American Eagle Outfitters

AE Better World has teamed up with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to give back this Spring Break with the help of 100 college students from across the country. SCA is a nationwide force of conservation volunteers on a mission to help save the planet. For over 50 years, SCA's graduate, college, and high school student members have set the standard in environmental service.

Crew Leader's Corner
Saturday, March 22, 2008

Every participant is en route to their home destination as I write this. And Tyler, Rachel, and I are certainly sensing a little bit of emptiness now at the end of two of the most exciting, intense, and unique SCA experiences that we have ever encountered.

I reflect back to the first crew and how well they formed as a group to complete the ADA accessible boardwalk project. And as I compare them to the recent group, I can draw so many common threads between each of the Alternative Spring Break experiences, and at least as many distinctive characteristics between each group. Crew 2 truly excelled and shined in every sense, and the completion of the addition onto the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Research Station was in all ways a tremendous success!

Folks in this second group certainly had their challenges to overcome: the aggressive blowing sand and encroaching dunes, a tidal storm surge and another tornado threat, and the general rigors of back country life. Yet they met every challenge with grace, humility, and a ton of humor; there was certainly no shortage of laughter. As our group returned from 'down island', we received a tidal wave of thanks and 'job well done' by park staff, turtle researchers and volunteers. It truly seemed that our crew exceeded all expectations.

Last evening, during our closing ceremony we stood in a tight circle, holding onto one single length of rope. This symbolized the connection that we each shared and that grew throughout the week. And we took turns around the circle, just mentioning something that the experience had taught each of us or something that we would take with us back to our homes to share. I heard two very essential common themes, that: (1) everyone felt fundamentally tied to the close knit community of their fellow crewmembers as well as the larger conservation community, and (2) that each person felt a rejuvenated sense of hope for the future of conservation and that they would take the things that they had learned at ASB to the communities from which they came.

And as each person shared his or her observations, they cut off their piece of rope that had previously joined them to the rest of the group; and tied it onto their wrist or as a necklace, as a reminder for the experience shared at Padre Island!

Peace & Hope,
Mike Johnson
Project Coordinator
ASB-Padre Island

ASB Padre Session 2: Work Totals:

• 20 X 16 ft. addition onto existing Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Research Station:
• Square footage = 320 sq ft
• Addition included: flooring, walls, interior & exterior siding, trim, windows, doors, new roof.
• Our crew also helped construct the expansion of a sea turtle breeding pen = 425 sq ft

March 19, 2008

We were pulling double time today. After yesterday's lovely evacuation incident we worked hard to make up for lost time. The morning was beautiful, the sun was shining but the temperature called for coats and hats. Even so, we had some awesome yoga stretches on the beach.

The morning shift hustled to finish the roof. Meanwhile, the "afternoon shifters" laced up their boots and went exploring. Ian and Jessie made it all the way across the Sandy Dunes to follow some deer tracks across the lagoon. While Savannah, Mira, Mimi, Jess, and Heather made it 3 miles down the beach finding all sorts of debris that had made its way to the shore including a huge oil drum, big driftwood logs, and an enormous buoy that we all proceeded to climb on. Cameras were going off like crazy.

Back near camp a few of the boys took some time for a little cat nap on the beach before lunch. After lunch, the afternoon shift started... when suddenly we realized that we were running low on water. Rachel sped off down the 40 mile stretch of sand to retrieve the much needed agua.

As the temperature went up so did the roof and walls! During the exciting building process, another group headed off over the dunes in search of a shipwreck. Along the way they found a jack rabbit; some scissor-tailed fly-catchers, and a flock of white pelicans.

The day was one of our best yet and supper was definitely un-surpassable (in the opinion of the authors)! To top the day off Rachel picked up popsicles to celebrate Jess's 21st birthday in the "back country" (wink, wink. nudge, nudge)

The moon is bright and the stars glorious. So with that goodnight!

