Application Tips

Every year we end up with more applicants than positions. We make our selections based on outstanding applications that tell us who you are and why you would be a great crew member. This page is intended to help you submit a successful application.

Who We're Looking For

SCA places every kind of applicant on our High School crews: mountaineers and homebodies, lacrosse players and PS3 players, A+ students and students who don't believe in grades.  If you have checked out our programs and are totally psyched to go on a crew, then you are the person we need.  Don't think you're going to be disqualified for not remembering which state Yosemite is in.  This may sound simplistic but it's true:

The only thing you need to show us is that you will be a great crew member.

The catch is that we will only see you through your application materials, so you need to be sure they are showing you at your best.  If you take these tips to heart then you stand a good chance of making your application shine.

Nuts & Bolts: If this doesn't happen, nothing else matters

Get your application in and complete. Have all your materials in during the winter months, including references and medical history forms. An ideal timeline is to have your application completed by March 1st but the earlier the better. 

Your essay answers are how we get to know you. Do not underestimate the importance of this section.  By reading your answers and references (and we read every single one) we are able to learn if you are likely to be comfortable living without a shower or if you seem like someone who can handle a more challenging work project.  We only place people on crews we know will suit them -- because that's how we make happy crews.  So make sure you paint a clear picture of yourself.

Pick 'good' availability dates. Selecting good availability dates is absolutely vital.  In order to be considered for a crew you must be available for every day the program is in the field.  The best way to do this is to provide SCA with the widest window that you could attend a crew this summer.  If you know you really want a crew during, for example, our third track but could also come during the second track it is important to provide dates that encompass both tracks.  You can then state a preference for any timeframe within that window.  This way, if we are not able to fit you into our third track we will have something to fall back on.

It is also important to consider the duration of your availability.  About 80% of our crews are 30-35 days long.  In order to have a reasonable chance of attending a crew, you need to have a window that is at least 30 days from the  begining of one or more tracks.  To make yourself eligible for every program we run, you should be available from June 10th to August 25th.  Here are the date ranges you should make available to be considered for any given track:

• Track I
  • 15 day: June 10- 24
  • 21 day: June 10- 30
  • 30 day: June 10- July 9
  • 35 day: June 10- July 14
• Track II
  • 15 day: July 8- 22
  • 21 day: July 8- 28
  • 30 day: July 8- August 6
  • 35 day: July 8- August 11
• Track III
  • 15 day: July 22- August 5
  • 21 day: July 22- August 11
  • 30 day: July 22- August 20
  • 35 day: July 22- August 25

Specific Tips

Pick a good reference. The best references are those who have seen you work in groups outside of school.  It's never bad to have a teacher or staff person give you a reference, but SCA really isn't an academic program.  A more valuable perspective comes from someone who can comment on your performance in a program that shares something in common with SCA.  Try to find a reference that can touch on one or more of the selection criteria listed below.

Returning applicant? Keep us in the loop. For those of you who have completed an application and the medical forms, you do not need to go through the whole process all over again.  You will need to update your application, especially your availability dates, complete the application update (within the application) and the medical form update and a new signature form. Did you go on an interesting trip?  Get a new job?  You can log into your online application and update your essays to let us know.

Volunteering and employment examples are great!  We love seeing jobs on applications.  Whether it's working the register during summer retail, volunteering for a local organization or keeping the family farm running, an obligation like that tells us that you are no stranger to responsibility.  Our crews provide valuable services across the country - we need members who are ready and happy to get some work done for our parks and forests.

Selection Criteria

Selecting the right applicants is very important for our programs.  Our crews are very small and quickly become a close knit group.  We find that there are five areas that are particularly useful to us when we are evaluating applicants:

• Applicant's demonstrated leadership skills and/or responsibility
• Past participation with extra-curricular groups or volunteer organizations
• Good social and group skills
• Time spent outdoors & the individual's comfort level
• Interest in ecological or environmental topics

If you keep these criteria in mind when you're filling out your application it will help you give us the kind of information that we really need.  Having trouble thinking of what to say about yourself?  Here is a short brainstorming list to get the metaphorical ball rolling:

• Ever held a job?
• Do you have a passion for the outdoors or environment or something similar?
• Do you help neighbors with chores & projects?
• What's the closest thing to SCA you've ever done?
• Do you do some kind of strenuous work?  Farm chores?  Sports?