Get Outdoors - Volunteer: Try a Little Wilderness

On the second night of my SCA high school crew trip in Yosemite National Park, I and a fellow crew member found ourselves lost in the forest.Lost in the forest with night rapidly approaching we grew nervous and our imaginations began playing tricks on us. Jay, my companion on this little expedition, had bad night vision and was spotting bears left and right only to discover they were actually tree stumps.

We considered starting a fire to stay warm, but thought it better to be known as the guys who got lost rather than the guys who burned down a National Park.

Suddenly, we heard the voices of our crewmates 200 yards to our right. By the time we reached them we were exhausted and in no mood to be yelled at for our indiscretion. But the anger I expected never materialized. Instead we were smothered with hugs by five people who reassured us we were only gone 30 minutes and not the eternity we imagined.

We apologized profusely to our crew and especially to our crew leader Cynthia Horwitz. The care and worry, not to mention the relief that could be seen on their faces, amazed and touched me. We had only known each other for two days, yet the emotions our crewmates expressed for Jay and me were genuine and heartfelt.The "incident" as it would be later and jokingly referred to, marked the beginning of one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Jay's and my return to camp, slightly embarrassed, broke down any barriers within the group. We seemed to find it easier to reveal things about ourselves that to be lost in the woods.

During the long workdays, 14 mile hikes and numerous chores, friendship and bonds were created amid a beautiful landscape. We conquered Half Dome, which if you haven't visited, I encourage you to do so now! The exhilaration of getting to the top of that mountain cannot be described in mere words.

We learned about the Native Americans of the area from a visiting archaeologist. And we helped the Yosemite ecosystem by removing campfire rings tha were too close to water sources or trails.

The images of Yosemite remain so vivid in my mind: a purple Half Dome as the sun goes down; the morning dew clinging to the grass; the smiling faces of my crewmates sitting around the campfires; talking late into the night. These memories will always remain with me.

I'd like to thank SCA for giving me the experience of a lifetime.

Student Conservation Association: Whether it is improving hiking trails among the volcanic features and cinder cones of the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, constructing a cabin in Vermont's Merck Forest and Farmland Center, or restoring vegetation at heavily-impacted campsites in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, SCA's High School Conservation Work Crew (CWC) Program offers a unique month-long opportunity for 16- to 19-year olds to work in magnificent outdoor settings on public lands. For more information, visit the SCA website at www.sca-inc.org.