When most people think of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, they probably think about trees, Woodsy Owl and Smokey Bear. These ideas and characters play important roles in fulfilling the Forest Service mission of "Caring for the land and Serving People." However, one of the agency's best-kept secrets is a program that cares for the land by utilizing people that other organizations might hesitate to hire.

These people do not fight forest fires or lead pollution control campaigns. Nevertheless,they unselfishly share their wisdom, skills and knowledge with the Forest Service and by extension, with their fellow citizens. These individuals are the thousands of older Americans who are associated with the Forest Service under the Senior Community Service Employment Program (Forest Service-SCSEP). At the same time these Americans are sharing their time, talents, and experience with the Forest Service and preparing to utilize those skills in the workplace, the Forest Service is enabling many of these citizens to re-energize their lives.

In recent years, the Forest Service-SCSEP has enabled a displaced homemaker to find meaningful paying work after she was thrown unexpectedly into the workforce when she was in her late 50's. It gave another woman and opportunity to ease her financialstruggle. For a recovering open-heart surgery patient, Forest Service-SCSEP has been a lifeline that has brought him back into the world of work, activity, and learning.

For these individuals and tens of thousands of other participants, Forest Service-SCSEP has provided opportunities to learn more about themselves and to bring forth talents that until now have not been utilized, or even known. For the Agency, Forest Service-SCSEP brings together a special corps of individuals that fulfill the agency's mission byengaging in tasks ranging from campground maintenance to serving as visitor information center hosts - to name just a few. And for the nation, Forest Service-SCSEP offers a new source of competent, well-trained, committed workers who can give all Americans a new view of aging.

The SCSEP has enjoyed strong public support because it is based on the principles of personal responsibility, lifelong learning, and service to the community.

To learn more about this program funded under the Older American's Act one may access the Department of Labor's homepage by clicking the following link The Department of Labor and Seniors