The SCA Newsroom

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

garrett — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:59:38 +0000

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The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Teaser Summary:

Join us for a sneak preview of Ken Burns new film

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Press Release

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June 23, 2009

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Press Release

Join us for a special sneak preview of the new fall PBS series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," by award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns and his longtime collaborator Dayton Duncan.

Info

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 7-9 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Bellows Falls Opera House, Bellows Falls, VT
Learn more about SCA - Watch our Video

Tickets

$20 in Advance, $25 Day of Screening.
Available At the Following Locations:

Online
BrattleboroTix.com
Bellows Falls, VT
Boccelli's On the Canal
Village Square Booksellers
Walpole, NH
L.A. Burdicks
Real to Reel Video
Ruggles & Hunt
Walpole Historical Society Museum Gift Shop

Directed by Burns and co-produced with Duncan, who is also the series' writer, "The National Parks" starts in the mid-1800s, when the parks were just an idea, and follows their evolution for nearly 150 years.

Filmed over the course of more than six years, the series features breathtaking images of some of nature's most spectacular locales - from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, and the Florida Everglades to the Gates of the Artic in Alaska. Tom Hanks, Andy Garcia and John Lithgow are among the actors who lend their voices to historical figures in the series. The narrator is actor Peter Coyote.

Burns and Duncan will be on hand to discuss the film and host a Q & A session.

A raffle for CD's of the film's music and the soon-to-be-published companion book, as well as other special items will happen after the screening.

Proceeds will benefit the Student Conservation Association and the Walpole Historical Society.

Sec. Salazar Visits Shenandoah for Service Project

garrett — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:54:06 +0000

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Sec. Salazar Visits Shenandoah

Teaser Summary:

Meets SCA Interns for Service Project

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News Coverage

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Date Published:

June 22, 2009

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WHSV

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President Barack Obama is making volunteer service a priority with a campaign called "United We Serve" with a summer of volunteer work that started Monday at Shenandoah National Park with a special guest.

SCA Intern Liane Moos meets Secretary of Interior Salazar

Getting back to nature is helping America rebound from recession. As the treasure of our national parks gets passed on, a new generation is learning the value of service.

"Everybody here has such amazing passion for what they do, it's really neat to see other people my age with that passion," says student volunteer Bri Richards, who will be a senior this fall at Penn State University.

Richards is one of the many youth who gives up her summer to work through the Student Conservation Association. Students receive a stipend for living expenses for the summer and work on projects through the park as interns.

Monday's project had volunteers, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, pulling invasive, non-native plants from the park.

"It spreads fastest along trails and sticks to boots and treads," says Ranger and park Bio-Science Technician Jack Hughes.

Workers pulled three non-native species of plant, including Japanese Stilt Grass, Oriental Lady's Thumb and Garlic Mustard Seed.

"I think the important thing is that every plant we pull is one less plant that's not going to be there the next year," says Richards.

Salazar wants service projects like this to become a greater part of the American experience.

"I want us to have a Herculean effort in years ahead in how we engage our young people in all facets of what we do in the U.S.," says Salazar.

With the country in a recession, Salazar says federal projects will put people back to work like they did during the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, the government put more than three million men to work nationwide through a conservation program.

"Seeing here these young people coming together saying 'We are going to be part of a solution for America. We're going to stand up our economy again,'" says Salazar on how service projects will help the United States recover from the recession.

Currently, 15,000 young people work in America's parks and Salazar says Shenandoah is a shining example of service at its best.

"They're here in these jobs because it's a way to get a little money, and because they're learning botany, climate change and energy," says Salazar. "They're getting something on their resume that's a real tangible thing so when they graduate they have something to show."

Employees with the Youth Conservation Corps also helped out with the service project. YCC hires teens to work in the parks for about $6 or $7 an hour. Salazar says, in addition to promoting volunteerism, he wants to expand paid service opportunities like the YCC.

