Student Conservation Association

This week marks the 8th Annual SCA Alum Week (June 21-27). To celebrate their service, we are spotlighting an array of SCA alums, including Rachel Garber, the SCA's Alum Council Chair.

Forty years after first joining the SCA as a high school crew member at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Rachel remains deeply connected to the organization. Her SCA journey also included service at Glacier National Park (Montana), where she met one of her closest friends, and internships at Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) and North Cascades National Park (Washington).

One of her most unforgettable experiences was spending three months at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, studying fish populations along Bright Angel Creek to help prevent overfishing. Living on her own for the first time at the Bright Angel Ranger Station, she learned to plan meals around what mule trains could carry into the canyon, and spent evenings taking in the canyon's shifting light, reflecting on the people she met, and appreciating the steady sound of the Colorado River.

Rachel credits the SCA with giving her the confidence to do hard things, from living in the backcountry at 10,000 feet as a shy 17-year-old to learning how to stop a fall with an ice axe on a glacial field in the North Cascades. These experiences pushed her in new ways and showed her she could thrive in a range of settings alongside people from diverse backgrounds.

She feels the SCA’s impact is undeniable.

“It was incredibly unique to live in and intimately get to know four different national parks. It was also an amazing way to try on very different types of work, from visitor services and naturalist programs to trail crew and research,” she said.

Rachel encourages current and future members to embrace the unexpected, stay open to new paths, and remain connected to the SCA community long after their service ends. And, she says, do not hesitate to reach out to our Alum Council members if you ever need anything!

We invite you to join us in the festivities! Learn more: https://thesca.org/alumweek.

Pollinators are the backbone of our ecosystems, but they need our help to thrive! 🐝🦋 Join us in celebrating from June 22–28.

Here are some ways you can make a difference in your own backyard:
🌻 Plant native flowers to provide food for bees and butterflies.
🚫 Reduce pesticide use to protect pollinator health.
🏡 Create habitats by providing nesting sites and water sources.
📢 Advocate for policies that protect vital pollinator populations.
🍎 Support local farmers who practice sustainable agriculture.
🎓 Participate in local educational events and workshops.

Let’s protect these tiny heroes together! Let us know how you’re getting involved. 👇🏽

Happy Founders Day, SCA family! 🌲💚 Today marks 69 years since Liz Putnam founded the Student Conservation Association, sparking a movement that has changed the face of conservation forever.

For nearly seven decades, the SCA has been empowering young adults to roll up their sleeves, give back to our planet and build lifelong connections. Whether you’re an alum who served in the backcountry decades ago, a current program participant swinging a pulaski, or a supporter who believes in the power of youth, you are a part of this incredible legacy.

Let’s celebrate together! Drop a photo or share your favorite SCA memory in the comments below. 👇

Thank you for 69 years of passion, hard work and dedication to protecting the lands we love. Here's to many more!

This week marks the 8th Annual SCA Alum Week (June 21-27). To celebrate their service, we are spotlighting an array of SCA alums like Keli Bedics, the SCA's Alum Council Vice-Chair.

What began in 1985 as a search for adventure in the great outdoors became much more for Keli.

As a member of an SCA high school work group at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Keli spent her summer living and working outdoors alongside students from across the country, building trails, overcoming challenges, and discovering the value of teamwork.

The following year, she was selected for the first-ever international high school work group exchange in Germany's Bavarian Forest National Park, where 10 American students partnered with 10 German students on conservation projects.

Forty years later, one of Keli's favorite memories is the day her crew completed the puncheon bridging on the Klosterfilz Trail. Because of her German language skills, she represented the group during a radio interview at the trail's grand opening ceremony.

Everything went smoothly until the interviewer switched from standard German to the local Bavarian dialect, leaving Keli completely stumped—and the crowd, her supervisors, and fellow crew members laughing along with the unforgettable moment.

“Serving with the SCA is so much more than just participating in outdoor projects. It is working as a team with students from other cities, states and backgrounds,” she said. “It’s learning how to work together to overcome obstacles."

Today, as vice-chair of the SCA Alum Council, we are grateful she stays connected to the community that helped shape her journey. She encourages fellow alums to engage and support each other.

Ready to represent your SCA pride? Let’s make this the biggest SCA Alum Week yet!

Learn more about how you can participate here: https://thesca.org/alumweek.

Calling all Student Conservation Association alums! 🌲 Whether you served 5 months or 50 years ago, it’s time to reconnect. We invite you to join us for the 8th Annual SCA Alum Week (June 21–27).

Take part in the fun from wherever you are with SCA BINGO & BioBlitz, plus earn exclusive gear & potentially win Southwest Airlines flights.

Ready to represent your SCA pride? Let’s make this the biggest SCA Alum Week yet!

Learn more: https://thesca.org/alumweek

History is a tangible conversation, and we’re honored to help keep it alive.

Our SCA historic preservation crew spent 10 weeks working at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The team helped restore wood and metal finishes and apply historically accurate paint, ensuring this national treasure is ready for its milestone year.

This project is a proud partnership with the National Park Service through its Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP). We are deeply grateful to the donors and partners who make this hands-on training possible for the next generation of preservationists.

Learn more about the project here: https://thesca.org/newsroom/sca-and-national-park-service-partner-at-independence-hall.

Fuel for the soul, room to breathe and the ultimate classroom.

Today is National Get Outdoors Day, and we’re celebrating the incredible public lands, local parks and green spaces that keep us connected to the planet and each other.

For our crew members, the outdoors isn't just a place to visit. It’s a place to grow, build community, learn hands-on career skills and protect the resources we all share. Every trail cleared and tree planted is an investment in the future of these beautiful spaces.

Whether you’re hitting a rugged backcountry trail, volunteering for a local habitat restoration project, or just taking a deep breath of fresh air at your neighborhood park, today is all about breaking away from the screens and stepping into the sunshine.

We want to hear from you: How are you spending time in nature or giving back to the earth today? Drop a photo of your favorite outdoor spot or share your plans in the comments below! 👇👇👇

With fire seasons getting longer and fires getting bigger, we’re training the next generation of conservation leaders to meet the challenge.

We officially kicked off the fourth season of our Wildland Fire Academy, with 14 teams ready to make a difference.

In 2025 alone, program participants completed over 35,500 service hours, managed 15,000 acres of prescribed burns and received 315 federally recognized certifications.

This isn't just training; it’s essential disaster recovery work that protects millions of people living near America's national forests.

Learn more about the SCA's Wildland Fire Academy: https://thesca.org/sca-wildland-fire-academy

📸: James Martin

Did you know that spending even 10 to 20 minutes outside can boost your mood, sharpen your focus, and lower stress? Research from Cornell University confirms what many of us have felt after spending time outside.

May is Mental Health Month, and we want to know how you’re recharging. Whether you love walking the dog, gardening, sitting by the water, or catching a sunset, we want to hear what your favorite way is to connect with nature. Or better yet, share a photo in the comments of your go-to spot for a mental reset.

Bonus points if it's a park or other public lands where our SCA crews have been working!

📸: Robert Johnson

Incredible things happen when we work together! We had a fantastic day of service recently at Marquette Park in Gary, Indiana, planting 10 Jack pine trees to support local wildlife, beautify the local green space and give back to the community.

Huge thank you to our partners at the City of Gary, the Arbor Day Foundation and United States Steel for making this possible. The SCA's Northwest Indiana Urban Green crew is proud to be on the ground doing the work to restore native ecosystems and grow our urban forests.

Want to learn more about our local conservation efforts? Check out the SCA’s Northwest Indiana Urban Green programs: https://thesca.org/program/urban-green/northwest-indiana