SCA Mission

The SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. 

SCA Values

Bold Vision: Co-powering the next generation of conservation leaders requires unwavering vision, innovation, and execution. We think and act creatively and are resolved to write new stories. We challenge prevailing ideas of what’s possible to create new opportunities and meet the needs of our members and the communities we serve.

Respect of the Land: We commit to being well-informed environmental stewards and recognize that our work transforms lives and lands. We strategically use our resources and strengths to respond to urgent ecological issues such as climate change, environmental justice, and equitable access while protecting and preserving our natural, cultural, and historical resources.

Integrity: We strive to uphold the highest standards of work ethic, honesty, and authenticity. Our passion drives us to work with urgency and to hold each other accountable. We consistently ask how our choices support our mission, our members’ social and emotional development, the communities we serve, and our Partners.

Belonging & Inclusion: Our differences – when embraced with awareness, self-reflection, care and respect – drive better decisions, stronger performance, and a culture where everyone can comfortably be themselves. We continuously design our culture to invite the best in each individual to reach their fullest potential.

Collaboration: We value team over the individual as our success is driven by our ability to break silos and connect across teams, functions, and geographies. We build purposeful relationships grounded in cooperation and a shared vision and have no tolerance for behaviors that are discourteous, aggressive, or tear others down. 

SCA Land Acknowledgement

Recalling the rich conservation history of SCA also compels the recognition of the work of generations of Indigenous People who value and care for the lands, waterways and shorelines of North America. We acknowledge that because of systemic exclusion from management, decision-making, and sharing of education, there has been strain in relationships between drivers of the conservation movement, Indigenous People, and other socially marginalized groups. As we continue the important work toward conservation, it is imperative to acknowledge all of our history in order to name the oppression, practice environmental justice, and navigate our work with integrity and inclusion.

New York State Parks Corps Land Acknowledgement

The SCA New York State Park Corps and Hudson Valley Corps programs have a geographic range over the entirety of upstate New York. We acknowledge that this is unceded Indigenous land, specifically the homeland of the Haudenosaunee, a democratic government that pre-dates the United States Constitution. We acknowledge today’s Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Tuscarora, Oneida, and Lenape communities. We acknowledge the genocide and continued displacement of Indigenous peoples during the colonial era up to the present day. Today, these communities continue to contribute to the life of this region and to celebrate their heritage, practice traditions, and care for the land and waterways as sacred. This acknowledgement demonstrates a commitment to beginning the process of dismantling the ongoing legacies of colonialism through active training.

All About the Hudson Valley Region

The Hudson Valley or Hudson River Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in the U.S. state of New York. The region stretches from the Capital District including Albany and Troy south to Yonkers in Westchester County, bordering New York City.

History
The Hudson Valley was inhabited by indigenous peoples long before European settlers arrived. The Lenape, Wappinger, and Mahican branches of the Algonquins lived along the river, mostly in peace with the other groups.The lower Hudson River was inhabited by the Lenape. The Lenape people waited for the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano onshore, traded with Henry Hudson, and sold the island of Manhattan. Further north, the Wappingers lived from Manhattan Island up to Poughkeepsie. They lived a similar lifestyle to the Lenape, residing in various villages along the river. They traded with both the Lenape to the south and the Mahicans to the north. The Mahicans lived in the northern valley from present-day Kingston to Lake Champlain, with their capital located near present-day Albany. The Algonquins in the region lived mainly in small clans and villages throughout the area. One major fortress was called Navish, which was located at Croton Point, overlooking the Hudson River. Other fortresses were located in various locations throughout the Hudson Highlands.

In 1497, John Cabot traveled along the coast and claimed the entire country for England; he is credited with the Old World's discovery of continental North America. After Henry Hudson realized that the Hudson River was not the Northwest Passage, the Dutch began to examine the region for potential trading opportunities. In 1664, the British invaded New Netherland via the port of New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam and New Netherland as a whole were surrendered to the British and renamed New York. Under British colonial rule, the Hudson Valley became an agricultural hub, with manors being developed on the east side of the river. The Hudson River was a key river during the Revolutionary War. The Hudson's connection to the Mohawk River allowed travelers to get to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River eventually. In addition, the river's close proximity to Lake George and Lake Champlain would allow the British navy to control the water route from Montreal to New York City.

