SCA Massachusetts
SCA Massachusetts
466 West Hawley Road
Plainfield, MA 01070
(413) 339-6631
SCA Massachusetts, in partnership with AmeriCorps and the Massachusetts Service Alliance, is currently in its sixteenth year of programming. This program partners with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to teach youth about the environment and to complete high priority conservation projects across the Commonwealth.
In October, 17 corps members arrived at the Kenneth Dubuque State Forest and began working at local schools to teach environmental education and standards-based science, plan service learning projects, and assist various nonprofits in the area.
In March, the crew will grow to a corps of 26 to embark on conservation work from new trail construction to building bridges to removing invasive species at parks and forests across Massachusetts.
Over the course of the 10-month program, the SCA Massachusetts corps members will teach and mentor over 1,000 students and complete over 60 high priority conservation service projects. The positive impact that their work will have on the land and people's lives, including their own, will be unquantifiable.
Emmet Pruss
Emmet Pruss was born and raised in rural mid-Michigan and is excited for the opportunity to now live and work within the communities of Northwest Massachusetts. He is 22 years old and graduated from the University of Michigan last winter, where he studied English Literature and Environmental Studies. Emmet has had various experiences living, learning, and teaching in field settings focused on humanities and the environment. Most recently, he spent the summer of 2012 working with the Appalachian Mountain Club in New Hampshire, where he served as “Summer Naturalist” for the high mountain hut on Mt. Madison. He functioned partly in this capacity by hosting nightly presentations and nature walks for both children and adults focused on enriching their understanding of the ecology, history, and population of the surrounding area. Emmet is eager to gain additional experience teaching in a more formal setting, as well as in wearing snowshoes and cross country skis. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading, writing, and busied contemplation inside his hammock.
Danielle Bilecki
Danielle Bilecki is a recent Graduate from the State University of New York at Geneseo, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Environmental Science. She loves hiking, backpacking, kayaking, dancing and laughing. This is her second stint with the SCA, her previous being with a trail crew in Virginia where she did a great deal of rock work. Not only is she excited to get her hands dirty with some more trail projects, she is also pumped to start instilling a love for the out-of-doors in the classroom!
Kyle Plummer
Kyle Plummer is a recent graduate from Denison University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geosciences. He loves camping and backpacking, gardening, bicycling, cooking, reading, and playing guitar. Kyle is eager to begin his work helping young people develop a passion for the earth, an attachment to their environment, and a love of science.
The Corps Members Start School Service
Last week, our 17 SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps members visited their 10 school placements and 4 internships to observe, introduce themselves, begin to get to know the students, and play games.
From December until March, the members will be spending their weeks teaching science and environmental education to 3 year olds up to 14 year olds, engaging the students in service learning projects, and leading afterschool programs. As one of our cooperating teachers said, "the corps members get to teach the way we [the teachers] which we could teach" with hands on lessons, outdoor experiences, games, and of course costumes!
2012 Conservation Season Newsletter
Learn about the service and adventures of the SCA Massachusetts program during trail season. August, 2012.
Winter 2012 SCA Massachusetts Newsletter
Check out the latest SCA Massachusetts Newsletter and find out what the 2011-2012 crew has been doing: service learning projects, Boston Service Week, and more!
Bryan Blankenstein, Program Director
Bryan Blankenstein is in his fourth year as a program staff member, his third as Program Director. He has worked with SCA in many capacities over the past 11 years, including 7 years as a staff member with the Adirondack AmeriCorps Program, 1 year with the Idaho Residential Program and a few summers as a high school program crew leader. As Program Director Bryan oversees program budgets and assures that the program is meeting all SCA, partner, and AmeriCorps guidelines and expectations. Prior to SCA he worked as a carpenter for several years, and led backpacking, canoeing, climbing, and mountaineering trips for multiple organizations and private companies. Additional passions include writing, photography, cooking, reading and other creative outlets.
Jessica Harwood, Education and Service Learning Manager
Jessica Harwood is in her fourth year as a program staff member and is responsible for coordinating the education placements and programs, overseeing education training, and supervising corps members in their education placements. Jessica studied Geology and Biology in college and has a Master’s in Education. She was a corps member in this program during the ‘02-‘03 season and has worked as an environmental educator, youth counselor, and classroom teacher. Jessica started a business delivering local food and coordinates a gleaning program. She has also led three high school trail crews and is a work skills instructor.
Melissa Patterson, Conservation Service Manager
Melissa Patterson coordinates conservation training and the conservation service season. This is Melissa's fifth full year with the program. She was a crew leader for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps and has worked for SCA as a Corps Member, Project Leader, Work Skills Instructor and Assistant Conservation Co¬ordinator prior to her current position. She has also worked as an educator and holds a teaching certificate. She received a B.A. in environmental studies from Allegheny College.
Vickie Leavitt, Program Coordinator
Vickie Leavitt is the Program Coordinator. She manages the kitchen and all things food-related, as well as overseeing the facilities and vehicles. This is Vickie's first year as a staff member at SCA Massachusetts. She previously led a national crew with SCA in the North Cascades of Washington. She has also taught marine science in southern California, was a wilderness therapy instructor in Utah, and worked as a head cook at Star Island. She has a B.S. in Outdoor Education from The University of New Hampshire.
2011 Conservation Season Newsletter
Read about trail season adventures in our summer newsletter!
Education Season Newsletter 2010-2011
Read about the experiences of our corps members over the winter in Hawley, MA.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SCA Massachusetts February 2010.pdf | 490.04 KB |
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