SCA Tackles St. John Trails

garrett — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:45:47 +0000

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SCA Tackles St. John Trails

Teaser Summary:

Virgin Islands Trails Getting a Facelift

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News Coverage

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Date Published:

June 17, 2009

Source:

St. John Source - Virgin Islands

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By Lynda Lohr

Thanks to hard work by a group of eight students from the Virgin Islands and the mainland, V.I. National Park's Lind Point Trail is getting a face lift through the Student Conservation Association.

"I wanted to try something new," said Chenoa Lee, 15. "I'm having a lot of fun."

The students are wearing hard hats, hefting pick axes and moving big rocks to make one of the park's most popular and accessible trails safer for visitors and locals to use. They arrived June 11 and will depart July 10.

Lee and Krystal Lanclos, 15, both attend Country Day School on St. Croix. Jamall Marsh, 17, is a recent graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex. Shantal Brown, 18, and Michael Abraham, 17, are the St. Thomas contingent. Both graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School.Mainland students include Alyssa Epstein, 17, from Boca Raton, Fla.; Lucy Green, 17, of McLean, Va.; and Janos Arnosky, 17, of Blanko, Texas.

Arnsoky is carrying on a family tradition.

"My parents had been crew leaders and all my siblings had done trips," he said Wednesday.

While some of the students said they aren't sure what they want to do when it comes to their careers, Arnosky has fairly firm plans. He wants to work with the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, both federal agencies that deal with the outdoors. If it works out, Arnosky said he'd like to be a pilot with one of those agencies.

Crew-leader duties are split between a St. John resident and one from the mainland. Jason Siska, 24, is a teacher at St. John's Gifft Hill School.

"I really enjoy working with the park and giving back to the park," he said.

Kim Hirsch, 23, of Boston, is on her second stint as a Student Conservation Association crew leader, but she also was a student participant when she was younger.

"It's a really good program, and you get to meet people you wouldn't normally meet," she said.

While the mainland students are volunteers, those from the Virgin Islands get a $1,000 stipend to use for their education. Included in the program are meals, tent accommodations at Cinnamon Bay Campground and other activities.

For some, it's their first experience sleeping in a tent.

"The tent is all right, but not what I'm used to," Marsh said.

The program is funded to the tune of about $30,000 through the Friends of the Park group. Program Manager Audrey Penn said the Student Conservation Association program is paid for by an anonymous donor, but the Friends still need to raise an additional $2,000 toward the stipends. Penn also hopes that someone will volunteer to take the students out on a boat trip.

Penn sees that the program broadens the horizons for the St. Croix and St. Thomas participants who might not have much opportunity to visit St. John and learn about the park.

"And it's a cross-cultural experience," she said.

To learn more about the Friends, visit friendsvinp.org. For more on the Student Conservation Association, visit thesca.org.

To help fund this program, call the Friends at 779-4940.

Green Tweets

garrett — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:14:39 +0000

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Green Tweets

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75+ Environmentalists to Follow on Twitter

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News Coverage

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Date Published:

June 16, 2009

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Mashable.com

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Twitter has a huge green community. There are green media, green companies, and green charities all active on the microblogging service, as well as a whole bunch of individual environmentalists and green bloggers. The #EcoMonday hashtag - the environmental equivalent of #FollowFriday, in which Twitter users suggest "green" tweeters to follow and share green news and info - has grown into a regular trending topic every Monday, along with a variety of other green initiatives.

Below are more than 75 environmentalists, conservationists, green-living enthusiasts, eco experts, and green organizations that offer up some excellent eco information on Twitter. We've broken the list up into two categories, people and organizations/publications. Please leave other great green Twitter users that deserve a follow in the comments, because we couldn't possibly list them all.

Continue Reading: http://mashable.com/2009/06/15/twitter-environmentalists/

Summer plans come full circle for student

garrett — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:57:06 +0000

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Summer plans come full circle for student

Teaser Summary:

He's working at a park in Indiana where his father grew up

Type:

News Coverage

Date Published:

June 13, 2009

Source:

The Baltimore Sun

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By Sarah Fisher

Even as classroom doors are locked and hallways swept for the final time this school year, many parents look forward to summer break as an additional opportunity to nudge their children into enrichment classes, summer camps and service projects.

