The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults.
SCA Programs Include:
- Conservation Internships – Internships for college students and recent graduates that range from eight weeks to 12 months. Using the SCA’s national recruiting network, pre-qualified candidates are submitted to the partner for review, interview and ultimate selection. Partners provide funding, training, professional development opportunities, housing (or cost of housing), on-the-job transportation and performance evaluations.
- Team-Based Programs – These teams complete specialized, site-specific projects such as large-scale ecological restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, trail development and assessments, fire and invasive species management, vegetation monitoring and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping.
- Urban Green Programs – The SCA’s Urban Green programs are paid innovative workforce development opportunities for youth and young adults underrepresented in the conservation field. This model delivers 21st century skills and career-readiness training to young people while providing much-needed stewardship at local parks, forests, trails and other green spaces.
- National & Regional Initiatives – The SCA’s National & Regional Initiatives specializes in intern cohorts placed across multiple regions and feature special recruiting practices, including diverse workforce programs, and targeted programs based on age and education level.