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There's more White House video, including an excerpt of an interview with Liz here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/citizensmedal

Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam, our amazing founder who is truly a rock star to those of us who know her, received the Citizens Medal from President Obama today at a White House ceremony -- the first conservationist ever to earn this honor. Check back here tomorrow for video clips of the event.

Please add your note of congratulations here. We'll send them to Liz later today.

Don't forget to sign your name so Liz knows who has written.

by Molly McCluskey, SCA alumna

Ever dream of working in the great outdoors for a living? There are many different jobs on public lands throughout the country. The National Park Service hires seasonal and full-time rangers at every park throughout the country and the competition is fierce. Applying for National Park Ranger jobs is like applying for college; you must apply to each park individually, and hope the one you want calls you first.

SCA applauds the passage of the Public Lands Service Corps Act (HR 1612) by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee yesterday. This important piece of legislation, which already has passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 20, 2010, would dramatically expand opportunities for young people to serve on public lands through SCA and other conservation corps’ programs. In addition to expanding youth service on public lands, the bill also provides for strengthened training, mentoring, and hiring opportunities to help young people become the next generation of conservation managers and leaders. The next step for the bill is for final passage by Congress.

By Emma Jornlin, SCA Staff

The room bubbled with energy just prior to the start of the America's Great Outdoors Listening Session last Thursday. Nearly one hundred youth from around Seattle gathered at circular tables, playing with the place cards, eating granola bars, and talking excitedly. No one seemed to know what was going to happen, only that we had been invited here by important figures from various park and environmental agencies.

by Emma Jornlin
This Thursday July 1, members of SCA Seattle’s community crews will have the opportunity to present their views on conservation, connecting people to the outdoors, and environmental justice to important government officials at an event called the America’s Great Outdoors Listening Session.

This past weekend, New York's Central Park was swarming with outdoor youth leaders from across the country who came together for Adventures NYC and the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit. For two days, more than 500 participants came together to discuss green jobs, outdoor careers, service, active living, and other issues important to youth in the outdoors.

Check out these great pictures from the event, and leave a comment to let us know how you are getting outdoors this summer!

SCA interns throughout the Gulf region are scrambling to conduct wildlife mortality surveys and establish baseline data before the oil takes a larger toll on area wetlands and beaches, including at Pelican Islands National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern coast of Florida. Read more

by Emma Jornlin, SCA Seattle
As I learn more and more about the history of Earth Day, I get the feeling that Gaylord Nelson did not intend for the day to be about blackberries. Yet year after year, for the past five years of my life, Earth Day here in Seattle has always involved this prickly plant.