This summer, Alex Caldwell, a 16-year-old sophomore at the Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Baltimore County, will be joining a crew with the Student Conservation Association, which protects and restores parks. Alex was assigned to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, which, by coincidence, was the very park that years ago pushed out his father's boyhood home. Upon hearing the news of their son's placement, his parents, Sue and Bob Caldwell, were thrilled that he would get the opportunity to learn a little Caldwell family history. Alex himself was thrilled that his assignment came with a beach.

On his last day of school yesterday, Alex said that before he signed up for the conservation crew he "didn't have much to do" for the summer. In the past, Alex spent parts of his summers at various camps. But being that "16 is a bit old for summer camp," his mother began looking for another fulfilling experience.

"It was more of my mom wanting me to leave," Alex said. "I didn't have much to do [for the summer]. But now I'm sort of excited about it." Though Alex, who says he texts his friends "24/7," will have to live without his cell phone for three weeks when he's at the camp, which starts in July.

Bob Caldwell recalls when the National Park Service approached his family in 1978 when he was in his early 20s. At the time, his home in Indiana was in a neighborhood that was becoming increasingly troubled with crime, and his family was looking for a way out. The park service offered them that escape route by buying their house, which allowed the family to pack up and move to Denver.

"It's been important to me that my family understand where I come from and how that shaped the person that I've become," Bob Caldwell said. "You kind of are where you come from." He hopes that his son's experience will cement his relationship with that part of the country.

When asked what he thought about the coincidence, his son replied, "I wasn't happy or sad or anything; I thought that it was pretty neat. I'd heard it was near a beach and thought that was pretty cool."

With that growing anticipation, this summer will take Alex straight to his father's boyhood backyard and on what his mother calls a family legacy. Best not forget the sunscreen.

Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC)

garrett — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:39:08 +0000

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Wilderness Risk Management Conference

Teaser Summary:

It's a harsh world out there—SCA makes sure you're ready for it

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Press Release

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Date Published:

June 8, 2009

Source:

Press Release

October 14-16, 2009
Durham, North Carolina
Register Now

It's a harsh world out there-SCA makes sure you're ready for it:

Join over 350 other risk managers and get up to speed on...instructor judgment...emerging legal issues...managing volunteers...using new media to your advantage...managing meds for minors...urban crews and their unique issues...case studies...and more!

You Can't Afford to Miss This!

The Wilderness Risk Management Conference is brought to you by:

6 Win 2009 Rachel Carson Awards

garrett — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:47:58 +0000

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6 Win 2009 Rachel Carson Awards

Teaser Summary:

SCA Founder, Liz C. Titus Putnam, Among Winners

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News Coverage

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Date Published:

May 21, 2009

Source:

The Daily Green

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Also, see the Video Now on New York 1

SCA Founder, Elizabeth C. Titus Putnam

By Dan Shapley, The Daily Green

Six extraordinary women were honored with a 2009 Rachel Carson Award by the National Audubon Society at its sixth annual Women in Conservation luncheon Tuesday at The Plaza in New York City.

Allison Rockefeller, whose family has a long legacy in parks conservation, is the founding chairwoman of the Rachel Carson Awards committee. She called the awards, "the most coveted award for American women conservationists," and praised the "extraordinary" honorees for their "brain power," "talent," "energy" and "seriousness of purpose." (She also made a pitch for donations to a worthy program, the Women In Conservation Internship Program.)

The 2009 awardees

Dr. Sylvia Earle, an oceanographer, author, lecturer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence whose work has expanded awareness and conservation of the fragile marine environment. Former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Earle is president and founder of Deep Search International. She is a record-holding diver, leading more than 60 expeditions and logging more than 60,000 hours underwater. Named "first hero for the planet" by TIME magazine, she is also the inspiration behind the new Google Oceans feature, an interactive element that will allow users to "fly" through oceans and view high-resolution images of underwater topography.

Earle said the award "swept me off my flippers," and reflected on the generation that has passed since Rachel Carson wrote one of her other books, The Sea Around Us, in 1951. "Since then, we have learned more about the sea than in all of human history," Earle said. "In that same time, we have lost more than in all of human history." She urged the audience to look at the ocean and its creatures the way we look at wildlife on land, like birds: "No blue. No green," she said. "Take care of the ocean. It takes care of us."

