The world is calling…answer it. A charge for over 50 years now, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) has answered. SCA has been a nationwide force of high school and college-age volunteers committed to protecting and preserving the environment through internships, conservation jobs and crew experiences since 1957. Through hands-on-field experiences, SCA members have completed conservation projects across the country with disciplines ranging from archaeology and zoology.

Founded in 1957, by Elizabeth (Cushman) Titus Putnam, then a student at Vassar College, the vision began as a senior thesis project to encourage young people to perform natural resource conservation on public lands. By placing 53 volunteers in the Grand Teton and National Olympic Parks, the organization grew steadily expanding into all 50 states. Today, there are nearly 45,000 alumni who continue to practice the conservation efforts they first experience. SCA has completed conservation projects in major public lands and parks across the country and has partnered with such groups as National Park Service (NPS), US Forest Service, The Wilderness Society, The National Wildlife Federation, National Fire Plan Council, and The Garden Club of America. SCA continues to follow its mission to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.

One of the most effective initiatives involving kids is its Conservation Crew Leaders program which provides high school students conservation experience in backcountry, front country and urban environments. The groups are recruited nationally and work under the supervision of adult crew leaders. Each member participates in environmental education and activities while assisting on high impact conservation projects.

The Conservation Crews consists of two fronts, the National Crew and Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) to incorporate various backgrounds of participants. The National Crews are recruited from across the country and spend 15-35 days camping in the front and back country while completing their projects.
These participants not only have an opportunity to work with land management agencies and national parks, but gain outdoor skills through active outdoor activities including hiking, camping and paddling. What better way to work and play.
The Commuting Crews mostly target urban youth and populations that are traditionally underrepresented in the conservation field.
Working in parks in their communities, members participate in weekly environmental education lessons and embark on a final camping trip.

Throughout the years, the crews have completed projects in all 50 states including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Such projects have included bridge construction, worm fence construction, trail corridor clearing, waterbar and check step installation, new trail construction, turnpike construction, and stonecase construction. Over the course of weeks, the crew gains skills that will carry them through the rest of their lives and build friendships and relationships with peers and role models.

The SCA has taken the charge to indoctrinate youth with principles of conservation and preservation for the beauty of the environment. Their mission has accounted for 1.75 million hours of conservation service nationally and has provided life-long memories for kids through active experiences and outdoor opportunities. The SCA is answering the world’s call for help.

When I walk along the halls of my school, I see a different tilt than everyone else, and while my friends were working 9-to-5 jobs or vegging out, I was in nature-the real world, the way it should be.” -Ed Morales, SCA, North Cascades National Park, WA

”When I came back home from my crew, I really learned how wasteful I was being. When I’m at home, I think – I don’t really need this light, all this water, or this food. I learned how to really conserve and rethink how I live at my own home.” -Genevieve Allen, Olympic NP 2006

”Living in D.C. you think a park is a square space of green grass and a bench. When I went on my crew to the Redwoods and saw all the tall trees, all the trails, the work we did on bridges I thought, Oh! This is a park! Not what we have back at home. I got to see something I don’t normally see when I walk home from school or go out on weekends.” -Washington, DC Alumni

”Being outside or just being out of D.C. made me appreciate the world and want to explore it more. I thought this is so pretty! If this is here, what else is out there? I want to see what else is out there! My friends thought I was crazy at first when I told them what I was doing and that I’d be living and working outside with no bathroom or kitchen. They looked at my pictures and thought I was walking around dirty for no reason. But then I told them all my stories and all the work we got done and all of a sudden they all wanted to do it. Now, three of my friends are in SCA.” -Breyon Brown, Harpers Ferry 2006

”My parents were really scared to let me go in the beginning. I went to work on a crew in South Dakota. I couldn’t even get on the plane by myself. My dad had to come with me. But then when I was done and they saw the change in me – how much I loved what I had accomplished with SCA- the next time I went on another crew they were more willing to let me go. They knew I had found something I really loved. ” -Monikah Baltimore, Great Sand Dunes 2005

”I think the best part of SCA and CLC is being able to wake up to the mountains but the bathroom situation was not fun!” -Alexandra Golden 2007