Student Conservation Association

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a non-profit group in the United States dedicated to getting students involved in conservation. The SCA's motto is "Changing lives through service to nature."

History of the SCA

In 1955, Elizabeth Titus Cushman of Vassar College wrote her senior thesis, "A Proposed Student Conservation Corps". The idea was to take the burden of labor-intensive jobs such as entrance fee collecting or trail work from the National Park Service and shift to the SCC. In 1957, the Student Conservation Program (forerunner to SCA) had two separate programs in Grand Teton National Park and Olympic National Park. In 1964, the Student Conservation Program broke away from the National Park Service and formed the Student Conservation Association. Since then, the organization has grown tremendously.

Conservation Crews

Every summer, over 600 young people aged 15+ are placed into crews of 6 or 8 in national parks, national wilderness areas, national monuments, Bureau of Land Management-controlled lands, even military ranges, as well as a variety of other federally controlled lands throughout the United States. The crews are divided into frontcountry and backcountry crews, with frontcountry crews being based within one mile of a road and most likely having easier access to showers, stores, and park rangers. Backcountry crews are usually more isolated and provide a completely different experience.

The projects performed by the crews vary. The Conservation Crews typically do trail work, usually trail construction or erosion control, depending on the needs of the park. Other projects may include restoration of tourist-impacted areas and invasive species removal. The projects last from 21-30 days with a 4-5 day recreational trip at the end.

The program is free to students except for the cost of transportation to the prearranged meeting location, usually a nearby airport. Also, students provide most of their own necessary outdoor gear. Expenses are shared between the SCA, agency partners, and individual donors. Financial assistance is available to cover transportation costs, and SCA can provide gear to those needing it (through its partnership with L.L. Bean).

Once at their worksite, the students work eight hours a day, six days a week. The crews are led usually by two crew leaders, men and women over the age of 21. Most crew leaders are college students or teachers, though there are leaders in their 60's. The sponsoring organization such as the Park Service or Bureau of Land Management provides instruction and tools, but the crews are responsible for completing their job without supervision. On days off, they may undertake an ambitious hike or just relax around camp. At the end of their conservation project, all crews take a short recreation trip to enjoy the area; this is usually a backpacking trip.

An online application as well as a catalog of conservation crew work sites is available on the SCA website. SCA begins reviewing applications in January and offers of placement are sent out beginning in April.

Conservation Leadership Corps

Another option for high school students, the CLC program takes place year-round in regional offices. There are currently programs offered out of Stamford, Seattle, Oakland, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. The format of the CLC program varies from region to region. All students successfully completing the CLC program will have the opportunity to participate in a summer Conservation Crew and will have their airfare covered by their regional office.

In the Oakland office, two crews of twelve students make up the first year program which focuses on developing conservation and leadership skills through several weekend trips. Any students wishing to return for a second year may, and they will work together to plan and execute their own weekend trip in addition to participating on the first years' retreats.

Conservation Interns

Through partnerships with agencies such as the National Park Service, people 18 and over are placed in internship positions. There are two different types: short and long term internships. The short term internships last under three months, while long term internships can last from 6 to 12 months. The jobs performed by the interns varies. They can include backcountry patrol, working with visitors, and conducting ecological surveys. The interns are provided with a stipend, housing (in most cases), and an AmeriCorps Stipend.

Applications and a catalog of current internship openings are available on the SCA's website. Some internships are very competitive while others are not filled. The admissions process for each internship is on a rolling basis, with each internship position having a closing date. Students can apply for as many positions as they wish.

Many short-term Conservation Internship Positions involve work such as soil and water monitoring, GIS work, naturalist work, interpretation, visitor assistance, and more. The majority of short-term conservation internship positions are during the summer season, but positions are offered all year long.

Interns can work either on a one-to-one basis with state or federal professionals, or in groups as part of the Conservation Corps.

Conservation Corps

At the Conservation Corps sites, members learn conservation skills. Corps are teams with members living and working with others who share a connection to the land and the people who live there.

Corps members spend 3-10 months of their time devoted to critical environmental issues such as wildfire management and education, trail restoration and maintenance, environmental education, and invasive species eradication.

"EarthVision: Actions for a Healthy Planet"

"EarthVision: Actions for a Healthy Planet" is the SCA's upcoming 4-day summit, scheduled for April 24-27, 2008, in Washington, DC.

Keynote speakers include Billy Parish, climate champion and co-founder of the Energy Action Coalition, and environmental and social justice leader Iantha Gantt-Wright.

"EarthVision" will focus on four major program tracks: [http://www.thesca.org/newsroom_newsreleases/]
1) Cooler Heads Prevail: Countering Climate Change
2) Unplug & ReRoot: Connecting Youth to Nature
3) Answering the Call: Preserving Parks & Public Lands
4) Reflecting Nature's Diversity: Ensuring the Outdoors is Relevant for All - Sponsored by REI

The opening ceremony and plenary session will take place at the historic Department of the Interior Auditorium. The Saturday and Sunday sessions will be held at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, MD, with an evening reception in downtown Washington, DC. [http://www.thesca.org/earthvision_summit/]

Attendees will take part in Conservation service projects at historic park sites in the Washington, DC area. Some of the locations planned are Rock Creek Park, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, George Washington Memorial Parkway, and the Anacostia River.

More information and a registry form can be found [http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=fd7139fe-0ef5-4a0d-afbf-49afa0061bad here] .

Notes

[http://thesca.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=2 About SCA]

References

* [http://www.theinsite.org/solutions/sca_text.html A Conversation With Liz Titus Putnam] , by the "Insite" E-Zine
* [http://thesca.org/inside.cfm Inside the SCA, History and Program Information]

External links

* [http://www.thesca.org Student Conservation Association website]
* [http://www.aavc.vassar.edu/vq/articles/Saving-the-Earth Vassar College tribute to Putnam] , which includes a copy of her [http://www.aavc.vassar.edu/vq/images/summer2005/extras/ESC_Vassar_Thesis.pdf Original Thesis (PDF)]
* [http://thesca.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=269&Itemid=904 Student Conservation Association's CLC program]
* [http://thesca.org/earthvision_summit "EarthVision" website]