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SCA NH corps member Katharine

Submitted by mvecchiarelli on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:02

I grew up in a Southern California desert, 60 miles east of Los
Angeles. Despite growing up in a rather large city ironically named
Riverside, when there was not uncommonly fires burning in empty
canals, I grew to love the hot desolate outdoors. My infatuation with
nature dates back to my days as a young girl scout. I went camping
with my family and troop at least three times a year, and the cool
thing about the area I grew up in was that you could "get away" in
relatively short amounts of time. I played in the fluffy snow in the
Sierra Nevadas, swam in mountain lakes, camped out on beaches with
sandy cliffs, and camped in deserts near awkwardly shaped Joshua
trees. All of these experiences led me to believe I was going to one
day work outdoors and hopefully help others to learn to love the
natural world.

My first dream of being a marine biologist was drowned when I realized
I am a little too paranoid about sharks to want to swim in the ocean
every day. After this conclusion I turned my thoughts towards a
general Biology degree and started to attend Purdue University to
escape the hustle and bustle of Southern California city life. I
really enjoyed Purdue, but every time I visited home for break I was
reminded how much I enjoyed mountains and really missed being close to
them. Upon graduation I had a revelation: now I have a degree to help
me make a career out of this love!

I worked as a Girls Scouts camp counselor for 3 summers working along
side children letting them shape me while doing my best to be a role
model myself. The SCA provided me an opportunity earlier this year to
work in Canyonlands National Park as a Park Guide Intern. I worked
along side rangers in running the visitor center, roving trails, and
creating programs for visitors. I now am looking forward to one day
working as a NPS ranger. This current SCA program will let me work
with children in a more formal setting and hopefully provide an escape
into wonder. I want to be able to inspire kids in a way that I was
when I was younger and to let them expand their wonder in the natural
world.

SCA NH corps member Katharine
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The mission of SCA NH is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the communities and land of New Hampshire through conservation service projects that enhance and protect natural areas and to provide environmental education to promote the understanding and stewardship of these natural areas. SCA New Hampshire (SCA NH) is one of SCA's oldest residential corp programs. The Interns are housed in historic cabins at Bear Brook State Park where they share the joys and struggles of rustic life while dedicating a year of their lives to performing direct service. These highly motivated 18-25 year olds enhance and protect the state’s natural areas as well as provide extensive environmental education. Benefits to corps members include a living allowance, health insurance, an AmeriCorps Education Award and the development of their own leadership and team-building skills. The overall experience develops a strong ethic of active citizenship and practical conservation techniques. Projects served by the SCA NH corps touch the lives of tens of thousands of people. Since its incepting SCA NH has been partnered with the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation and Volunteer NH (AmeriCorps). Over the years the partnerships have expanded throughout the state to include the White Mountain National Forest, St. Gaudens Historic National Park, conservation commissions, and more. Corps Members spend much of the winter months providing environmental education and service learning programs to elementary and middle school students in Manchester, NH as well as several community nonprofits. During the summer, the members are engaged in conservation service in the form of trail construction and maintenance, campground rehabilitation and historic preservation as well as further environmental education through the NH Park Interpretive program, Discover the Power of the Parks.

contact the SCA NH corps office at six-zero-three -485-2191

or email: Teresa McNamee

TMcNamee "at" thesca "dot" org