As a young girl from New Jersey, I knew my life was lacking something wild. Which is why when I started looking at colleges, I felt there was only one choice: Paul Smith’s College of the Adirondacks. I knew that getting a degree in wildlife management would allow me to...
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 Brianna Rain Credle, three-time SCA alumna
Posted by Staff | Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Adventures, Diversity, People
An SCA Alum reflects on taking a risk, building a strong network and finally landing his dream job.
Posted by Staff | Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Intro/Bio: Rob has served three consecutive terms with SCA at Gateway National Recreation Area in NYC. After graduating with a business degree, he’d landed a comfortable job in waste management which led to a promotion, however he still felt something was missing. Here he reflects on taking the leap of...
Career Success, Education, People
Posted by Ann Pedtke | Thursday, February 1, 2018
The Student Conservation Association is proud to count Southwest Airlines as a long-time partner in building the next generation of conservation leaders. Since 1957, SCA has mobilized more than 90,000 youth and community volunteers in service to the environment.
In addition to volunteering with SCA throughout the year, Southwest Airlines employees...
SCA Harvey Recovery Volunteers Reforest Sims Bayou in Houston
Posted by Ann Pedtke | Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Five months ago, when Hurricane Harvey swept through Houston, flood waters rose from Sims Bayou to overflow Milby Park — eroding banks, washing out trails and bike paths, and drowning the young forest growing along the waterfront.
“When I first saw the park after Harvey,” said one SCA alum, “the seedlings...
Five Environmental Careers That Don’t Involve Science
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, January 29, 2018
You followed your heart and majored in the humanities, and now that same heart is pushing you to save the environment. But green careers are for science majors, right? Marine biologists and geologists and environmental engineers? Well, not quite. In reality, the environmental movement is a burgeoning, interdisciplinary network, and...
Career Success, Education, Science
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, January 29, 2018
Author: Michaela Aney
As I collected information from our former Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC) alumni, I saw a trend of people changing jobs at least two or three times within a two year span. When I spoke with other millennials I discovered a similar pattern: We were all quickly...
Posted by Megan McVey | Friday, January 26, 2018
The Excelsior Conservation Corps is gearing up to start their third field season! While they begin preparations for a new class of members, slated to arrive in March, they recently reached out to a few Year One members to see what they are up to now:
Kelsey Ruffino
...
SCA Brings Communities Together to Serve for MLK Day Coast to Coast
Posted by Ann Pedtke | Thursday, January 18, 2018
With the support of American Express and Southwest Airlines, SCA brought together hundreds of community members across the country to honor the MLK National Day of Service…
Posted by Hayden Sloan | Tuesday, January 9, 2018
By SCA Community Engagement Fellow Hayden Sloan
As you may know, plastic degrades (breaks down into pieces), but it doesn’t biodegrade (break down through natural decomposition). This becomes a problem over time, as all of the plastic pieces we’ve generated over the last seven decades are steadily turning the sea into...
Preserving Our Heritage, One Trail At a Time
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, January 8, 2018
Amid the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and a push for women’s liberation, a less controversial piece of legislation also appeared on the scene. In 1968, the National Trails System Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Johnson. However...
Five resolutions that are easy to execute, but add up to a major impact for the environment.
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, December 18, 2017
In the words of the famous carol, fast away the old year passes. And as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays, it’s a natural time to reflect on the year gone by and make resolutions for the year ahead. This year, in addition to eating less...
Education, Sustainability
Posted by Kevin Hamilton | Monday, December 18, 2017
Reginald “Flip” Hagood, who currently serves on the SCA President’s Council following a 20-year run as senior vice president with SCA, will receive The Corps Network’s 2018 Legacy Achievement Award at a February ceremony in Washington, DC. The award recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions to the corps...
Posted by Megan McVey | Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Just because it’s snowing across the country and winter is here, doesn’t mean SCA interns and volunteers have hung up their tools and put away their hard hats for the season. SCA is still busy building trails with Seattle Parks & Recreation and the Seattle Trails...
Posted by Megan McVey | Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Are you or someone you know looking to enroll a child in summer camp? Look no further! The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Camp Horizons have joined forces to create Camp SCA, an exciting opportunity for 12-15 year olds who are passionate about preserving the environment...
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, December 11, 2017
Finding time in our busy schedules to go out and enjoy nature can be difficult in the best of weather. But in winter, the challenge becomes even greater: it’s colder, roads and parks may be full of snow and ice, and, as it gets dark earlier, there’s simply not as...
Posted by Kevin Hamilton | Monday, December 4, 2017
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which inflicted $200B in damage upon the City of Houston, SCA spoke with Ingrid Piña, a 17-year old SCA volunteer, just after her local crew began to assist with the clean-up.
What did you see out there?
That first day, we surveyed...
5 Easy Ways to Build a Christmas Bird Feeder
Posted by Megan McVey | Friday, December 1, 2017
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Well, not quite yet, but it’s getting close. And while we’re hanging up our stockings and singing carols around the fire with a cup of eggnog in hand, our little feathered friends outside could use a touch of the Christmas spirit, too....
Posted by Megan McVey | Thursday, November 30, 2017
Service Project: Volunteers in partnership with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will help bring the park back to it’s beautiful, natural state. Teams will help with litter and debris removal, invasive plant removal, habitat restoration and plantings.
Gratitude in Conservation
Posted by Megan McVey | Monday, November 20, 2017
It’s Thanksgiving season again, time to gather around the table with family and friends and reflect upon the things we are thankful for. And as we fill our tables with turkeys and fixings, we here at the Student Conservation Association have plenty to feel grateful about. Here are five of them:...