Sally Jewell, president and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national outdoor gear and apparel retailer dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Additionally, Jewell sits on the boards of the National Parks Conservation Association, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Initiative for Global Development and the University of Washington. She also serves on The National Forum on Children and Nature Advisory Board and the National Parks Second Century Commission.

Jewell reflected on Nature Deficit Disorder -- how kids today spend more than 46 hours a week in front of a screen, but only 30 minutes in unstructured play outdoors. "We have to welcome new generations," she said. Otherwise, "our future leaders who are going to represent this great democracy aren't going to protect the environment."

Elizabeth C. Titus Putnam, the president and founder of the Student Conservation Association, the nation's largest youth conservation leadership organization. While studying at Vassar College in the mid-1950's, she envisioned a contemporary conservation core that would utilize her strength and the energy of students to respond to the threats facing America's national parks. Through her hard work, vision and determination, she established and nurtured the SCA. Thanks to her efforts, nearly 4,000 students contribute over two million hours of service each year to protecting and restoring America's parks, forests, refuges, seashores and communities.

Putnam urged the audience to "combat the notion that the environment is out there," and instead embrace nature close to home -- on streets, in parks, in neighborhoods and back yards. She challenged the audience to "be the adult to provide the companionship to help one child experience the world we live in."

Elizabeth Colleton, Jane Evans and Susan Haspel for NBC Universal's "Green Is Universal" Initiative. Launched in May 2007, Green Is Universal is NBC Universal's ongoing effort to promote environmental awareness and action, and to green the company's own operations. Spanning numerous business units, Green Is Universal provides hundreds of hours of green-themed content and activities across all platforms throughout the year and especially during dedicated "Green Weeks." Company executives Beth Colleton, Jane Evans and Susan Haspel lead a wide array of related green efforts, including a pilot program to implement the reduction of carbon emissions and providing over $300,000 in green grants to underserved public education programs.

Colleton discussed ways in which NBC is trying to lead its industry toward greener, less wasteful practices. And she praised the other honorees for embodying the spirit of Rachel Carson: "Rachel Carson was a storyteller. We are storytellers, too," she said. "You guys are the story makers."

Audubon Announces 2009 Rachel Carson Award Winners

garrett — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:45:51 +0000

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Audubon Announces 2009 Rachel Carson Award Winners

Teaser Summary:

SCA Founder to Receive Rachel Carson Award

Type:

Press Release

Date Published:

May 19, 2009

Source:

The National Audubon Society

Link to News Item:

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New York, NY, May 5, 2009 - The National Audubon Society will honor six exceptional women with the Rachel Carson Award at its sixth annual Women in Conservation Luncheon at The Plaza in New York City on May 19.

Audubon established this distinguished award in 2004 to honor visionary women whose dedication, talent and energy have advanced conservation and environmental education locally and on a global scale. Previous honorees include Bette Midler, founder of the New York Restoration Project; Teresa Heinz Kerry, chair of the Heinz Endowments and the Heinz Family Philanthropies; Majora Carter, Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable South Bronx and Laurie David, producer of "An Inconvenient Truth."

This year, Audubon will recognize the following women for their work:

• Dr. Sylvia Earle: Dr. Earle is an oceanographer, author, lecturer and National Geographic Explorer in Residence whose work has expanded awareness and conservation of the fragile marine environment. Former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Dr. Earle is president and founder of Deep Search International. She has led more than 60 expeditions, including the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970. She also set a record for solo diving to a depth of 3,300 feet. Her research focuses on marine ecosystems in the deep sea and other remote environments. www.deepdeep.org

• Sally Jewell: Ms. Jewell is president and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national outdoor gear and apparel retailer dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Additionally, Jewell sits on the boards of the National Parks Conservation Association, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Initiative for Global Development and the University of Washington. She also serves on The National Forum on Children and Nature Advisory Board and the National Parks Second Century Commission. www.rei.com/stewardship

