The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps provides youth and young adults with paid opportunities to gain competitive skills to prepare them for careers in environmental conservation through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Pennsylvania’s expansive state park system is one of the largest in the country, consisting of 124 parks and forests across more than 300,000 acres. Program participants complete conservation projects related to preserving and protecting natural resources and infrastructure at various sites across the state.
Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps participants emerge with increased environmental awareness, technical skills, social responsibility and leadership skills.
Get Paid: Earn while learning valuable green job skills.
Gain Experience: Explore career pathways in conservation.
Make a Difference: Help care for Pennsylvania’s expansive state park system.
Conservation Begins Here - Learn More
For those eager to learn industry-ready skills alongside staff from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, our nine-month Young Adult Program provides a strong foundation for working at state parks and forests.
Crew members can expect to engage in a variety of conservation work projects, including trail maintenance, planting, invasive species control and infrastructure improvements.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps strongly emphasizes personal and professional growth. Members will engage in various professional development opportunities throughout the season, including trainings, certifications, networking, job shadowing, resume review, interviewing skills and environmental education activities.
Crew Locations: Altoona, Dubois, Meadville, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Southeast Pennsylvania ( Regional), Laurel Highlands (Regional)
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26
Schedule: Mon. – Wed., 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thur., 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Pay: $15.50/hr.
Benefits: Paid time off, paid holidays, optional employee-sponsored benefits and professional training opportunities
If you’re a high school student who loves being outdoors and wants to spend the summer learning, growing and working in nature, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Summer Program is for you.
For six weeks each summer, we employ students across Pennsylvania to work on small teams of peers and take on conservation projects in our State Parks and Forests. This paid opportunity offers hands-on job experience, participation in environmental education sessions and exposure to a variety of potential career paths.
Program Dates: June 30 – Aug. 8 (Off for July 4th Holiday)
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pay: $15.00/hr.
Application Period: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 1, 2025
Crew Locations: Altoona, Chambersburg, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lock Haven, Meadville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Renovo, Ridgway, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Wellsboro and York
Provided by Program: Lunch, personal protective equipment (helmet, gloves, ear protection), and daily transportation from a central meeting location within your city to the project site.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps American Sign Language Inclusion Crew engages those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in meaningful conservation projects. The program is offered in partnership with CorpsTHAT and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. All transportation and food are provided.
2025 ASL Inclusion Crew
Details Coming Soon
Now Hiring - Join The Crew
The SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in Altoona.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in Dubois.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in the Harrisburg area.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
The anticipated crew meeting location is Greensburg PA.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in the Meadville area.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in the Pittsburgh area.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the southeast PA region.
The anticipated crew meeting location is Manayunk.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the southeast PA region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in the Wilkes-Barre area.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18-25) to engage in hands-on conservation projects at State Parks and Forests throughout the southeast PA region.
Crew members will meet each morning at a centralized meeting location in the Williamsport area.
Program Dates: March 17 – Nov. 26th Pay: $15.50/hr. Additional Benefits: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Optional Employee Sponsored Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement)
Apply NowPA Outdoor Corps participants will learn valuable career readiness skills; increase their understanding of environmental and trail restoration techniques; learn the workings of State Parks and Forests; engage in professional development; and develop valuable professional skills through teambuilding and leadership activities.
CPR & First Aid
Environmental Education
Habitat Restoration
Leave No Trace
Outdoor Ethics
Resume Building
Infrastructure Maintenance
Please direct general inquiries to: paoutdoorcorps@thesca.org
Ted Miller, Senior Program Manager
Email: tmiller@thesca.org
Stephen Luteran, Young Adult Program Manager
Email: sluteran@thesca.org
Vickery Lauro, Youth Program Manager
Email: vlauro@thesca.org
Manage and mentor junior program participants working outdoors at sites in various states.
Hyper-local community service projects in a city near you.
Wildland fire hazardous fuels reduction.
Conservation internships for a variety of fields.
Join our community of supporters who care deeply about preserving parks, public lands and urban green spaces.
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