In the early 19th century, popularized by the stories of Washington Irving, the Hudson Valley gained a reputation as a somewhat gothic region characterized by remnants of the early days of the Dutch colonization of New York (see "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"). The area is also associated with the Hudson River School, a group of American Romantic painters who worked from about 1830 to 1870. Following the building of the Erie Canal, the area became an important industrial center. The canal opened the Hudson Valley and New York City to commerce with the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. However, in the mid 20th century, many of the industrial towns went into decline. The first railroad in New York, the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, opened in 1831 between Albany and Schenectady on the Mohawk River, enabling passengers to bypass the slowest part of the Erie Canal. The Hudson Valley proved attractive for railroads once technology progressed to the point where it was feasible to construct the required bridges over tributaries. The Troy and Greenbush Railroad was chartered in 1845 and opened that same year, running a short distance on the east side between Troy and Greenbush, now known as East Greenbush (east of Albany). The Hudson River Railroad was chartered the next year as a continuation of the Troy and Greenbush south to New York City, and was completed in 1851. In 1866, the Hudson River Bridge opened over the river between Greenbush and Albany, enabling through traffic between the Hudson River Railroad and the New York Central Railroad west to Buffalo. When the Poughkeepsie Bridge opened in 1889, it became the longest single-span bridge in the world. During the Industrial Revolution, the Hudson River Valley became a major location for production. The river allowed for fast and easy transport of goods from the interior of the Northeast to the coast. Hundreds of factories were built around the Hudson, in towns including Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Kingston, and Hudson. Tourism became a major industry as early as 1810. With convenient steamboat connections in New York City and numerous attractive hotels in romantic settings, tourism became an important industry. Early guidebooks provided suggestions for travel itineraries. Middle-class people who read James Fenimore Cooper's novels or saw the paintings of the Hudson River School were especially attracted to the region.

Geology and Physiography
The Hudson River valley runs primarily north to south down the eastern edge of New York State, cutting through a series of rock types including Triassic sandstones and redbeds in the south and much more ancient Precambrian gneiss in the north (and east). In the Hudson Highlands, the river enters a fjord cut during previous ice ages. To the west lie the extensive Appalachian Highlands. In the Tappan Zee region, the west side of the river has high cliffs produced by an erosion-resistant diabase; the cliffs range from 400 to 800 feet (120 to 240 m) in height. The Hudson Valley is one physiographic section of the larger Ridge-and-Valley province, which in turn is part of the larger Appalachian physiographic division. The northern portions of the Hudson Valley fall within the Eastern Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands Ecoregion. During the last ice age, the valley was filled by a large glacier that pushed south as far as Long Island. Near the end of the last ice age, the Great Lakes drained south down the Hudson River, from a large glacial lake called Lake Iroquois. Lake Ontario is the remnant of that lake. Large sand deposits remain from where Lake Iroquois drained into the Hudson; these are now part of the Rome Sand Plains. Due to its resemblance, the Hudson River often has been described as "America's Rhine". In 1939, the magazine Life described the river as such, comparing it to the 40-mile (64 km) stretch of the Rhine in Central and Western Europe. The Hudson Valley is divided into three regions: Upper, Middle, and Lower. The following is a list of the counties within the Hudson Valley sorted by region. The Lower Hudson Valley is typically considered part of the Downstate New York region due to its geographical and cultural proximity to New York City.

Lower Hudson
Putnam
Rockland
Westchester

Mid-Hudson
Dutchess
Orange
Ulster

Upper Hudson/Capital District
Albany
Columbia
Greene
Rensselaer

Major industries
The Hudson Valley has a long agricultural history and agriculture was its main industry when the region was first settled. Around the 1700s, tenant farming was highly practiced. The farms' main products were grains (predominantly wheat), though hops, maple syrup, vegetables, dairy products, honey, wool, livestock, and tobacco were produced there. The region became the breadbasket of colonial America, given that the surrounding New England and Catskills areas were more mountainous and had rockier soils. In the late 1800s, most farms transitioned from tenant farming to being family-owned, with more incentive to improve the land. Grain production moved west to the Genesee Valley, and so Hudson Valley farms specialized, especially in viticulture, berries, and orchard cultivation. The Hudson Valley is one of the oldest winemaking and grape-growing regions in the United States, with its first vineyards planted in 1677 in current-day New Paltz. The region has experienced a resurgence in winemaking in the 21st century. Many wineries are located in the Hudson Valley, offering wine-tasting and other tours.

