Student Conservation Association(SCA) Volunteers on I Love My Park Day

In all of our volunteer events, PTNY strives to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in caring for and stewarding parks and trails. We have a particular interest in attracting young people who we hope will develop a love for our outdoor spaces and a passion for protecting them.

We are proud to partner with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s largest and most effective youth conservation service organization, which has been participating in I Love My Park Day since its beginning. In New York State, SCA partners with AmeriCorps, NYS OPRHP, NYS DEC and various non-profits to field more than 130 members each year. SCA’s mission is to transform lives and lands by empowering young people to plan, act, and lead, while they protect and restore our natural and cultural resources. Fortunately, I Love My Park Day provides a great opportunity for them to do just that.

Hannah Long, who graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in Wildlife Biology, spent the day at Jones Beach State Park. "I grew up in a landlocked state so I was excited to travel to Jones Beach for I Love My Park Day as it was the first real beach I’d ever been to. A group of my fellow SCA members were there and we had a great day cleaning up the beach. It was inspiring to see all of the folks who came out to help on a windy and cloudy day. Together, we covered a lot of ground and cleaned up the beach. Later that year, I went back and swam in the ocean for the first time in my life. It made me happy to see people enjoying such a beautiful place knowing that I was part of a team to help keep it nice.”