Student Conservation Association, Inc.

SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities.

SCA fielded its first community conservation program in the Bay Area in 1977. Since that first year, hundreds of youth in the Bay Area region have participated in SCA programs. Thanks to various park partners, environmental organizations, schools, youth development organizations, and numerous community groups, SCA continues to provide conservation opportunities to Bay Area young people each year.

The SCA Bay Area Community Program provides year-round conservation opportunities and offers both volunteer and paid service opportunities. Members serve at sites in the greater Bay Area. Participants build trails and restore habitat while exploring green career opportunities, building leadership skills, and learning about the local environment through field trips, outdoor recreation, and service projects.

Our Green Life program is a full-time environmental conservation and education program for high school youth, based in Menlo Park. Classes focus on environmental education such as ecology and conservation, financial literacy and intro to job professionalism, green jobs and land management, environmental justice, and climate change. During the program, participants learn how to work as members of a diverse team of peers; gain knowledge of public land resources, environmental issues, and career readiness skills; increase understanding of environmental and trail restoration techniques; acquire experience in public service and outdoor recreation; and develop valuable professional skills through team building and leadership activities.