Every year, SCA provides training, tools and projects that place motivated teens and young adults in the field to effect changes great and small. How do we measure the effects? Sometimes its through decreased CO2 levels or by the tons of trash collected or in the number of trees planted. Our success is also measured by the lessons learned, the perspective gained and the lives we transform—today and into the future. Often when the SCA project is over, the success story is just beginning. Take a look at some of our most recent accomplishments.
When we first spoke with Caleb Miguel Awe last November, he admitted to some trepidation. “Nobody likes 40 below,” he noted.
Caleb was just beginning his second straight winter as a sled dog intern at Denali National Park and Preserve, so he was already acquainted with Alaska’s oft-harsh climes. More recently,...
In celebrating Black History Month, we reflect on defining moments where courageous indiviuals stood up to injustice and advocated for equity. We also look back on notable African Americans who are seldom recognized for their contributions to society. Commemorating the people and events that shaped Black history often includes a...
Joe Biden pictured above (bottom row on the left).
As special events go, this one was transcendent.
In 2009, SCA hosted the then-current U.S. president and a former U.S. president in a tree-planting project to commemorate Earth Day. At the time, no one knew we were also in the presence of a...
These are the photos that the SCA Instagram community liked best and the top SCA blog posts from 2020!
Whether you're looking for stunning outdoor landscapes or stories of adventure from the field of conservation, our Instagram posts had something for everyone last year. You can follow...
If you are searching for a simple way to support conservation efforts this winter, creating a bird feeder for your backyard is the perfect option. These animals play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling pests and helping pollinator communities thrive. When food sources become scarce during the cooler...
Suzanne Tarkulich arrived at Big Hole National Battlefield in Montana in October, and already she’s visited Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks, as well as Craters of the Moon National Monument and many of the surrounding towns. “I’m trying to do as much as I can before winter really...
This is our second in a series of SCA winter project profiles.
In recent years, SCA’s long-running summer-fall Adirondack Corps has added a smaller winter program in the William C. Whitney Wilderness, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and AmeriCorps. We spoke with Program Coordinator Rebecca...
As the seasons turn, SCA is turning our spotlight on members working in winter conditions.
Sled dogs have always been part of Denali National Park and it seems like SCA interns have always helped care for the “canine rangers” that symbolize such a wide swath of Denali’s history and heritage. This...
All photos and captions courtesy of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The SCA Adirondack Corps wrapped a successful summer season in October. It was a learning curve of how to adapt the program to many new Covid-19 guidelines, but the crew members were on board every step of...
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From left to right, first row: Brianna Amingwa, Marcus Rosten. Second row: Melanie Quiñones Santiago, Olivia Walton.
by Trisha Malizia
Each year the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) names a list of 30 people under 30 years of age who are change-makers within the field. The recognition “celebrates the unique and...
by Lou Lunte SCA ‘77, ‘78; Alumni Council member
How many captive tigers are there in the U.S? If you joined SCA’s Fifth Friday presentation on July 31st you might have been shocked — like I was — to learn there are an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 captive tigers in...
Fall is here and you’ve spent time harvesting your garden of different fruits and vegetables. But you don’t want them to go to waste. You want to enjoy them during the long winter months ahead, so how can you make the most of your homegrown produce while also keeping the...
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) hosted its second annual Alumni Engagement Week (AEW) from September 21-26, 2020. The week was full of exciting opportunities to engage our network of 95,000 alumni, partners, friends, and more. SCA community gathered, virtually, to support conservation, network, and have fun!
To kickoff the week, over...
by SCA Alum, David Kurapka
It was paradise. My two stints with SCA account for a mere few months of my life, but their importance to me far outweighs the relatively brief time I spent in the program.
Dave pictured top row,...
By Grace O’Hara, Richard J. Guadagno SCA Conservation Fellow
Nineteen years ago on September 11th our nation changed forever when four planes departed from various East Coast airports and never made their destinations. Hijackers took over the aircraft with the intent of crashing them into key locations. Two struck the Twin...
“Get some fresh air.”
This phrase is commonly used during times of stress. There may be no time in history when getting outside has been more powerful for our health, both physical and mental, then through the COVID-19 pandemic.
But what is it that’s so calming about nature? The truth is –...
By Cecilia Aleman
It’s not often that legislation affecting conservation and young Americans is signed into law. So when one of the most pivotal conservation bills in nearly 50 years crosses the finish line – it calls for a celebration.
The recent passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, a bipartisan...
