Community Programs

Laura Bogar, Mount Rainier Ambassador, Conservation Leadership Corps member

The mountain never really leaves you.

I’m three days back from a fifteen-day stint on Mt. Rainier, and the dirt is still working its way out of my pores. But I treasure it. Though showers are nice, nothing compares with the joy of being on a crew. Getting really intimate with the land turns a little dust in the pasta from a mistake into a seasoning. Bug bites become battle scars. And acquaintances turn into friendships stronger than the rock bars they’re forged with.

SCA Dallas Crews will be hitting the parks this summer with new Timberland boots! Timberland donated all 21 pairs of boots to our crew members as well as 200 pairs to other SCA youth programs in Jacksonville, FL, Boston, MA, Stamford, CT and Boston, MA. Asdallas_timberland2.jpg nearly 2,000 youth enter the field this summer, all crew members are required to wear leather boots and other safety gear while working in the field. On behalf of everyone at SCA, a huge thanks to Timberland!

SCA again engaged local students (ages 15-19) from the Boston area in community conservation projects around the city. Students provided hands-on service doing meaningful environmental work projects such as trail building and restoration, invasive plant removal, revegetation projects, construction, and were engaged in weekly environmental education activities. Field trips also complemented this 6-week summer program. The program is designed to provide employment and education to develop conservation and community leaders as well as develop local community land stewards. Most importantly, students have fun!

Students are recruited by SCA staff from local neighborhood schools, church groups and community centers in and around Boston. Crews of ten will each be led by two crew leaders who will provide students with environmental education opportunities related to the work projects. Environmental education days and field trips will be conducted once a week in order for students to understand how their projects relate to conservation in the Boston area.

We would like to thank our 2009 collaborators Boston Youth Fund and City of Boston Parks and Recreation. Photo credits:  Kate England, Emerald Necklace Conservancy

For more information, please email Laura Herrin.