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.
By Sam Spence, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
Sub-Zero temperatures. Icy walkways. Snow constantly getting dumped from the sky. These are all things that corps members experience during their stay in Hawley MA. The fashion here is heavy coats, hats, gloves and boots. How can any sane person survive living...
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” -Edward Abbey
Danielle Alling served with SCA as a Crew Leader in Yellowstone National Park in 2017. She knows the importance of our public lands and how they...
On Saturday, February 9th, Union Bank, SCA, and City of San Diego Parks and Recreation united to help with the upkeep of Chicano Park and Paradise Senior Center. Seventy participants teamed up to pick up litter from 2.5 acres of park land and restore over 5,000 square feet of...
Don’t let the cold winter weather keep you indoors – enjoy it in these state parks! Take your sweetheart, best friend, or family with you and fall in love with these state parks! Last year, SCA had crews working in state parks in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, California, and...
The United States has over 640 million acres of federal land. States and local governments manage another 199 million acres. Most of these public lands are open for recreational use. But how accessible is that land for the 40 million Americans living with disabilities?
As of 2017, around 12.7% of the...
By Adam Winfield, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
When living with a large group of people, it can be challenging to make decisions. There are so many unique perspectives, thoughts, and opinions that go into it. Here at SCA Massachusetts in Hawley, we decided to have all our voices heard...
The recycling rate in the United States has increased from less than 7% in 1960 to over 34% in 2015. While the progress is promising, we still have a long way to go. This resource should help get you started so that you can recycle at work, home, and school.
For many people, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) conjures up visions of crews in parks, working to restore trails and areas damaged by natural disasters. But another important facet of the SCA’s mission is its wide offering of internships. Through SCA’s intern programs, young people have the opportunity to...
By Hannah Brooks, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
You’ve probably heard of Leave No Trace (LNT). But can you break it down into the seven core principles? Or teach its significance? How about incorporate it into your daily life?
Upon entering Hawley, I was in that same boat. A few weeks ago...
Tyler Lau is the first person of color to thru-hike three major U.S. trails in less than a year. He completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails—known as the Triple Crown—in fewer than 365 days.
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These are the photos that the SCA Instagram community liked best in 2018. 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 along in 2019 and beyond at @the_sca...
By Katie McGee, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
Service, environment, and community. When I decided to join SCA’s Massachusetts AmeriCorps program, I knew it would be 10 months of service to the environment and communities. I did not realize that I would be immersing myself in a group of the...
By Leah Wildeman, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
“Welcome to Hawley!” was sprawled across a paper in neon colors as I walked into the kitchen. All 18 of our names perfectly written around the greeting. Hanging from the wall, it was one of the first things I saw when
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On Wednesday, more than 100 Timberland and Journey’s Employees and SCA Volunteers rallied on the campus of Manhattan Center for...
By Rachel Rothe, SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps Member
As I drive west through Massachusetts to my new site location, the weather got worse and worse. What started out as a clear and dry day, was now snowy and covered with a heavy fog. I was the first corps member to...
As pharmaceutical solutions for mental health care have dominated in the United States in recent decades, we tend to overlook an important component of both our physical and emotional wellbeing: Nature.
Although anecdotal evidence of nature’s benefits has existed forever, the medical community is just starting to evaluate and consider the...
Looking for the secrets to a better year for you and the planet? We’ve compiled a few ideas on how to accomplish both. These might inspire you to formulate a set of your own resolutions and goals for the new year.
By Anna Wadhams, SCA Alumni Council
Want to start 2019 in the great outdoors? On January 1st you can join a nationwide initiative to support state parks with a First Day Hike. All 50 state park systems will celebrate the New Year with guided hikes for the...
The world of graduate programs is alluring for many students interested in careers in the outdoors or environmental science. While the process and requirements for undergraduate programs are familiar—transcripts, SATs, interviews, and campus visits—graduate school may feel mysterious and daunting.
So, what’s needed to be competitive for grad school in the...
On Thursday, November 1st, SCA, Timberland, Journeys, and many local partners came together to transform an abandoned community garden into a thriving green space for the LA community. Over 80 participants tallied more than 500 service hours, uniting to renew 10,018 square feet of garden space. These Earthkeepers came...
