Frequently Asked Questions

How qualified are the crew leaders?
All of our leaders are caring and dedicated outdoor professionals who have a wealth of experience conducting environmental programs and outdoor activities. They come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are attending graduate school; others are school teachers or  year-round outdoor leaders. They are all 21 years of age or older and hold current wilderness medicine certifications. Crew leaders have primary responsibility for conducting all aspects of the high school program, including meeting you at the airport, shopping for food, setting-up camp, and conducting the program to ensure emotional and physical well being of all crew members.

Can I go on a crew with a friend?
We do not place friends on the same crew together.  We do this because we feel that an important part of the SCA experience is about getting out on your own and meeting new people.

How are crews organized?
There are between 6-8 members per crew who are similar in age but diverse in experience and backgrounds.  Crews generally have two crew leaders, one female and one male. Most crews will be split evenly between boys and girls.

Can I serve outside of where I am from?
The SCA experience is also about doing something totally new and different.  Therefore, we encourage applicants to try to go to a location that is outside of where they live.  We do however encourage people to serve in their local areas as well if they are interested in being closer to home.

How much equipment do I need to buy?
You will get a generic equipment list once you are selected.  Please do not buy all that is on it until you talk with your crew leader about your specific crew. Your leader or our staff in the office can give ideas of what to bring for your specific location.

Where will I sleep?
Crew members sleep in tents on both front and backcountry programs, and the tents are divided by gender. Crew leaders have separate tents within the camp.

Will I have free time?
There is free time at the end of the day, both before/after dinner. Crew leaders sometimes offer an activity like swimming, hackey sack or a card game during the day. Each crew also have some days off and the crew will decide as a team what they will do on their time off.

What is a typical day like for a crew?
Crew members usually get up around 6-6:30 AM and take turns preparing breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen and camp site. Everyone then packs a lunch and heads off to the project site. Crews work approximately eight hours -- taking time out for lunch and breaks. At the end of the day the crew members head back to camp and again take turns preparing dinner and cleaning up. Most evenings are unstructured, with time for reading, writing letters, telling stories or playing games.

How will we get fresh drinking water?
The water supply used for cooking and drinking is purified by using iodine, boiling, or a water filter. Front country crews often have drinkable water on site.

What do you mean by backcountry and frontcountry?
Backcountry crews conduct work in remote locations a mile or more from a road where the campsites are located in the woods. Frontcountry crews hike in from a campsite that is located in a more settled location such as a park campground. Both types of crews live in tents.

Can I bring my cell phone?
Crew leaders carry radios and/or cell phone for emergency use, but we do not allow cell phones for participants. Members are encouraged to travel with a cell phone but are then required to hand them over to the leader

Can my parents visit me?
If prearranged with the crew leaders, parents can visit the group. However, there are no overnight visits.

How do I get to my crew site and what if I get lost? I’ve never traveled by myself before.
We place hundreds of young people in these programs every summer, and we haven’t lost one yet. You and your parents will schedule and pay for your transportation. You should use whatever method is the most feasible, in most cases this will be a flight that is scheduled to arrive by the time specified on the offer letter. Your crew leader will meet you at the airport and provide transportation to the camp site.

Which airport should I use?
It is important that you travel to the airport specified on the offer letter and not a larger or more convenient airport. Wear your SCA t-shirt, which will be mailed to you when we receive your travel confirmation, so that you can be easily identified by the crew leaders. Your crew leaders will inform you and other members of your crew of travel day details.

What will I have to pay for?
You are responsible for travel costs as well as for providing your personal equipment such as boots, backpacks, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad. We suggest that you try to borrow these from a family member or friend rather than buy each item. SCA has some equipment that it can lend, and you should notify your crew leader if you need to borrow something from SCA.

How much cash will I need?
We recommend that you bring about $80 for souvenirs, ice cream, movies, and other small purchases. SCA will provide all necessary food.

How do I apply for financial aid?
A financial aid form will be included in your acceptance packets once you confirm your travel plans. You should submit this completed form to SCA and, if you qualify, we will reimburse you for some of your travel expense. Please note that the financial aid pool is limited, and we may not be able to grant the full amount requested. The maximum award is $400.

Can my parents send me a care package?
Yes. Your crew leader will inform you and your parents of the address where you can receive a care package. Some backcountry crews do not get mail on a regular basis so be sure to check with the crew leader to see if care packages will be delivered to you. If your parents do send a care package of goodies, they should send enough so that you can share with the entire group.

I would like to know more about the trip the crew takes after it completes its project.
Trips at the end of the program are all different. Some crew leaders have a plan in mind before the crew members arrive; others wait until they have a chance to observe their members skills or discuss the options with them. The trips range from backpacking for three or four days in nearby mountains, to day trips around the area they have been working in, to a canoe trip on a nearby river.

Where do crews serve?
SCA places young people in national parks, forests, cultural sites and urban green spaces nationwide. Many positions are based deep in the backcountry, but most are closer to population centers - some even in large cities or communities. The common thread among our sites is that they are all places in need of our conservation efforts!

How much does it cost?
Serving in SCA is tuition-free. Participants pay only a $25 application fee to SCA, thanks to a combination of fee agreements with partner agencies and the philanthropic generosity of foundations, corporations and individuals around the world. Travel costs are the responsibility of the participant.

Is previous experience necessary?
No, just ample supplies of enthusiasm, a positive attitude, and a commitment to give it everything you've got. Keep in mind that a particular comfort level such as sleeping in a tent, interacting with wildlife, or making do without regular hot showers will likely result in an enhanced SCA experience.

How old do I have to be?
Crew members must be between 15 and 19 years old. 14 year olds may apply as long as they will be 15 at the start of the crew. Members also need to be a current High School student when applying.

Where does SCA funding come from?
The National Park Service and other partners require SCA to raise funds from the public to match the grants they make to us for the cost of our volunteer programs. Generally, they pay 75 percent of the costs to us and we have to raise the other 25 percent. That funding comes from people like you, foundations, clubs, and corporations.

How can I support SCA?
You may donate directly through our web site by clicking here .