SCA Alums Gather for Fall Events in NYC, Oakland, Chicago, & DC
This autumn, SCA brought together almost 150 alumni in a series of fall engagement events across the country. From New York City to the Bay Area, from Chicago to Washington DC, SCA alums of all ages gathered to reconnect and share stories while enjoying their beautiful urban public lands.
SCA concluded the fall round of alumni engagement events this week with a Holiday Happy Hour co-hosted with the National Parks Conservation Association at the NPCA Northeast Office in Manhattan. On the evening of December 14th, SCA and NPCA brought together 64 alumni, members, family, and friends to reconnect and celebrate a successful year of conservation service in New York City. Cortney Worrall, NPCA Senior Regional Director for the Northeast, welcomed participants and spoke to the need for active and engaged stewards of the national parks. “It’s wonderful so see so many passionate young people embodying the spirit of conservation,” she said. “Think of the difference we can make if every one of us here does just one thing to speak up for our public lands.”
A week earlier, on December 9th, 20 SCA alumni came out in the Bay Area to learn more about the legacy of public lands with a special guided tour of the Oakland Museum of California. Focused on the Natural Science Gallery’s overarching theme of “Changing California,” alums took the opportunity to learn more about California’s diverse climate, geology, and ecosystems while exploring contemporary land use issues and the human imprint on the environment.
Earlier in October, 29 alums gathered for a celebration of SCA Chicago’s Park District All-Female Crew Graduation followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of Pullman National Monument – Chicago’s first unit in the National Park system. Pullman National Monument was designed as a utopia – a place where factory workers could find sanctuary from poor labor conditions in late-nineteenth century Chicago. Today, the monument is surrounded by a hotbed of thriving urban communities and is a testament to the value of historic preservation. The tour was followed by a lunch and the graduation of SCA Chicago’s all-female crew, during which many alums spoke about how their time on the crew inspired them to pursue careers in the conservation field.
Meanwhile, on November 5th in the DC area, 23 alums and supporters embarked on an autumn hike along the scenic River Trail in Great Falls Park, led by SCA alum and current Park Ranger Ahmad Toure. The fall foliage was at its peak as alums enjoyed a leisurely 3-mile hike with sweeping views from the cliffs along the banks of the Potomac River. Ranger Ahmad Toure shared his knowledge of the park as well as his path to a career with the National Park Service: “I always knew I wanted to work in the parks, and SCA provided me with the initial opportunities to do that. My involvement in SCA Community Crews opened up so many doors for me and I would not be where I am today without my SCA experience.”
Are you an SCA alum looking to reconnect with SCA in your city? Stay tuned for upcoming events in your area this winter at www.thesca.org/events.
