The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nonprofit organization that was created in 1957 to serve as a liaison between young people and conservation organizations. It is committed to conservation, resource management, and volunteer service and conducts resource management and conservation programs. SCA recruits and places high school, college aged individuals, and other persons in jobs identified by federal, state, local, private and other nonprofit agencies and organizations.

Since 1957, the SCA and the NPS have been working together to introduce young Americans to exciting internship and job opportunities in our parks by recruiting hundreds of interns and volunteers. Assignments may last from 3-5 weeks or up to 6-12 months, depending on the employment position. Each year, Congress appropiates to NPS funds to support SCA interns and volunteers who do conservation service for our national parks. The SCA High School Program offers a unique opportunity for 16 to 18 year olds to work for a month and a half in an outdoor setting. This program involves taking SCA Conservation Crews, which consist of 6-10 volunteers from around the Nation, and have them work on a conservation project in a rural area or in a national park.

Many of the SCA programs provide much needed assistance to national parks by completing projects that the park might not be able to because of limited resources. To find out more about the SCA, you can contact the Youth Programs Division Washington Office at (202) 513-7146, or through the SCA New Hampshire Office at (603) 543-1700 or on the logo above.