Serving the Pacific Northwest
The SCA is a national non-profit changing lives through hands-on conservation work in the outdoors. Our program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces at various locations across the country. After working with the SCA, program participants emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.
Through its Urban Green Program, the SCA provides young people with paid green jobs, including single-day service projects, seasonal work and year-long internships or fellowships. In Seattle, the SCA has been fielding local conservation crews since 1984 throughout the Pacific Northwest region. With generous support from several public agencies, environmental organizations, schools, youth development organizations, and community groups, the SCA continues to provide conservation opportunities to young people from the Seattle area each year.
Programs run Monday through Friday during the summer (July – August). With the support of our partners and donors, participants are able to:
- Build trails and restore habitat on public lands
- Explore green career opportunities and issues facing the environment
- Build leadership skills as they work on a team of diverse peers
- Learn about our local environment through field trips, outdoor recreation, and service projects
- Gain necessary skills and experience to enter green and public service career sectors
Recent Projects
- Invasive species removal in Seattle-area parks, such as Maple Wood Playfield, Colman Park and Cheasty Greenspace
- Trail maintenance and invasive species removal in Edmonds-area parks, such as Edmonds City Park, Yost Park and Hickman Park
- Trail work, campground improvements and habitat restoration in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Stream restoration and native seed collection in the Washington Park Arboretum
- Insect studies, native seed collection and pack animal care in North Cascades National Park
Current Opportunities
Seattle Community Crew Leader
This position supervises a team of five high school youth while they complete an assortment of hands-on conservation projects including trail construction and rehabilitation, general trail management, natural resource enhancements and invasive species removal across multiple Seattle Parks and Recreation sites and the Washington Park Arboretum.
2023 Seattle and Edmonds High School Summer Programs
The SCA Pacific Northwest will have two high-school community crews during summer 2023, for ages 14-19. The two crews will be working in parks throughout the greater Puget Sound area, one working primarily in the Edmonds area and the other in the Seattle area. Members of the program will complete hands-on conservation projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and trail construction. Members of the program will:
- Work on a team with other high-school crew members (with an adult team leader, age 21+)
- Gain valuable job skills
- Receive conservation work skills training
- Participate in environmental education activities
- Give back to local communities and natural areas
- Receive an SCA uniform
- Work in beautiful outdoor settings
- Meet like-minded people
Join a team where diversity is celebrated, members build meaningful connections to public lands, and conservation and creative problem solving go hand in hand. No prior outdoor work experience is needed, but a willingness and interest in working outside is required!
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be 14-19 years of age during the program dates
- Must be currently in high school or a recent high school graduate
- Must be located in the greater Edmonds or Seattle areas (housing not provided)
- Must be available for camping trip(s) (see below; transportation and equipment provided)
- Must be available for the ENTIRE program to be considered!
Program Dates
- Seattle Community Crew: July 10 – August 25, 2023
- 3-day, 2-night camping trip, August 2 – 4, 2023
- Edmonds Community Crew: July 10 – August 25, 2023
- 3-day, 2-night camping trip, July 31 – August 2, 2023
- 2-week camping trip, August 14 – 24, 2023
Work Schedule: 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday (includes half-hour unpaid lunch break). Daily work schedule will vary during the camping trip(s).
Pay Rate: $18.69 per hour (working 35 hours per week)
Application deadline is May 12, 2023 by 5:00 p.m. Applicants will be informed after the deadline if they have been accepted into the program. This program is VERY competitive, and unfortunately, not all applicants will be accepted.
How to Apply
- Part 1:
- If you have never applied for a position with the SCA before, click here and follow the instructions to start a new application
- If you have submitted an SCA application in the past, click here and follow the instructions to update your existing application
- Part 2: Click here and fill out the form to provide some additional information
- Part 3: Email us at [email protected] to confirm that Parts 1 and 2 are complete
Please complete all three parts of the application before the deadline of May 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or if you encounter any issues during the application process!
Key Partners
- City of Edmonds, Department of Parks, Recreation and Human Services
- North Cascades National Park
- Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
- Green Seattle Partnership
- Seattle Parks and Recreation
- Washington Park Arboretum, University of Washington Botanic Gardens
Contact
SCA Seattle Office
P.O. Box 18497
Seattle, WA 98118
206-880-3424
Interested in partnering with the SCA Pacific Northwest? Contact Kari Mueller, SCA Regional Partnership Manager at [email protected]