Stories from Student Conservation Association Interns, on Patrol in Olympic National Park
Student Conservation Association's first Conservation Crew, which arrived at Washington's Olympic National Park in June of 1957, was an all-male crew as young women at the time were not thought capable of hard work. Boy, how have times changed! Today, SCA actually places equal numbers of young women and men in conservation service positions. Learn first-hand what some of SCA's members experienced during their Olympic experiences…
"On my first day of duty I was walking up the trail to my backcountry Ranger station 9.1 miles from the trailhead, when I saw a family walking towards me. A young boy riding on his father's shoulders exclaimed, 'Look! A Ranger!' My immediate reaction was to turn around and see who it was behind me on the trail. Then I realized he was talking about me! Although not a paid professional, it was then that it hit me. I was living my childhood dream of being a Ranger!"
Michelle Schonzeit, Conservation Intern 2003, Olympic National Park
"As a volunteer backcountry ranger one of my daily duties was to visit each campsite to teach visitors about bear safety, food storage, and Leave No Trace practices. While on my nightly rounds I was approached by a camper in search of help for a pregnant woman in distress at a nearby site. Together we approached another site, at which we believed some of the campers were physicians. Turns out there were six physicians in all, one of which was an obstetrician. As the doctors began to care for the woman, I contacted dispatch and arranged for a helicopter delivery to a nearby hospital, which arrived on site during one of the most spectacular mountain sunsets! We later learned the doctors were able to save her pregnancy and she later gave birth to a very healthy child."
Robert Kirmse, Conservation Intern 2003, Olympic National Park
"One afternoon, while returning from a beach trash pick-up, I spotted something in the distance. We were all crammed into a tiny Zodiac boat, with our mustang survival suits zipped tight to protect us from a possible plunge in the turbulent water. Like a bird skimming the water, the boat flew us to the spot where a peculiar splash had caught my eye. Then we saw it: a massive entity that slid through the water and disappeared into murky depths. My white knuckles clenched the boat for support as the breath in my mouth froze - five or six gray whales enveloped our boat and curiously circled. I could see their giant outlines slide beneath our boat. It reminded me of my own insignificant size and it seemed as though time had stopped. The encounter left each one of us more aware of the precious beauty living just beyond the shore."
Laurel Farinacci, Conservation Intern 2003, Olympic National Park
To learn more about Earth Share of Washington member SCA, please visit their website www.thesca.org.