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The Green Workplace Challenge is a pledge that Organizations can take so they can participate with the expansion and affordability of regional renewable sources of power. Thanks to Sustainable Pittsburgh, one of the teams in the Heinz Endowments, for creating this event so that businesses around the city can be more sustainable. Also SCA provides careers for many people around the world by providing them job security. SCA doesn't just work in National parks it also works in the city and much more, if you are interested in joining the SCA please go to their website http://thesca.org and apply.

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Hands on learning is a big part of what goes on at SCA. Students are able to learn more about nature and themselves during the process of restoring their community. Julie Marquez, Green City Sustainable Fellow, believes that hands on activities are the way to go when teaching students. Marquez says, “Hands on is how you learn and its how you experience new things. You can read a book over and over again but until you actually get that experience and have somebody there leading you thats when you start learning new things.” To find out more about hands on activities that you can get involved in visit http://www.thesca.org 

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Many Student Conservation Association employees begin with the organization at a young age. We had the opportunity to interview Janet Henkai, who first joined in the tenth grade, where she went on a backcountry trip in the mountains. Looking back on her experience, Janet fondly remembers the friendships she forged with kids her age. She worked with the SCA in college, leading summer crews in the city parks. As a mentor, she had the opportunity to see the youth volunteers as younger siblings and to remember “how hard it is [to be a teen].” Janet currently works as a summer community super crew leader, where she troubleshoots issues in city parks with summer crew leaders and ensures that volunteers have all the resources necessary to have a meaningful experience with mentoring in nature.

Janet’s extensive experience with the SCA has taught her the importance of respecting from people from different backgrounds, as well as the environment. She stresses that the SCA and it’s widely successful mentorship programs has given her the support to overcome the hardship of being a woman of color in a traditionally male-dominated field.

When she reflected on her experience as a whole, Janet remarked, “I don’t think [that] I would be half the person that I am without the SCA.”

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Wanna start planning your spring break early? Wanna spend your spring break making a difference in the world. Consider SCA’s Alternative spring break. Check out SCA’s website for opportunities to change the world. https://www.thesca.org (via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BbHVfPEXOc)

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New Research Shows that SCA is increasing awareness of conservation that also develops social responsibility increases leadership skills and helps fuel continuous growth, providing skills that make youth more successful in school, work and life. From my experience, working with the SCA has me in a lot of different places and has helped me gain leadership and other life skills that will me be a successful parent.

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A Tribune Review article dated Wednesday, July 8, 2015 gives an account of Allegheny park rangers’ efforts over the summer. The rangers are provided by the Student Conservation Association, and are stationed in Schenley Park, where they “hope to connect people, especially kids, to the parks and what lives in them.” 

We had the opportunity to venture out to Schenley Park yesterday and see the SCA’s efforts for ourselves. Needless to say, we were not disappointed! The trails were clear and countless numbers of people were enjoying the green spaces. 

As the article highlights, Schenley Park is an excellent place for the SCA to mentor youth--and boy, do they do a great job of it!

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Bringing youth outdoors in Detroit to encourage a positive relationship with the outdoors and stewardship of public green space

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Being a Middle-School Mentor

Mentoring a middle school student is not only a crucial opportunity for the mentee, but also for the mentor. It provides a sense of what it’s like to be a teenager growing up in Pittsburgh, allowing the mentor to be more empathetic with their student. But before that connection can occur, potential mentors must go through a process to ensure they are prepared to meet with their mentee. After applying <HERE>, dial 2-1-1,or by calling (412) 456-6770), mentors select their preferences for which school site works best with their schedule, and attend a training session that covers basic procedures for their assigned school site. In between the selection process of getting a mentee, mentors must secure specific clearances to be eligible.

Once the site coordinator pairs the mentor and mentee, they jointly partake in an orientation to set the expectations. Over the course of the year, the pair play games, talk, and truly bond – guiding the student on future educational and career opportunities. In the fall of the following school year, the mentor continues with their student if they are going into 7th or 8th grade, or they are paired with a new 6th grader when their mentee is promoted to high school. Each connection with a student is unique and makes a lasting impact. Consider joining this fantastic program today at http://unitedwaypittsburgh.org/mentor/join/signup/ and make a difference in a middle schooler’s life!

