Senior Julia Mercer spent five weeks this past summer as a volunteer living and working in El Malpais National Conservation Area of New Mexico as part of a summer program sponsored by the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The program consists of National Conservation Crews, which contain 6-8 high school students between the ages of 15-19 and two experienced adult leaders, with the goal of preserving America’s national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.

The National Conservation Crews live in tents and cook their own meals while servicing the park. The students are all volunteers, and the program is tuition-free. The crews participate in activities such as building a hiking trail, Leave No Trace camping, and protecting vital habitats. Students in the program work eight hours a day, six days a week. On days off, students can explore the park or just relax at camp. The sponsoring park provides instruction and tools, but crews are expected to perform their jobs without supervision. At the end of their service time, there is a 4-5 day recreational trip in the sponsoring park for the crews.

The SCA was founded in 1957 with the goal of creating the next generation of conservationists. Volunteers and interns with the SCA serve in 500 national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and community green spaces in all 50 states. Every summer, over 600 teenagers volunteer with the SCA to service these natural and cultural locations. Though there are many, many parks, students can’t request specific ones when applying; however, they can request to be placed in a park within their state, or a region of their choosing.

Mercer heard of the program through her mother’s college roommate and has spent the two summers with the SCA. In 2011, she volunteered at the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Pennsylvania, where she dressed up for “Living History” and cleared a road vista that was previously covered with thorns and other unsightly brush. In 2012, during Mercer’s time at El Malpais, she had the opportunity to create irrigation paths, work on a continental divide trail, create check dams, and aid archaeologists.

“We moved 300 pound rocks into an arroyo [a small canyon], and built them up into a wedge-shaped wall to catch the dirt [in order to stop erosion],” Mercer said, explaining check dams.

“I would do it [a third time],” says Mercer, in regards to volunteering this summer, “except it’s my last year in Catonsville, and I’d kind of like to spend it with my friends, but it’s definitely worthwhile. In the future, I think I may want to to be a leader or go into an adult crew.” Adult crews work for a season, approximately three months, and can be paid for their efforts.

To join a National Conservation Crew for Summer 2013, fill out the SCA’s online application this winter. The SCA begins reviewing applications in January, and offers of placement are sent in April. For more information, visit the Association’s website, thesca.org.