Student Conservation Association, Inc.

SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.

As the nation's leading youth conservation service organization, SCA empowers young people of all backgrounds to plan, act and lead while they protect and restore America's natural landmarks, cultural resources and urban green spaces. SCA volunteers' hands-on service ensures that our public lands will be there to sustain others well into the future.

As these young people shape the land, the land shapes them in unique and powerful ways. In addition to its environmental impact, SCA service strengthens numerous life skills that foster optimal advancement and help teens prosper. Research demonstrates that along with increasing participants' environmental awareness and sustainable behaviors, SCA enhances individual leadership and social responsibility while fueling continuous growth.

Since its founding in 1957, more than 100,000 high school, college and graduate students have served with SCA, and 70% of our alumni remain active in conservation through their careers and/or studies.

As the world's environment knows no boundaries, the efforts of SCA members – both past and present – are advancing global stewardship and sustainability.

SCA engages participants in immersive, hands-on service experiences. Members are challenged by their new settings and responsibilities, the intensity of their assignments and the often “unplugged" nature of their work in nature. These experiences also include intentional elements of teamwork, self-exploration, reflection, leadership development and career preparation.

For 15-19 year olds, SCA offers the opportunity to serve on adult-supervised conservation crews that run for two-to-four weeks during summer school vacations; participants build trails and restore habitats while learning about the local environment and general sustainability. For those 18 and older, SCA offers internships in a wide range of conservation disciplines for a period of three-to-12 months.

SCA programs take place in all 50 states, in locations ranging from iconic national parks to green spaces in some of America's leading cities. These service opportunities are offered in partnership with federal agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, as well as local, state and regional resource management organizations.

A full-time professional staff recruits, trains, and manages SCA crew leaders, who facilitate high school-aged and young adult crews in urban and backcountry areas in all 50 U.S. states. Other program staff place thousands of interns in positions with agency partners, where they receive supervision and mentorship from an on-site staff member.

SCA volunteers annually provide more than 1.3 million hours of service to protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and urban green spaces across the United States.

Sixty six years ago, SCA created the youth conservation arena and since then, dozens of other regional and local youth corps have formed using the SCA model. SCA is recognized as a national standard bearer in field conservation, risk management, diversity and inclusivity, leadership development and other related disciplines, and we are guided by a series of core values including:
• Service: Performing valuable work that benefits other people, the natural environment, our community or the world, is the glue that binds us together as a society.
• Environmental Stewardship: We believe our natural world must be protected for future generations. An ethic of conservation care and environmental service is fundamental to all we do.
• Community: We seek to build community at all levels. Collaborating for the common good while fostering personal responsibility and compassion for others builds community and citizenship.
• Diversity: Diversity in the broadest sense (culture, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, experience, opinions) provides richness and strength. Working together in service to nature unites us and forges a common future.
• Learning: SCA expands our view of the world through service learning experiences that change the way we live and behave.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has had a significant impact on conservation efforts in the United States since its founding in 1957. Here are some of the key impacts and contributions of SCA since its inception:
1. Youth Engagement: SCA has engaged thousands of young people in conservation work, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship among generations of volunteers and participants. Many of these individuals have gone on to pursue careers in conservation, becoming leaders in the field.
2. Conservation Projects: SCA has been involved in a wide range of conservation projects across the country. These projects have included trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, invasive species removal, and more. SCA volunteers and interns have contributed countless hours of labor to help preserve and protect natural areas.
3. National Parks and Public Lands: SCA has a strong partnership with the National Park Service, and its volunteers have made significant contributions to the maintenance and improvement of national parks and other public lands. They have helped maintain trails, restore historic buildings, and conduct research in these iconic natural areas.
4. Diversity and Inclusion: SCA has made efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the conservation field. The organization has actively worked to engage participants from underrepresented communities and provide opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to connect with nature and conservation.
5. Environmental Education: SCA has played a role in environmental education by providing participants with hands-on learning experiences in the outdoors. Through its programs, young people have gained a deeper understanding of ecology, conservation science, and the importance of protecting natural resources.
6. Disaster Response: In addition to ongoing conservation work, SCA has also been involved in disaster response efforts. SCA volunteers have assisted in the aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires, helping with cleanup and recovery efforts.
7. Advocacy: SCA has advocated for policies and funding that support conservation and environmental protection efforts. The organization has worked to raise awareness about the importance of preserving natural spaces and the role that young people can play in this endeavor.
8. Community Building: SCA has created a community of passionate conservationists. Alumni of SCA programs often remain connected to the organization and continue to promote conservation values in their personal and professional lives.
Overall, the Student Conservation Association has made a lasting impact by connecting young people to the environment, instilling a sense of responsibility for the natural world, and contributing to the preservation of the country's natural heritage through hands-on conservation work. Its legacy continues to influence the conservation movement in the United States.