Program Description
The new Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps offers work experience, job training, and educational opportunities to young people who complete recreation and conservation projects on Pennsylvania’s public lands.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps will help to protect and restore public lands and waters, while providing young people with the knowledge and expertise to be good stewards of our natural resources. The program will connect youth and young adults with job opportunities relating to the outdoors and the environment and provide training in work skills necessary for future successful employment.
Outdoor Corps members will tackle hands-on projects, such as trail restoration, tree planting, light construction, shoreline restorations, and invasive species management in state and local parks, state forests, and other public lands, as well as undertake specialty projects in relation to recreation and conservation, which may include public outreach, research, and assessments.
In addition to hands-on job skills, the program provides learning opportunities weekly in resource management, environmental issues and topics, and recreation skills. Corps members also will be provided with workforce development training and materials during their period of employment.
While the majority of the project work will be performed on state park and forest lands, corps teams will be available on a cost-share basis to local land managers such as municipal and county parks and recreation departments during 2017.
The youth employment and enrichment program is managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in cooperation with the Student Conservation Association, a national conservation jobs organization that has engaged thousands of young people nationwide in hands-on service to the land to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities.
The 2016 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is financially supported by DCNR and the Pa. Department of Labor and Industry’s Reemployment Program.
Who’s Eligible?
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps consists of two components:
- A six-week, summer program for youth between the ages of 15-18
- A 10-month program for young adults ages 18-25
Locations will be set up across the state to help facilitate participation by youth and young adults. Initial site locations will be in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Wilkes Barre, and Johnstown, with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities.