• Elizabeth C. Titus Putnam: Ms. Putnam is the president and founder of the Student Conservation Association, the nation's largest youth conservation leadership organization. While studying at Vassar College in the mid-1950's, she envisioned a contemporary conservation core that would utilize her strength and the energy of students to respond to the threats facing America's national parks. Through her hard work, vision and determination, she established and nurtured the SCA. Thanks to her efforts, nearly 4,000 students contribute over two million hours of service each year to protecting and restoring America's parks, forests, refuges, seashores and communities. www.thesca.org

• Elizabeth Colleton, Jane Evans and Susan Haspel – NBC Universal's "Green is Universal" Initiative: Launched in May 2007, Green is Universal is NBC Universal's ongoing effort to promote environmental awareness and action, and to green the company's own operations. Spanning numerous business units, Green is Universal provides hundreds of hours of green-themed content and activities across all platforms throughout the year and especially during dedicated "Green Weeks." Company executives Beth Colleton, Jane Evans and Susan Haspel lead a wide array of related green efforts, including a pilot program to implement the reduction of carbon emissions and providing over $300,000 in green grants to underserved public education programs. www.nbc.com/Green

The award is named for Rachel Carson, whose landmark book Silent Spring opened the world's eyes to the damage inflicted by the indiscriminate use of pesticides such as DDT.

Anne Thompson, NBC News' Chief Environmental Affairs correspondent, will emcee the luncheon. Thompson reports on issues such as alternative fuels, global warming, land usage and new technologies for all NBC News broadcasts. Thompson has received the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award and was part of the "Nightly News" team that won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Award and the Emmy Award for coverage of Hurricane Katrina.

Allison Rockefeller is the Founding Chair of the Rachel Carson Awards Council.

Carol M. Browner will be a special guest at the luncheon. Former chair of the National Audubon Society, Browner served in President Clinton's administration as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) With former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Browner co-founded The Albright Group, a global strategy advisory firm and Albright Capital Management, an investment advisory firm. Browner is currently the head of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change. She also served as a member of the League of Conservation Voters, Center for American Progress and Alliance for Climate Protection.

The luncheon takes place at The Plaza, 2 Central Park South in New York City. Reception is at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch at noon. Ticket prices range from $200-$2,500 for an individual ticket and $5,000-$50,000 for a table of 10. For more information, please call 212-874-5457.

More about Audubon's Women in Conservation and previous winners at www.audubon.org/wic.

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world.

The Top-Rated Environmental Charities

garrett — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:03:03 +0000

Teaser Title:

The Top-Rated Environmental Charities

Type:

News Coverage

Date Published:

May 17, 2009

Source:

Planet Green

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Do you have one of those friends who doesn't donate to charity because he's so darn sure that the money just goes to waste? "They just spend all the charity money on candy," says your friend. He may not say that, but I'm sure he says something equally bizarre.

But maybe this friend and a couple 20/20 episodes have gotten to you, and now you are a bit wary about who you donate to. Nobody wants their charity money being spent of candy. Well, there is an organization out there called the American Institute of Philanthropy that gives charities letter grades based on rigorous analysis and criteria.

From AIP:

Groups included on the Top-Rated list generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, and receive "open-book" status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to AIP.

With help from watchdog groups like this one, you don't have to let your candy conspiracy friend dissuade you from giving to environmental charities.

The Top-Rated Environmental Charities

Environmental Charities that Received an A+

Conservation Fund
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Trust for Public Land

Environmental Charities that Received an A

Conservation International Foundation
Earth Island Institute
Greenpeace Fund
Izaak Walton League of America
Rain Forest Action Network
Sierra Club Foundation
World Resources Institute

Environmental Charities that Received an A-

Alaska Conservation Foundation
American Forests
Ducks Unlimited
Nature Conservancy
Rain Forest Alliance
Trout Unlimited

Environmental Charities that Received a B+

American Wildlife Foundation
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
EarthJustice
Environmental Defense Fund
Keep American Beautiful
National Arbor Day Foundation
Student Conservation Association

