This year marks a decade of impact through the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). With the largest program year in the Corps’ history, 207 participants served on 11 young adult and 18 summer youth crews, including an American Sign Language crew.
“It is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps. This milestone is not just a reflection of a decade of hard work but a powerful testament to the next generation of conservation leaders,” said SCA President and CEO Lidia Soto-Harmon. “Our Corps members have completed crucial projects that directly impact Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. The skills and experience these young people gain are invaluable, preparing them for future careers and instilling a lifelong commitment to protecting our natural world.”
Members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps American Sign Language Inclusion Crew installing a wood beam for a trail. (Photo Credit: Nate Smallwood)
Since its launch, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps has provided paid hands-on conservation job training programs to more than 1,500 young people ages 15 to 25 from underserved communities to prepare them for careers in environmental conservation.
“For 10 years, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps has served as an important resource for young people wanting to gain valuable, paid experience in nature-based work. These young
people learn the value of hard work, building character, and skills that prepare them for the professional workforce,” said Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “More than 1,500 young people will have completed the program by the end of the year, which is a testament to the SCA program staff, investments from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, support from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, and private donors and supporters.”
SCA Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Young Adult Crew Leader Alexia Martinez assists with building a structure. (Photo Credit: Nate Smallwood)
With hands-on experience and specialized training, many program alums have gone on to work with leading conservation organizations, including the SCA, DCNR, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. One project the Summer 2025 Pittsburgh Adult Crew was tasked with entailed replacing a footbridge that had been washed out during a series of spring storms. Additional flooding then damaged their initial repairs. But what began with disappointment turned into a lesson on the power of persistence.
“The whole crew is very proud of the bridge because we ran into so many obstacles, but we just kept going. Being able to (finally) walk across the bridge was really special,” said Crew Leader Alexia Martinez, 23. “This work is really important because you get to get your hands dirty and make a lasting impact, which is why I think this work is really meaningful.”
Like the SCA, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps was modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. Program participants work on various projects, including trail restoration, habitat enhancement, storm damage restoration, tree planting and more throughout the state’s expansive state park system, which consists of 124 parks and forests covering over 300,000 acres.
“My favorite thing about the PA Outdoor Corps is the community that you step into. Having other people who are interested in this work who can teach me and help guide me is really important,” said 2025 Pittsburgh Youth Crew Member Claire Bertolet, 18. “I have learned that I really do enjoy being outside. Even if it’s just, you know, 15-minute
breaks just staring at the trees, it really helps my mindset. And it’s really making me consider my future career choices.”
SCA Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps American Sign Language Inclusion Crew Member Jeremy Bell. The program engages those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in meaningful conservation projects. (Photo Credit: Nate Smallwood)
Following the program’s success, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced earlier this year that the state was providing an additional $5 million investment for the Outdoor Corps to improve and expand this critical conservation workforce program.
“This is definitely a career path that I could see for myself post-college. I love working with this age group. I love working outdoors. I love putting my hands in the dirt and making a difference. Seeing the trail when it’s finished or the project when it’s done is really rewarding,” said 2025 Pittsburgh Youth Crew Leader Jake Sperry, 24. “I’ve also learned about the members’ experiences, their background, their interests. It’s helped me grow as a person just as much as I hope I’ve helped them grow as a person.”
The measurable impact of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps’ service is remarkable and includes:
• 1,104 structures built or maintained
• 1,049 acres of land improved
• 48 miles of shoreline and waterway restored
• 894 miles of trail enhanced or created
• 19,685 native plants and trees planted
• 30,341 data points, samples, and artifacts collected to support land management and cultural resource preservation
• 701 certifications earned, expanding career readiness and professional credentials for participants
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