The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps provides youth and young adults with paid opportunities to gain competitive job readiness skills to prepare them for careers in environmental conservation through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Program participants will give back to the land while learning lifelong skills that will make them ideal candidates to further their careers in conservation through nationally recognized training, conservation work skills and leadership development.
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.
Program 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.
Now Hiring - Join The Crew
The SCA is seeking WAITLIST CANDIDATES for its 2026 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps to engage in hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps offers paid work experience, job training, and educational opportunities.
Corps members will join a team of young adults to complete conservation projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
Throughout the season, members will also participate in education and training activities related to resource management, environmental education, and recreation.
Program Dates: April 6 – Nov. 25, 2026
Pay: $17.31/hr.
The SCA is seeking high-school aged students (age 15-18 at the program’s start) to engage in hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
Due to the popularity of the program, we always receive more interested applicants than there are available spots each season. Our team is dedicated to making selections in a fair, balanced, and equitable way. The process does not guarantee placements for alums or multi-year applicants.
Member selections will begin in early March, and all applicants will receive email notification of selection decisions no later than April 15, 2026.
Program Dates: June 29 – Aug. 7, 2026
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pay: $17.31/hr.
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.
APPLY NOW:
The SCA is seeking field leaders (age 21+) to supervise and train high-school aged students through the completion of hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
2026 Summer Program Details
Program Dates: June 10 – Aug. 11
Leader Training Schedule: Mandatory training June 10 – June 21, 2026.
Training periods are fully paid and details provided to all leaders prior to position start. All leaders must be available and able to complete all in-person components of pre-season training and post-season debriefing periods.
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pay: $19.38/hr.
Minimum Qualifications:
APPLY NOW:
The SCA is seeking crew members (age 15-18 at the program’s start) for its American Sign Language Inclusion Conservation Crew. Crew members will participate in hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects throughout Pennsylvania’s public lands, including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, facility maintenance and more. The SCA’s Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps American Sign Language Inclusion Crew engages those who are deaf and hard of hearing in meaningful work in the outdoors.
2026 ASL Inclusion Crew Details
Pittsburgh Crew – This residential crew will be lodged at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD).
The team will stay on-site for the duration of the program. The first and last days of the program will be dedicated to travel and site orientation at WPSD.
Program Dates:
June 29-Aug. 7, 2026
*The Pittsburgh crew will have a program break July 17 – 19. All participants will return home for a long weekend. Transportation assistance can be available to and from Pittsburgh upon request.
Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (includes drive times)
Pay: $17.31/hr.
Philadelphia Crew – This community crew will return home at the end of each workday. Crew members will meet daily at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD). Participants must live near or within the program city and have reliable transportation to and from the daily meeting location.
Program Dates:
June 29-Aug. 7, 2026
Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30am – 3:30pm (includes drive times)
Pay: $17.31/hr.
The SCA is seeking field leaders who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (age 21+) to supervise and train high-school aged participants in its American Sign Language Inclusion Conservation Crew. The crew will participate in hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects throughout Pennsylvania’s public lands, including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, facility maintenance and more. The SCA’s Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps American Sign Language Inclusion Crew engages those who are deaf and hard of hearing in meaningful work in the outdoors.
2026 ASL Inclusion Crew Field Leader Details
Pittsburgh Crew – This residential crew will be lodged at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD).
The team will stay on-site for the duration of the program. The first and last days of the program will be dedicated to travel and site orientation at WPSD.
Program Dates:
June 10-Aug. 11, 2026
(Paid training with travel required June 10–23, 2026)
*The Pittsburgh crew will have a program break July 17 – 19. All participants will return home for a long weekend. Transportation assistance can be available to and from Pittsburgh upon request.
Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30am – 3:30pm (includes drive times)
Pay: $19.31/hr.
Philadelphia Crew – This community crew will return home at the end of each workday. Crew members will meet daily at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD). Participants must live near or within the program city and have reliable transportation to and from the daily meeting location.
Program Dates:
June 10-Aug. 11, 2026
(Paid training with travel required June 10–June 23, 2026)
Schedule: Monday – Friday; 7:30am – 3:30pm (includes drive times)
Pay: $19.31/hr.
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.
Each crew consists of a maximum of five members under the supervision of a Project Leader. Crews meet each morning at a central location in their program city and then travel out to work locations within their region.
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.
The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Applicants who are Black, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or other racial minority are highly encouraged to apply.
See below for 2026 Program Details and Opportunities.
Each year, the SCA invites high school students aged 15-18 (at the start of program) to participate in hands-on conservation and infrastructure projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
The current application period is closed. The 2027 application period is set to reopen in November 2026.
Given the program’s popularity, we encourage interested candidates to submit their applications promptly.
To increase your chances of success, we recommend preparing to apply early and staying vigilant for the application window, as each season we receive more applications than available spots.
Are you ready to lead, inspire and make a difference this summer? The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is looking for dedicated Field Leaders to supervise, mentor and guide high school crews as they tackle conservation projects.
As a field leader, you will gain invaluable leadership and management experience, build professional networks, and positively impact the lives of young people while helping to protect and preserve public lands.
Summer Leaders serve for a total of nine weeks for the position. This includes paid in-person pre-season training and a post-season debrief requiring travel and overnight stays at a training site. Detailed information will be provided in advance of the start of the position. Leaders must be available and able to complete all in-person components of pre-season training and post-season debriefing periods.
See below for 2026 Program Details and Opportunities.
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.
See below for 2026 Program Details and Opportunities.
The Cultural Resource Crew is a specialty young adult crew that provides aspiring archaeologists and preservationists with the professional skills necessary to build successful careers in land and cultural resource management.
This crew consists of three members under the supervision of a Project Leader. The season is a combination of field work, lab work and research assignments at State Parks and Forests across Pennsylvania.
Typical projects include:
Crew members will also be provided multiple opportunities to attend and participate in training and educational activities related to cultural resource management.
See below for 2026 Program Details and Opportunities.
The Roving Trail Crew is a specialty young adult crew that consists of eight total members and two project leaders. At times the crew will function as one unit, and other times the crew will be subdivided to work on separate projects.
The Trail Crew will focus on completing trail improvements projects across Pennsylvania. An anticipated major project in 2026 is the restoration of the Glen Onoko Falls Trail system in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Work at Glen Onoko could comprise at least 50% of the season and includes a large amount of technical stonework. The remaining projects will be spent at parks and forests throughout Pennsylvania.
Members complete a block of work schedule, also known as a hitch-based, of Wednesday-to-Wednesday (eight days on with six days off). All crew members and leaders are required to stay on site during hitches and will return home when not on hitch. Food and lodging are provided while on hitch.
See below for 2026 Program Details and Opportunities.
The Summer 2026 State College Crew is a specialty young adult crew that provides an opportunity for college students to gain practical hands-on field experience while working on public lands in Pennsylvania.
The State College Crew is open to young adults ages 18-25 who are currently enrolled in an accredited college or university. This crew consists of five members and a project leader. The State College Crew will complete conservation and infrastructure projects at state parks in the region. Members will also participate in education and training activities related to resource management, environmental education, and recreation.
PA 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
General Inquiries
Email: 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
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