News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

For more information contact: Maureen Wren, 518-402-8000

DEC And SCA Celebrate Ten Years Of Adirondack Stewardship

ALBANY, NY (10/03/2008; 1438)(readMedia)-- The Student Conservation Association's (SCA) Adirondack Program celebrated 10 years of stewardship work in the Adirondacks during a recognition ceremony on Friday at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Whitney Headquarters on the shores of Little Tupper Lake.

SCA's Adirondack Program is a partnership between SCA, DEC, and the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) that trains young people to be conservation leaders while working to enhance and protect the natural and culturally historic areas of the Adirondack Park.

"DEC is proud to partner with SCA to protect the natural resources of the Adirondacks while providing training for the future leaders in the conservation field," Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "The service these young people have provided over the years is a shining example of good stewardship of the land. It also demonstrates the benefits of stewardship, as the SCA members have not only formed a strong connection with nature, but their work will allow others to connect with nature in a safe manner that minimizes impacts on the environment."

This year, DEC staff, SCA staff, current, and former members, and their families joined local residents, officials and school staff at the 10^th annual recognition ceremony in honor of this year's members and the success of the program.

Mark Bodin, Chief Operating Officer of SCA, said: "The SCA Adirondack Program meets both DEC's mission ‘to conserve, improve, and protect the natural resources and environment' of New York State and SCA's mission ‘to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.' It has been a great partnership for the past decade and we look forward to a bright future."

Each summer for the past four years, 10 SCA members (comprising young adults in their late teens and early twenties) have spent five months working on a variety of stewardship projects throughout the Adirondacks. Projects include removing garbage and non-complying structures, maintaining trails, constructing foot bridges and similar structures, rehabilitating fire towers and removing invasive plant species. The members are supervised by two SCA staff members - one for each 5-person crew.

Prior to beginning their field work, SCA members receive five weeks of training in such topics as effective communication, project management and leadership, efficient teamwork, Adirondack cultural and natural history, wilderness living skills, safe chainsaw use, work skills, and advanced wilderness first aid. Each member receives a small weekly living allowance and an education award at the completion of program.

Work projects are selected and overseen by DEC staff. The projects are prioritized based on the need to protect the natural resources and the recreational users of the forest preserve, in addition to work on historic structures such as fire towers and the buildings at Camp Santanoni.

In the first years of the program, 20 members served for 10 months, focusing on environmental education in local schools and community outreach during the winter months. In the summer months, members worked on conservation and stewardship projects, much as they do now.

Over the ten years the Adirondack program has taken place, 120 SCA members have completed over 340 conservation service projects, worked with hundreds of K-12 students in areas schools and, most impressively, contributed over 225,000 hours of service to the lands and people of the Adirondacks. The members joke that while undertaking this work, they also endured millions of insect bites in exchange for their efforts.

Summary of Work:

• Maintained and constructed hiking trails, including:

1. - 268 rustic and/or dimensional lumber foot bridges spanning at total of 3,485 feet
2. - 781 timber or stone steps and stepping stones
3. - 161 rock or timber water bars
4. - Brushed out and cleared over one hundred of miles of trails
5. - Constructed over a dozen new trails.

• Dismantled and replaced or constructed more than 20 lean-tos.
• Removed dozens of non-conforming structures.
• Constructed ADA-accessible campsites, docks, and boardwalks.
• Constructed four fish barrier dams.
• Constructed and rehabilitated over 25 miles of snowmobile trails.
• Restored Adirondack Fire Towers on 11 Adirondack mountains.
• Assisted in restoration efforts at Great Camp Santanoni.
• Controlled and eradicated of invasive plants.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a nationwide force of college and high school volunteers who protect and restore America's parks, forests, and other public lands. Since 1957, SCA's active, hands-on practice of conservation has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save the planet. To learn more, visit http://www.thesca.org..

-30-