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.
A thick wave of smoke rolls in as the sun sets over Convict Lake in Mammoth Lakes, California.
As the interpretive interns and rangers await the arrival of shuttle busses that transport visitors into our valley every half hour, they anticipate answering a standard array of questions ranging from “How far is the hike to see Rainbow Falls?” to the classic “Which way to the bathroom?” An observant
Learning to Cross-Cut (SCA’s Maggie and David
I am writing this blog from a couch in my U.S. Forest Service bunkhouse here in Summit County, CO. It feels good to rest on this soft surface with my feet up, as my bones are aching from all of the hiking that we do here. Even so, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
Jacob rests on the front loader following a tough day in the field.
When I signed up for the Student “Conservation” Association’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB), I thought knew what to expect. We’d be doing some planting, some harvesting, some taking care of the land.
At first it was simple. As we marched from the road through the desert, there was a small Sahara Mustard here, a small one over there, but really not many. With about one invasive plant per ten SCA volunteers, it wasn’t really much of a job. I was just letting my guard down, only to navigate around a creosote bush and BAM.
So my first official night was a success, but I’m not going to lie, I was a little scared. A thunderstorm rolled in around 1:30AM and took the power out for a couple of minutes.The entire bunkhouse was pitch black. On the brighter side, I should be able to conquer my fear of the dark this summer!I am in Lake Charles now, looking around and taking in everything Louisianan.
Video: Brattleboro Reformer interview - http://tinyurl.com/mag644Filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan received a standing ovation Wednesday evening, at the Bellows Falls Vermont Opera House, following the screening of a clip of their latest series: The National Parks, America’s Best Idea. The event was hosted by SCA and the Walpole Historical Society.
Originally featured on American Eagle Outfitters’ blog Made to Last. This guest blog post was written by Claire W., Associate Design Director at American Eagle Outfitters. Claire participated in SCA’s Alternative Spring Break this March with college students from across the country.
By Molly Lundberg, Sam Keller, and Rebecca PikeThe Alternative Spring Break program got off to a wonderful start on March 8th when staff arrived at the Grand Canyon.
Watch veteran SCA crewleader Dan Eldridge use a zip line to get back and forth between 2 crews in Denali National Park in August.
Photos by David Krantz
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, Fla.
Erryday I’m shovelin’. (Shovelin’, shovelin’.)
Shovelin’ out the Harding Icefield Trail, that is—scooping snow out of the track, piling it on switchbacks or trampled vegetation to protect plants and the trail from erosion.
(Photo above) With fellow SCA/CDIP interns Emily Zhang and Rani Jacobson. Photo credit: Emily
What does it mean when you’ve been pooped on repeatedly? By birds, of course.
The birds in question would be common terns with their largest nesting population located on 17-acre Great Gull Island, one of Long Island Sound’s barrier islands.
One of the great things about working for a park in the National Capital Region is the number of park service sites in such close proximity to one another- 46 to be exact!
by Chelsea Woodworth, August 17, 2009“Dad, do you remember where Chelsea is going?” my father asked my 85 year old grandfather. He seemed unreachable, staring at the nursing home window. Then, he turned and looked directly at me with his old familiar smile and he said with great assurance, “ANWR!”
When I walk outside these days, there’s a bluster in the air. It’s not often warm. Sometimes… I shiver.It wasn’t always like this. Just last month I could run around town in shorts. There was no chill, no shivering, only heat and sweat. Times have changed, and so has the weather.
Voyageurs National Park - June 2008 This is the thirteenth entry in our ongoing series, Photograph Fantastique, in which we count down 50 days until the Unofficial Official Start of High Season for conservation programs.
Selecting the Right BackpackAdjusting your BackpackPacking your Backpack
Baltimore Meets the Alaskan Wilderness- It’s Hard to See, But I’m Wearing an Orioles Baseball Cap!
“I have no idea what I’m gonna do this summer,” I told my friend Andrew as we sat on his couch this past winter break. “Do an SCA internship,” he said.
Indian Creek Rec. Area near Markleeville, CA
Number 11: Appreciate and choose, when possible, meaningful work rather than just making a living.
-from Arne Naess’ “Lifestyle Trends Within the Deep Ecology Movement”
Five days ago, all of this around me – the land, the people, the flora and fauna – was foreign.
(Photo above) The students ham it up for Dan, not that they don’t act like that on a regular basis!
Week II and the epic struggle against poison oak continues. Not to beat a dead horse, but poison oak seems to be a ruling factor in our lives right now. The first victim, our very own Richard (aka Lake aka Lagos aka Fuego) was the first to fall.
