Pros
Working with high school students from the South Side of Chicago was incredibly rewarding! I was pleasantly surprised out how open they were to new experiences and work challenges, even the "dirty work" of environmental restoration in the field. They were very responsive to the lessons we taught about environmental conservation, careers, and especially nutrition. I loved our student crew members!
Cons
I was one of four senior crew leaders, and it was difficult to coordinate our efforts. One of the four leaders contributed virtually nothing in the way of student management, educational curriculum, or any noticeable level of commitment and was therefore a burden. There was constant conflict between our lead crew member and the Director of the local SCA Chapter, creating an atmosphere that was constantly frustrating and stressful. In particular, it was difficult to plan new outings for the students; multiple times when an event was planned, it had to be canceled last minute because of a lack of approval from the director, or because the director committed to the students to a different engagement. Whether this lack of support was willful or simply due to poor communication, I am not certain. But it definitely made for a less productive and enjoyable term of service.
