National Crews

SCA’s National Crews offer you a chance to visit places you’ve never seen before, camping with your crew members in the ﬁeld to enjoy nature at its best. You’ll be building trails, conserving vital habitats, and protecting natural resources for future generations. National Crews will also set you on the path to other SCA opportunities, like Conservation Internships and team-based Corps positions.

2019 National Crews Update

SCA National Crews for high school students have a long and renowned heritage. Little has changed about these landmark volunteer experiences since SCA introduced them more than 60 years ago – until now.

The challenges facing our public lands and shared environment are vastly different today than they were six decades ago. After seeking and reviewing feedback from past SCA crew members, leaders, and host sites, SCA is now working with leading figures from the conservation and service fields to reimagine SCA crews and to ensure their continued positive impact – on lands and lives – well into the future.

Please note that as we conduct this analysis, SCA will field fewer national crews this summer than in years past. However, the quality and caliber of these SCA experiences will remain unsurpassed.

We look forward to reviewing your application but wanted you to know in advance of the temporary reduction in SCA crew opportunities. Thank you.

Application deadline is March 4, 2019.

National Crew Participation Costs:

Non-refundable $500 program fee for selected participants*
Transportation to and from the site
Any required personal gear (i.e. work boots, backpack, sleeping bag)

National Crews:

Include 6 to 8 high school aged members per crew
Serve 2 to 5 weeks in the summer
Are supervised by two experienced adult leaders
Are usually volunteer positions
Have highly competitive admissions

National Crew Members:

Complete trail maintenance and restoration projects in national, regional, state, or local parks
Live in tents** on site and cook their own meals
Develop collaboration and leadership skills
Work with other high school students from across the country
Learn about local wildlife and help to preserve vital habitats
Learn practical outdoor skills and practice Leave No Trace
Explore local outdoor recreational opportunities with their crew on non-work days

The Ideal Candidate:

Is 15 to 19 years old on the start date of the crew
Is a current high school student, including graduating seniors
Demonstrates leadership skills and/or responsibility
Participates with extracurricular groups or volunteer organizations
Likes working with people
Enjoys spending time outdoors
Wants to learn more about ecology or environmental topics

2019 National Crew Program Dates

To be eligible to participate in a National Crew, you must be available for at least one of the time frames listed below.

	Track 1	Track 2	Track 3	Track 4
2-Week Crews	No National Crews	June 10 - 22	July 5 - 19 July 8 - 20	July 26 - Aug 9 July 29 - Aug 10
3-Week Crews	No National Crews	June 10 - 29	July 5 - 26 July 8 - 27	July 26 - Aug 16 July 29 - Aug 17
4-Week Crews	No National Crews	June 10 - July 6	July 5 - Aug 2 July 8 - Aug 3	July 26 - Aug 23 July 29 - Aug 24
5-Week Crews	No National Crews	June 10 - July 13	July 5 - Aug 9 July 8 - Aug 10	No 5-Week Track 4 Crews

How to apply:

SCA crew positions are highly competitive! Last year, fewer than half of the candidates who applied received a position. Putting together an outstanding application is the best way to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Login or Sign Up
Complete the online SCA application, including the National/Regional Youth Crew Program Application
Pay the one-time $25 application fee (returning candidates don’t need to pay again)
Submit your application
Visit the How to Apply page for more tips and details

2019 National Crew Admissions Process

SCA has a two-step admissions process. If you are selected to the program, you will receive on offer email on April 1st. If you accept this offer, SCA will reserve a spot for you in the program, but you won’t yet know the details of your crew assignment. You will receive a crew assignment as soon as you are matched to a specific crew. Selected candidates should receive their crew assignment between April 2nd and May 30th.

March

Application deadline: March 4, 2019

April through May

April 1: All selected candidates receive an offer email
April 1: All candidates who are not selected receive a waitlist or decline email
April through May: Offers sent to waitlist candidates as positions open up
April through May: Crew assignments sent to selected members

June through August

Offers sent to waitlist candidates if last minute spots open up

Questions about National Crews?

Start with our great FAQ section
Can’t find what you need? Contact us at Recruiting @thesca.org

* National Crew members are eligible to apply for fee forgiveness and travel support. Fee forgiveness and travel support are need-based and are calculated using financial information provided by the parent/guardian of the member. Members will receive travel support and fee forgiveness applications when they are assigned to a crew.

**Occasionally crews will live in dormitory-style housing.

The Student Conservation Association

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