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If you are wondering what SCA team members do on a daily basis check out this article on a day in the life of a SCA member at a national park. 

Invasive species grow higher and bloom faster than most native plants and SCA members work to eradicate this species that can overtake the natural plants in an area. Invasive species can have the effect to make the native species extinct and it is very important that SCA does this in order to preserve the natural beauty of national parks.

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While we were researching the SCA’s mentorship capabilities, we encountered the 2014 National Parks Service Academy Handbook, which outlines how SCA interns and staff at the National Parks should mentor youth while working in nature.

The Student Conservation Association’s National Parks Service Academy (NPSA) is a multifaceted year-long career preparatory program focused around mentorship. Through the program, interns gain the ability to network, an appreciation for diversity, and an understanding of both nature and the innumerable career opportunities at their fingertips. From those skill-sets stems the development of role models, leadership skills, and personal responsibility.

Because of the program’s heavy influence of mentorship, interns understand the importance of role models and leadership skills. The program requires mentors to embody commitment, openness, and consistency; as a result, the mentee also learns these valuable skills. In addition, mentors and mentees develop the ability to communicate and appropriately resolve conflicts. As a whole, mentor-mentee relationships provide a great opportunity for personal growth and an overall understanding for oneself.

Personal responsibility also plays a large part in the NSPA program. Interns are expected to present themselves appropriately, fostering respect from their peers and leaders. In addition, the internship outlines the importance of positive behavior and performance in order to thrive in the field.

The NPSA mentorship program acts as a vehicle to elicit change in today’s youth. Not only does it impart skills essential for employment, but it also inspires a passion for self-realization. As a whole, the internship is extremely successful in every regard.

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The Student Conservation Association is a national program that gives youth the opportunity to play a hand in changing nature for the better while creating a memorable experience. Through mentoring and hands-on service projects the students are given the opportunity to create a livable and sustainable environment. For example the students are working with individuals who have participated in SCA as youth or SCA faculty to complete trail maintenance and site restoration projects for national, regional, state, or local parks. They also learn about local wildlife and help preserve vital habitats. Students are given the privilege to serve and make an impact on the planet while exploring possible career paths, tackling new challenges, working with like-minded individuals and living in new places. One of our interns Siraji Hassan worked with SCA prior to this internship and explains his experience below.

My experience working with SCA taught me a lot from leadership skills to self sufficiency. SCA helped me figure out a lot about myself, it also gave me the voice to speak up and ask for help when I need it. When I was with the SCA we worked in a lot of different places in Pittsburgh. One of the places I got the most impact from was when I worked in the Allegheny National Forest for 5 weeks. I learned a lot of valuable lessons which were, living in the forest, making our own food, and staying in tents.The mentors that I had in SCA taught me how to work in teams and delegate tasks to other volunteers. Our mentors were like our guardians and helped us fix our mistakes and learn from them too. SCA is a program that helps youth from every community to come together and help teach about what leadership is and how teamwork is essential in everyday life.

We as a group of interns will be visiting Riverview Park next week to see and experience what Siraji did in this area and what continues to be done to sustain the park.

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SCA, DHS and Heinz Interns spending the day at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens striving to create a sustainable community.

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Check out this award winning video depicting how classrooms of the future could potentially look! Although some of these concepts seem a little far fetched (we especially shook our heads at the stove-like desktop), the hands-on learning approach that is encouraged by technology is simply inspiring. 

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYMLt4MQ0Y)

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SCA Interns at Mellon Park

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As a world of opportunity begins to brew in the STEM field, this $25,000 grant funded by The Heinz Endowments will support the fundamental growth of African American students via technology-focused hands on opportunities. Extracurricular educational programs that support the interpersonal, technological, and professional development as well as the education of African American students may benefit from this funding opportunity. Funds can support one or more nonprofit organizations. Applications are online NOW! http://www.heinz.org/Interior.aspx?id=444

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The SYPIP interns at SCA are ready to make an impact on the world one step at a time!