Source: CharityWatch.org, planetgreen.discovery.com

21 Places to Look for Green Volunteering Opportunities

garrett — Mon, 18 May 2009 13:44:26 +0000

Teaser Title:

21 Places to Look for Green Volunteering Opportunities

Type:

News Coverage

Date Published:

May 14, 2009

Source:

Reuters/Green Biz

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By Carolyn Mansfield

Volunteering in the field you've targeted for your career path has proven to be a winning strategy, especially in today's economy as thousands look for jobs and strive to get an edge on the competition. Carolyn Mansfield of Bright Green Talent provides a road map for volunteers who want to develop skills, gain experience or simply help out with eco-friendly projects. Her post originally appeared on Bright Green Talent Musings, her company's blog.

Go help clean up your local park, or find a summer or seasonal job in a national park through The Student Conservation Association.

We always encourage the jobseekers that come to us to volunteer with environmentally focused organizations/initiatives in order to network, get some green experience on their resume and do good as they're jobsearching.

So, you ask: What opportunities are there to dive into a green career through volunteering?

Nonprofits: Given the state of the economy, nonprofits need a lot of help right now and could really value your volunteer time. Find a nonprofit in your area that works on issues you're interested in -- policy, water issues, international development, etc. Do keep in mind that it's better to focus on a specific project that you are willing to help with or spearhead. Idealist.org has an extensive list of volunteer opportunities that you can sort by interest and location to get a sense for what's out there. Find your local Sierra Club chapter; Green for All has resources on how to support green jobs growth in your local community.

Get down and dirty: Add some manpower to a green building project and get industry exposure at the same time. GRID Alternatives is popular in the Bay Area, where volunteers help install solar panels on low-income housing. Habitat for Humanity has some green building related projects as well. Friends of the Urban Forest in San Francisco seeks volunteers to help with tree-planting. Find your local community garden project or farmer's market and offer to help out. Join AmeriCorps for a year of service. Go help clean up your local park, or find a summer or seasonal job in a national park through The Student Conservation Association.

Get political: Find your state PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) and help it canvass and push green legislation in your state (we've got Environment California here in the Bay Area). Apply to spend a year working with GreenCorps, a year-long, hands-on training program around the U.S. that breeds the country's top environmental organizers (and has a really strong job placement program and alumni network to take advantage of at the end).

Go abroad! Foundation for Sustainable Development places students and recent grads in internships in developing countries around the world. You are placed in a domestic nonprofit there depending on your development-related interests and can design your own project, seek funding, and get some great hands-on experience ... all while experiencing a new culture. Ecoteer.com connects you with green volunteer opportunities around the world. Join Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) and spend some time trading your work for room and board in one of many countries around the world that hosts a WWOOF network.

Take a "pay the bills job" and volunteer for a company you're interested in. Make sure you have a specific project suggestion to put in front of them, rather than just willingness to work. For example, a 2007 graduate named Ajay sent us this note about his efforts to get "green" experience. He works for a utility, and offers a few days a week for free to a solar company in the area, which he reached through a contact there (go network!). As he says, "The more I work with this solar manufacturer, the more people I meet and the more people know my name." Troll green job boards such as GreenBiz.com and Treehugger and unpaid internships or volunteering; use contacts at these organizations and others to find out whether you can lend a hand.

Network: Another example is helping to organize green networking events in your city. Green Drinks is a great monthly meet-up that has chapters in many cities. Contact your local chapter to help organize; if none exists, start one! We're working with an amazing team of Green Drinks volunteers here in San Francisco that are helping set up a "Green Careers Connections" event -- by doing so, they're networking with each other and reaching out to lots of companies that they might be interested in working for themselves. We're also big fans of Net Impact -- lend a hand with your local chapter and get connected to passionate professionals.

Conferences need volunteers. When you hear a green conference is coming to town, find out ways to volunteer with the organization and actual conference. Green Festivals needs lots of hands on deck; keep an eye on GreenBiz.com's list of events for anything being planned near you.

If you're already out there volunteering, share your success story by adding a comment below.

Carolyn Mansfield is the community engagement associate at Bright Green Talent, which helps connect people with green jobs around the world.