XOXO,
Savannah & Jessie

"My favorite part of the trip has been getting up when the sun is rising and going to bed shortly after it sets. It's very fulfilling and also a good measurement to look at the addition and say, 'We did all that between a sunrise and a sunset.' It's very empowering!" -Katie

"Conservation is doing the best you can in your daily life to preserve the earth...I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but this trip has exceeded my expectations in every way. At first the sand was a pet peeve of mine, but now I've embraced it...I'm eating it!" -Savannah

March 18, 2008 - "The Big Ditch", Grand Canyon

Tents unzipped to bright blue skies this morning. Eager students were divided into three hiking groups. The mission: eradication of graffiti within the Canyon and hand-pulling invasive weeds along the way. We also welcomed two visitors: Mike and Brian, videographers from Phoenix who joined us for a few hours to document all this hard work for SCA, AE and, possibly, MTV.

Our group trekked down the Bright Angel trail, one of the Canyon's busiest routes. We soon discovered we had our work cut out for us; nearly every rock face boasted scratchings of "Eddie Was Here" or "TM + JF." We used water spray bottles to soften the yellow limestone surface and then gently attacked the graffiti with soft bristle brushes. Other participants patiently rubbed pencil erasers on graphite or charcoal graffiti.

Due to the trail's popularity and heavy use, we had ample opportunities to explain who we are and what we're doing in the Park-and what our awesome blue t-shirts mean. Many hikers stopped and watched our progress and took photos of our efforts, praising all the while our hard work and dedication to preserving this incredible natural resource.

We often had to sidestep burro trains coming up or down the trail. "Cheaters," we called them when we could catch a breath. Several aspects of the trail were always in shadow; therefore each participant slapped on a pair of Yaktraks-an outer sole with metal teeth on the bottom that slips over a hiking boot. Even the cameraman, Mike, grudgingly put on a pair after he suddenly slipped and dropped his 30 pound camera.

It's difficult to get a bad photo at the Grand Canyon, or have a bad day, even when you slip. Little surprises lurked around every switchback. Once, we glanced up at a rock ledge far overhead and discovered ancient ochre rock art depicting humans and horned animals. Participant Kristen Schulte, SCA alumna and something of a walking encyclopedia, pointed out a rare raptor perched on the cliff face. Kassy Theobald, NPS staff member and self-appointed tour guide, drew our attention to the towering, seeded spire of an agave plant. The plant only blooms once in its lifetime and then immediately dies after it has gone to seed, she said. Since most agave live a long time, it only happens once every 75 to 100 years.

The hot sun seemed to melt away all memories of the frigid beginnings of this Alternative Spring Break. Everyone scrubbed and weeded and hiked and sang trail songs with great enthusiasm, agreeing that it felt really good to accomplish this project and help the Park. By the end of the three mile vertical hike out, however, folks were more focused on their day off tomorrow-and sleeping in.

Wednesday, March 17, 2008
Composed by: Andrew, Anthony, and Stefanie

Andrew and Zach's day began at 3:30 in the morning when a harmless king snake awakened Andrew as it slid past his jugular. Unnerved by this unexpected encounter, both parties evacuated the deck area of the turtle ranger station and spent the remainder of the night in the suburban.

The rest of our crew woke up at 7:20 AM to the gentle sounds of Tyler's (team leader) flute playing. We stumbled out of our tents, shook off sticky sand particles, and headed to our central cabin site for a breakfast of grits.

Finding ourselves with a free morning, six of us elected to explore the western portion of the barrier island beyond the dunes. The land here is untouched grassland, swept through the day by deep, cleansing gusts of wind. When we reached the first summit of the large dune beyond our tents, we encountered a trail marker, on of the only other signs of human visitation. Venturing on through the brush and tangle toward the inner island lagoons, several sand-colored lizards scampered away from our boots. Crab exoskeletons, the remnants of a coyote kill, and numerous tracks marked our trek.

At the shore of the lagoon, Anthony, Moira and Stefanie removed shoes and socks to glump through the mud and brackish water. Andrew inquired what it felt like... "chocolate pumpkin pie filling" was the most precise description offered.

After a quick lunch, we began our afternoon work shift, adding to the contributions of our teammates. We put up two of the three walls to our addition to the cabin and received basic tool instruction. We manipulated circular saws and nail guns, learning valuable skills about not just architecture, but also physics and Roman arches. By the time chili was ready for dinner, we felt that we had made a substantial impact.

