The Student Conservation Association is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. As a national non-profit, we rely on corporate partners to help our participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country.
As America’s most effective youth conservation service organization, the SCA is developing the next generation of conservation leaders by building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities to young people and teaching our members how to become environmental stewards. After working with the SCA, our members emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.
Since 1957, the SCA has been able to grow the next generation of conservation leaders thanks to the continued support from the business community. The SCA humbly acknowledges their generosity and commitment to our mission.
To learn more about how to achieve your corporate social responsibility goals by partnering with the SCA, please contact Kelly Runzel, SCA Sr. Director of Institutional Giving, via email at krunzel@thesca.org.
The SCA partners with businesses in several ways that not only advances our mission, but also provide shared value to our partners.
Learn more about our recent partnerships that are a force for good.
In Chicago, the SCA Calumet Tree Conservation Corps plants and cares for 500 trees in the Grand Calumet watershed communities. The corps also maintains 3,000+ trees planted in the area by previous SCA teams since 2017. In 2021, the corps engaged with the community through a series tree planting events. During these locally held tree plantings, corps members led demonstrations for the public, adapted to different weather conditions, worked various soil types and solved environmental challenges. By involving community members in tree plantings, the goal is to help spark their interest in conservation and help them to form a deeper connection with where they live and the planet.
With support from The UPS Foundation and L.L. Bean, the SCA expanded to Atlanta and launched its first conservation crew for Black youth in 2021. The crew included 10 members who served in multiple parks across the metro area, including Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. The crew provided space for Black high school students to connect more deeply with green spaces in their community.
The SCA is committed to addressing environmental injustice with the help of affinity crews that serve historically underserved communities. By supporting the voices of local community members and engaging youth in hands-on service to the land, the SCA is helping establish a pathway to job readiness, and future careers for the next generation of conservation thought leaders.