All About Upstate New York

New York is split into two distinct areas: New York City and Upstate New York. Traditionally, "upstate" New York is everything north of New York City, with the exception of the Hudson Valley Region and the Catskills. (It's up for debate...)

While Upstate is made up of midsize cities (Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, etc.) there’s no comparison in size or population to NYC. The region’s lakes, mountains, trails and fall foliage make it easy to plan the perfect getaway. Residents can enjoy living in the suburbs, while still being in proximity to downtown areas and outdoor adventures. Here's a quick rundown of the cities within the range of the NYS Parks Corps:

1. Buffalo- Buffalo has seen a massive renaissance over the last few years and offers residents endless things to do. Its waterfront features new restaurants, bars, bike lanes, kayak tours, free outdoor yoga, and more. Residents will also tell you how much they love their football, chicken wings, beef on weck, and holiday celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day, Dyngus Day, Pride, and more. Buffalo is also booming with education and technology. It’s one of the top places for entrepreneurs and startups. But the best part? Its people. For an excellent reason, Buffalo is known as the City of Good Neighbors.

2. Rochester- With popular events and celebrations like Rochester Fringe Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester Lilac Festival, and more, there’s no shortage of things to do in the city of Rochester and the surrounding area.  If you’re a foodie, you’ll also love the city for its abundance of bars and restaurants to explore. Its close proximity to the Finger Lakes region also makes it a popular destination for wine trails and craft breweries galore. Don’t forget to try Rochester’s iconic garbage plate! Rochester offers a great cost of living and ample job opportunities.

3. Ithaca- Located at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York state, Ithaca is a quaint college town with 25,000 acres of public land for hiking, biking, and outdoor recreation. Known for its many state parks, gorges, hiking trails, and impressive collection of 150 beautiful waterfalls, Ithaca is one of the best places to live if you’re outdoorsy. Ithaca’s proximity to these educational institutions makes it a phenomenal place if you’re heading off to college for the first time or looking to start a new graduate program soon. Given Ithaca’s prime location in the Finger Lakes region, you’ll also find over 30 fantastic wineries and microbreweries to try, plus an impressive restaurant and bar scene in the city center. 

4. Syracuse-  Syracuse’s downtown district is small and walkable. You won’t want to miss Armory Square, a strip packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and more. Syracuse is also home to Destiny USA, the sixth-largest shopping mall in the United States. Syracuse is the educational and economic hub of Central New York, with prestigious Syracuse University and a variety of career opportunities throughout the area. It’s only four hours from New York City and a short drive to Saratoga Springs. Compared to similar metro areas, Syracuse also comes at a more affordable price.

5. Watertown- Watertown is the largest city in New York State’s North Country Region and is located in close proximity to Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and the Canadian border. Watertown has something for everyone.  It features a walkable, historic downtown, close-knit neighborhoods, a beautiful park system, and a diverse array of arts and cultural amenities.  For the outdoorsman, the local area has boating, fishing, rafting, hiking, and camping!

So why do people move to Upstate New York, specifically? In the Upstate region of the state, scenic parks double as residents’ backyards (while nearby cities are only a short drive away). The state also has endless events for families all year long, whether you’re a museum-goer, foodie, or outdoor adventurer. Some quick notes:

1. Nature- Getting outside is good for the soul and for mental health. Adirondack Park, located in Upstate New York, offers over 100 mountains, 2,000 miles of hiking trails and 3,000 lakes.

2. Health- When it comes to healthy eating, it’s never been easier for Upstate New York residents. This is partly due to the fact that the number of farmers’ markets have skyrocketed over the last decade, with NY having the most markets per state in the country.

3. Safety- Some of the safest cities in New York state can be found in the Upstate region, especially in comparison to New York City.

4. Seasonality- Two words: Fall foliage. Upstate New York’s picturesque scenery is to die for. In fact, all of its seasons are. While many states experience mild changes in weather patterns, New York residents are lucky enough to experience four distinct seasons.

5. Resiliency- No city or state will be spared from the effects of climate change, but Buffalo and Syracuse come close. The cities are positioned on the "cold" side of the Great Lakes, leading to an abundance of fresh water,  a minimal wildfire risk, a lower chance of being impacted by hurricanes/tornadoes.