Organization: Student Conservation Association (SCA)

Cause: Environmental Conservation and Youth Civic Engagement

Personal Background/History: Liz Titus Putnam was raised by parents who believed that the only appropriate response to a problem was to do something about it. As she grew up on Long Island in the 1930’s and 40’s, Liz developed an appreciation for open spaces and the great outdoors. She began her formal study of conservation as a freshman at Vassar College in 1951. In the fall of her junior year, she read an article in Harper’s Magazine written by Bernard DeVoto entitled “Let’s Close the National Parks,” in which DeVoto called attention to the decaying state of the country’s national parks. Exasperated by the parks’ failing infrastructure and inadequate funding, he sarcastically proposed that national landmarks such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks should be closed until staffing and maintenance levels were improved.

Action/Response: Liz thought of a better solution. Inspired by the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, she recognized that young people could relieve the National Park Service staff of some of the routine tasks that were keeping them from addressing the parks’ larger problems. With encouragement from one of her professors, she transferred to a different department at Vassar so that she could devote her senior thesis to the development of the concept for a Student Conservation Corps. Putnam’s research included working on grassroots conservation projects, and networking with officials from both the National Park Service and the National Parks Association.

While at college, Liz sought advice from Horace Albright, one of the founders of the National Park Service. Mr. Albright told her that he thought her concept was a good idea and strongly suggested she visit four national parks to share her concept with the staffs. As a result, the Superintendents at both Olympic and Grand Teton National Parks requested trial projects.  In 1957 the first 53 high school, college and graduate level participants of the nascent Student Conservation Association (SCA) were placed in those two national parks.

Results/Accomplishments: Fifty-two years after the first 53 participants were involved in 2 national parks, SCA has grown to include over 52,000 alumni. Every year, more than 4,000 high schools, college and graduate participants provide more than two million hours of service to over 500 national and cultural sites in all 50 states. In founding the Student Conservation Association, Liz Titus Putnam simultaneously created one of the nation’s first and largest youth volunteer and environmental conservation organizations.

Quotes and Interview Excerpts:

Somewhere along the route I learned about the word ‘justa’. So often we limit ourselves by saying ‘I’m justa kid…’ ,‘I’m justa woman…’ ,‘I’m justa man…’. As soon as we say ‘I’m justa…’ we’re limiting ourselves. We’ve already said ‘I can’t possibly do it. I’m helpless’. But if I say ‘I’m a girl.’ ‘I’m a boy.’ ‘I’m a student’. ‘I’m a…whatever I am.’ I am that! That means I take ownership for it and I’ve automatically got strength and power to be able to do something. I haven’t cut myself out of it by giving myself an excuse by being ‘just a’. — interview with The Insite, December 2007

“My mother used to say that we are fortunate to have been given life, but along with the gift of life should come the question, ‘Why am I here?’ ‘What can I do with my life that is positive?’ If we stop long enough to ponder, answers do come! All things are possible.” – interview with Nina S. Roberts, September 2007

Stories/More Information:

President Obama serves with SCA volunteers on Earth Day - press release; video on C-Span