA alumni at a clean-up event at Hudson River Park.
 
Trail Mix members were eager to help with the storm recovery effort. "All of our members were affected by Hurricane Sandy," Jordan says. "Over ninety percent of our town lost power, and fallen trees blocked many roads. We missed school for six days. The storm showed us how powerful nature can be, and that we should all be more aware of how we are affected by the environment." As they worked to clear storm debris and restore plantings along waterfront paths at Hudson River Park, Trail Mix members proved that trail work comes in many different forms. "You don't have to be near a forest to help the environment," Jordan pointed out. "There are plenty of opportunities for conservation even in the city."
 
 
 
Whether working in the woods or on the urban waterfront, many of the club's members hope to continue pursuing conservation service. As club leader, one of Jordan's goals "is to have more of our members apply for positions with SCA." At least two members are planning to apply for SCA positions this summer, and Jordan hopes to serve as an SCA intern or corps member a few years down the road. His summer crew experience left a lasting impact. "The best part of my experience was making new friends that I still talk to today and seeing our work directly benefit the people using the trails," Jordan says. "While we were clearing and blazing sections of trail, we encountered bikers, hikers, and horseback riders who often stopped to thank us for making the park more user-friendly. This made us all feel great that all our hard work was appreciated."
 
Post by Ann Pedtke, SCA's New York City Outreach Coordinator

A View to Inspire Conservation Service

Submitted by jthurston on Tue, 01/22/2013 - 17:22

What an inspiring (and busy) few days it's been! We asked you to take a break from your service over the weekend to tell the world how or why you serve the planet. The response was, predictably, impressive.

Big thanks to all those who participated! By sharing your reasons for service, you helped inspire the world to serve.

With so many great responses, picking a winner was tough. That said, congratulations to Betsy DeFries! If her photo is any indication, we're confident that she'll put her prize (a heavy-duty SCA hiking pack) to good use. Thanks for the stunning view, Betsy!

Additional props to Andrea Willingham and Benjamina Nelson for nabbing our runner-up prizes. Who wouldn't be inspired to #servetheplanet by images like these?

Search for #SCAplanet on Twitter & Instagram for more great photos.

Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr through Service

Submitted by jthurston on Fri, 01/11/2013 - 15:47

The noisemakers and hats are all put away but on Martin Luther King Day, America will launch a New Year of Service. By serving together, we can extend Dr. King's legacy of doing for others and build a brighter future for all.

To honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,, President Obama is asking all Americans to participate in a National Day of Service on Jan. 19th.. We are asking you to join the thousands of other Americans who will pledge to serve as part of this national campaign. Make a sign that says "i serve the planet" that shows us how or why you serve the planet (bonus points if you include the SCA logo). Share it on Twitter or Instagram with hashtags #iServe and #SCAplanet, and we'll post our favorites here and on Facebook. On Tuesday, Jan. 22nd, we'll pick one truly inspiring image and award the photographer with an SCA hiking pack filled with SCA gear. Read the full contest rules.

As you consider what form your service will take, we hope you will join SCA on MLK weekend at parks in Washington, DC, the Bay Area, Pittsburgh, and other locations, or volunteer at one of the many additional service projects scheduled across the nation. If you have an event you want to share with the broader SCA community, please post it directly on jointhesca.org events section.

Forty-five years ago, Dr. King remarked "all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." In just a few days, we can honor his words, his deeds and his life.

Giving back moves us forward as a people and as a country. So, if you're still looking for a New Year's resolution or if you've already ditched the one you made earlier, resolve right now to serve on Martin Luther King Day. And, then tell us why you serve the planet... Maybe you'll inspire the world to serve along with you!

 

Conservation Caption Competition, Winter 2012 Edition, Round 5

Submitted by jthurston on Wed, 12/19/2012 - 15:51

It's time! Time for the year's last round of the Conservation Caption Competition, Winter 2012 Edition. Let's end the year right with an absurd caption for this absurd photo.

Entries are due, either here or on Facebook, by 5 PM EST on Friday. We'll have Caption Quality Evaluator Dani Thompson pick a winner over the weekend and announce it after the holiday.

Special thanks to SCA national partner Dr. Pepper Snapple Group for making the Conservation Caption Competition, Winter 2012 Edition possible.

Click here for the rules.