April Heddy-Smith and Shannon Saville took volunteerism to a new level this summer by devoting five weeks of working in park settings through the Student Conservation Assn.

Both girls are seniors at Jefferson West High School. They were selected through an application process SCA offers students 16-18 years old. SCA is a national, not-for-profit organization that promotes environmental conservation in the United States.

April went to Crane, Ind., where a naval base served as the campsite for her stay. Her crew totaled eight people.

Shannon was sent to the Hawk Mountain bird sanctuary in Pennsylvania with five crewmates.

Though each setting was different, both girls performed similar tasks.

The members of April’s group had the flexibility of setting their own pace for each job they undertook. Vans from the naval base drove them to the beginning of a trail that surrounded a lake. The crew would then hike one or two miles to the work site. They were responsible for building five bridges out of natural wood and creating rock staircases.

Shannon Saville, fourth from left, went to the Hawk Mountain bird sanctuary in Pennsylvania for a Student Conservation Assn. volunteer program.

Shannon and her group also worked along trails. Shannon said it was the “off season” of the bird refuge since it dealt primarily with migratory birds and birds of prey.

The group tore up miles of trail and reconstructed it, mainly by bringing up tons of dirt in backpacks to raise the grade of the trail. They also laid rock barriers to stop erosion.

Shannon’s word to describe her work: “Massive.”

Both April and Shannon reported the first week was the hardest time to adjust: There was the hard labor to get used to, working long hours and sleeping in tents on the floor.

April Heddy-Smith, back row, third from left, attended a Student Conservation Assn. volunteer program in Crane, Ind.

Kitchen areas were either a separate tent or a tarp thrown over a picnic table.

In the beginning, Shannon said her crew hung its food from trees to keep the black bears away. In April at their campsite, raccoons were their nemesis.

There was the opportunity to shower and do laundry regularly. Both girls admitted clothes were worn many days in a row. Time off was allowed, and that was the chance to get into a nearby town or explore surrounding areas.

Both girls reported concerns for the environment and a greater respect for nature were top on their lists of what they learned. April enjoyed the chance to gain confidence and meet new people, and Shannon was able to educate her East Coast co-workers about the great Midwest and put to rest their misconceptions. Both agreed that this was an awesome experience and that the weeks went fast.

For more information on Student Conservation Assn., you can visit its Web site at www.sca-inc.org.