Tools tucked away, we watched the sea encroach and draw boldly too near for comfort. Several crew members hastily shoveled a makeshift dam to save our trucks and equipment. Zach, Jeff, and Andrew readied their tents to withstand the anticipated high winds, applying lessons learned the night before about the ubiquity of the sand.

It seems that many hope that the storm won't be so severe because there is a real attachment to the project goals and a sincere commitment to work.

"Why do I suck so much at life...and by life, I mean circular sawing."

"We're making an impact by leaving no impact." -Andrew

"By doing this spring break, I get to do something meaningful, especially as a conservationist and a scientist. Coming to build a cabin where people can live so they can do scientific research and conserve sea turtles, seems like a pretty fitting use of my time. It's also really fun and really satisfying to just be working in a beautiful place." -Moira

"I wanted to come to Padre Island National Seashore and help with the turtle cabin and to meet other conservation-minded college students. If I didn't come here I would have stayed at school and done research; and that's not nearly as much fun." -Heather

"My favorite thing about SCA is the never-ending supply of M&Ms...also, the conservation!" -Katie

"It has been more fulfilling than going on a typical spring break...This way I'm actually getting something done and helping someone else. It makes you feel good; it's more fulfilling and more important to spend your time making a difference." -Mimi

16 March 2008 - "Desert Snow", Spring Break in the Grand Canyon

What's red, green and white all over? The Grand Canyon under 5 inches of snow.

Fifty degrees and above had been the normal daytime temperature at the Canyon for several weeks-until, that is, 25 SCA Alternative Spring Break participants showed up.

On their first morning as a team, SCA participants woke to a dusting of fresh snow and leaden skies. The white stuff kept falling throughout the next day and into Monday morning, giving new meaning to the word "alternative" in Alternative Spring Break. Somehow, everybody's still smiling.

This crew is psyched to be here. After a five-hour, late night slog from the Vegas airport and a frigid, gray morning, members gamely saddled up for a brief orientation with Kassy Theobald, a member of the vegetation staff at the Park and several-time SCA alumna. At the rim, Kassy led a "native plant tour" to get everyone familiarized with the work environment.

"But where's the Canyon?" participant Rose Dattler asked. The rim could have been the absolute end of the earth, just a horizon that dropped off into roiling gray clouds. We couldn't see its depths or plateaus; we could only focus on the icy trail under our feet.

Then, suddenly, as we were walking out to the edge of a jutting rock peninsula, the swirling clouds parted in front of us and framed the North Rim of the Canyon like a postcard. Millions of years of history dropped away, right down to the murky brown Colorado River-the architect of all this beauty.

Half these students have never traveled to the southwest U.S. before, let alone a Park as hugely magnificent and ecologically diverse as the Grand Canyon. Watching them experience its grandeur for the first time has been one of the week's best moments.

After the plant tour, participants got warm and muddy while completing important restoration work in the Park. Some shoveled out exotic species, some attacked the roots with pick axes and others replanted natives in the disturbed ground. It was just a taste of the work to follow. And all the while, the white stuff fell.

As a special treat, we got a private tour at the National Park Service Helipad base. We stood within spitting distance of the Park's giant yellow and black striped helicopter-nicknamed the "Queen Bee" of the Canyon. We heard about the machine's myriad of uses, from fighting wildland fires to emergency rescue missions within the Canyon, and about its super sleek, lightweight design. By the end of the presentation, at least a couple participants were dreaming of new post-college careers.

Our first dinner was an "SCA-style" hearty tortilla soup, meaning it was homemade and served with ten different toppings, from shredded cheese to minced garlic and chopped cilantro. The hot liquid warmed everyone long enough to play a quick ice-breaker (an ironic term in this weather). After dinner, we immediately burrowed into our bags and slept the sleep of the Deserving. The snow kept blanketing the campground, but no one seemed worried. When life sends you snow, you make snowballs!

Crew Leader's Corner
Wednesday, March 12, 2008

So far Alternative Spring Break has shaped up to be quite an exciting affair. Tornadoes, burnt chili, awesome boardwalk project, Tyler's birthday, wind/rain, and lots of fun!

As I'm writing this, folks are trying their hand (or balance) at some windsurfing lessons, playing horseshoes and Frisbee, and frolicking in the sand and surf on their day off. The weather has certainly warmed up and everyone is in great spirits.

