SCA Project Leader
It can be one of the best jobs I could ever dream of, but at times it can be the most stressful, challenging, and lonely work. All it takes is a change in a couple variables; a crew member with bad judgment, a project that doesn't want to be completed, or a few bugs that are not visible to the naked eye.
My position, SCA project leader, involves leading 5 adults that have decided to volunteer and dedicate three months of their life to conserving public lands through trail work, important work that otherwise would not get done. I make sure the crew gets enough to eat, completes projects safely, is taught about the environment and conservation, and sleeps warm in a tent at night. It is a rare day that I am free from responsibility.
At the same time, my work takes me to some of the most beautiful places in this country. Some days I get paid to go hiking up a mountain trail or camp in the most pristine wilderness area. I wake up to mountains and impressive vistas. I go to sleep watching more stars in one night sky than some have seen in a lifetime. I see the growth in crew members as they experience this for themselves.
Most recently, my job has taken me to the swamps of Florida and work on the Florida National Scenic Trail. It is a tremendous change from the dry, open mountains of Idaho, the place of my last crew. I am still adjusting to the loss of the 'big sky' country, but the most difficult aspect for me has been leading a crew in a more urban setting, never more than a few minutes from a gas station or a half mile from a road. Such a situation brings added challenges that otherwise would not exist in a more remote setting.
These extra challenges and a few different variables can quickly change my job into a tiresome and lonely position. It has brought me into situations I have never dealt with and made me recommit to making the experience with my next crew more positive for both myself and my future members.