Member Bios

Howdy. My name is Laura Pershern. I'm from northern Minnesota (the Iron Range). I've spent the past two years in Oregon rafting, hiking, skiing, learning to rock climb, and going (every now and then) to Portland State University. I'm interested in the world and I love to live in it.

My name is Alejandro Alvarez but you can call me Alex. Although I am 100% Peruvian, I was born and raised in Brooklyn and am going to my Senior year of college (after this summer) at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. As for my hobbies I shoot Olympic style archery, play some soccer, handball, and enjoy watching movies. I also enjoy meeting new people and being part of community service/volunteer events.

My name is Brian Chill and I grew up in a small town in southern Michigan called Marshall. I go to college at Western Michigan University where I major in English and Environmental Studies. I enjoy playing frisbee, film, and being outside. This will be my second summer with SCA and I look forward to spending time in a new part of the country.

A native of the desert of southern Idaho, Jarrod Ball was recently transported from the land of constant sun to the slightly greener (albeit much wetter) climate of western Washington. He transitioned from watching the outside world from his office window for fourteen years, to wearing a backpack for over 200 days a year.

Since unchaining from the desk, Jarrod has tussled with tundra in Alaska, wrestled with bitterbrush in Oregon, sweat in the New Jersey woods and started avalanches in Washington. This is his third season with the Student Conservation Association, with whom he has led crews with high school students and professional trail builders.

Between backwoods stints, Jarrod returns to his home in northwestern Washington to do laundry, pet the dog and have dinner with his two teenage children and wife.

Having graduated from Penn State in May 2009, I packed my bags and left for a 5 month season up in Alaska. After the program, I decided to continue my travels and hit the road with a friend, and we drove through Alaska and Canada to the Pacific Northwest. Eventually, I ended up in Portland for a little while before we split up and I hit the road alone back to Philadelphia. I am a sculptor/potter so if we find some clay, I’d be more than happy to demo for any who wish to play with some dirt.