As I wonder around in the evenings I hear lots of comments about the awesome t-shirts everyone has received, how delicious the food is, and how exciting it is to see the progress on our project on a daily basis. I was told specifically by crewmembers to mention a word of thanks to AE and SCA for giving us [the crew leaders] the opportunity to purchase mostly organic, hearty, and healthy options for our dining pleasure.

Our ADA accessible boardwalk is shaping up wonderfully. As people become more familiar with each other and experienced with the tools and building, we also continue to mesh together as a crew.

We all look forward to working together to finish our project and to many more days of splashing in the water!

Until next time,

Mike Johnson
Project Coordinator
ASB-Padre Island

Day 3 - Tuesday, March 11, 2008

"Working together during the tornado really helped us work together today."
Kaylan Petrie
Syracuse, NY student SCA

"This afternoon [weather] is why I came on this trip. Dinner was great as usual; we eat so well."
John Stratton
PA student SCA

"Not quite as exciting as the tornado yesterday buy still a really good day. We were really productive while working and made a lot of progress. Stargazing tonight should be great since the sky is so clear. We're all looking forward to our day off tomorrow and sleeping in. The group is coming together really well. During work we have our jobs down and we know what we're doing, and even during free time we all come together to hang out. Seems like most people are from the New England states...Pennsylvania is also very well represented. I think we're all excited to get this job done and admire all of our hard work!"
Laura Braithwaite
VA student SCA

Day 2 - Monday, March 10, 2008

"The morning started beautifully, clear sky, grits for breakfast, plus a rousing warm-up stretch session. We split into teams, beginning to finally lay the boards down for the top of the boardwalk, and began to build the deck at the end. Lunch as usual was very enjoyable. Some went down to the beach to swim in the warm sunny weather, while others sat on the newly built section on boardwalk, enjoying their finely done work.

Then ... trouble hit. A tornado was fifty miles away at Corpus Christi and headed our way. The SCA leaders immediately stepped up and we packed up everything on the site as quickly and safely as possible. Everything loose was tied down or put away and then we were on our way to the storm shelter to wait out the weather with the rest of the island's inhabitants. This was much to the dismay of most workers, who were very eager to continue with the progression of the board walk. Before heading to the shelter we rushed back to camp to break apart our tents and put everything inside the maintenance building as a safely precaution against the storm. Then it was off to the shelter to sit and wait out the unpredictable weather.

Many awesome people we met at the shelter were very interested and excited to hear about what we were doing and where we were from. The storm intensified and we continued to wait in hopes of getting back to work. When the tornado warning was finally gone, the working day was over. We headed back to camp to set our tents back up, make dinner and prepare for another incredible day of doing a conservation project right next to the ocean."

Stephanie Spock
SCA

Day 1 - Sunday, March 9, 2008

"I am excited because I get to see the skeleton and visualize the steps towards the final project."
Steve Hamaday
Communications student Penn State SCA

"I do a lot of habitat in Buffalo, NY. I did a home makeover; this is what I am doing as a career. I've volunteered before but I wanted to do something different, but along the same lines. I like being in this field and showing other people that you don't have to be a big burly man to put up a house."
Amanda Mahar
Architecture student Syracuse SCA

"I am enthused about this project. For three years we've had the materials. The crew is going to enable the public to learn and understand the cultural and natural resources of the park."
Larry Turk
Facility Manager NPS

"This is a good learning experience for young people. It's a big project but with a great turnout of college age students helping on their spring break. They are usually tearing stuff up, but not building. This break will be to build."
Ray Brown
NPS

"Feeling good, more meshed in to the group. I spent the first four hours not knowing what to expect. When I got here I was closer with the group I rode in with, but now I feel comfortable around everyone. Only problem now is that the week has to end."
Eric Peabody
NH student SCA

"The various groups are making progress in hammering and tightening the screws to perfection. So far the project is going smoothly leaving everyone amped and happy about the success.

Others are working on nailing the framework along the sides and down the middle. Learning how to use the circular saw is now a priority for some as they mark and cut the boards."
Rose Stoppels
MI student SCA