With a mission to create the next generation of conservation leaders through active stewardship of the environment, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the nation's largest and oldest provider of conservation service opportunities. SCA does this through a tuition-free summer volunteer program for high school students as well as through a 3-12 month expense paid internship program for those eighteen and older. Nearly four thousand SCA members complete more than 2 million hours annually.

SCA Job Opportunities

National Conservation Crew Leaders
SCA offers qualified applicants the chance to lead volunteer high school Conservation Crews in more than 100 spectacular national parks, forests, refuges and protected places across the country—from California's Joshua Tree to the Great Smoky Mountains. As a Crew Leader you will work in a backcountry, frontcountry or community site with six, eight, or ten high school students. SCA provides crews to land management agencies to accomplish projects that the agencies might not otherwise be able to undertake.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a valid U.S. driver's license, are active and love the outdoors and have or are able to obtain wilderness medical certification. Although there isn't a set application deadline, it's best to apply before February 15th. Crew leader positions begin in June and July each year.

Seasonal Corps Project Leaders
Project Leader candidates must possess outdoor leadership experience and applicable technical, budget management and administrative skills.

Leaders receive training in conservation work skills, environmental education, curriculum development, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, GIS/GPS technology, leadership, and conflict resolution.

Conservation Internships
Live and work with resource management professionals at natural and cultural sites nationwide. Internships are available throughout the year in all 50 states and in dozens of conservation disciplines.

Conservation Corps
Trained and supervised by SCA staff, corps members are interns who work as a team. Project leaders guide groups of 4 to 20 who provide specialized services that address urgent environmental challenges all across the U.S. Working in collaboration with public and/or nonprofit partners, these teams tackle a diverse range of projects. You can choose to apply for a position in trail and bridge construction, environmental education, natural resource management, wildfire education and mitigation, desert, shoreline and wilderness restoration and invasive species reduction.

Internship benefits include a basic living allowance, free housing and related expenses, paid travel to and from position site, free or low-cost health insurance, student loan deferment, possible academic credit, and valuable training packages and professional certification. Most positions also carry an AmeriCorps education award of $1,132 to $5,350 for future tuition or student loan repayment.

SCA has teamed up with ARAMARK—a leader in food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel—to offer a broad spectrum of hands-on environmental internships at national park, university, and business dining, sports & entertainment sites nationwide that range from 6-9 months.

Placements may include energy and water conservation, sustainable procurement, composting, facilities and waste management, and much more. These internships are designed to provide a career pathway into traditional operational roles throughout ARAMARK, where environmental expertise is of increasing importance. Applicants must be currently enrolled college juniors, seniors or graduate students, or people with a maximum of 5 years professional experience.

A Day in the Life

SCA is America's conservation corps. Members protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states. Learn more about the SCA in their own words.

A clear glacial stream cascading down the rocks, cooking and eating in the fresh air, always in the presence of the trees and bugs and stars. SCA has given me the opportunity to tune my heart to the rhythms of the land.
—Chris Holbrook, four-time SCA Alum

Watch more Student Conservation Association videos »

The Essentials

A majority of participants are college students or recent graduates; however, teachers, career changers, and retirees join SCA each year. In general, applicants are seeking real-life experiences in the conservation field to further academic, career, or personal goals.

There's a minimum applicant age of 18; some positions require that you be at least 21.

International candidates can apply for positions lasting 3-4 months only.

Application & Connections

Your First Move
Explore SCA's searchable database of available internships. New positions are added every week.

Complete an application online (which includes a $25 fee).

Find and add internship positions to the application.

SCA placement staff pre-screens the extensive information you provide and forwards your application to site supervisors where there is a good match between your skills and interests and their requirements.

Deadlines
SCA accepts applications throughout the year; however, to enhance your chances of being selected for one of your top four choices, you should apply four months prior to your requested start date.

Early review for summer positions begins in February for the best chances of landing a great expense-paid internship. New positions do continue to come in after February so apply now even if February 1st has passed. There will still be many opportunities!

SCA Admissions Department
Student Conservation Association
National Headquarters
689 River Rd.
P.O. Box 550
Charlestown, NH 03603-0550
(603) 543-1700 ext 499
admissions@thesca.org
www.thesca.org

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