2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - State College Adult Crew

Student Conservation Association•Ferguson Township, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is hiring young adults for the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps State College Adult Crew. The program provides paid work experience, job training, and educational opportunities, including activities related to resource management, environmental education, and recreation. Crew members meet each morning at a centralized location in State College, travel together in a crew truck to field work locations, and return to the meeting location at the end of the workday. Worksites may include Penn-Roosevelt, Whipple Dam, Greenwood Furnace, Poe Paddy, Poe Valley, Reeds Gap, R.B. Winter, and Ravensburg State Parks, as well as Bald Eagle State Forest. Commutes to worksites may take an hour or more each way and are included in the workday. The service term runs June 28, 2027, through August 6, 2027. The schedule is Monday through Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch breaks are 30 minutes and unpaid. This is a field-based position; safe or indoor work may be arranged during brief inclement weather, but crews may be called off during extreme weather, so 40 hours per week are not guaranteed in those circumstances. Compensation is $17.31 per hour, paid biweekly, with 75 total hours per pay period. Pay is subject to applicable taxes. Projects may include facility maintenance and rehabilitation; construction of bridges, stairs, picnic tables, pavilions, and masonry features; trail construction and maintenance; habitat restoration and invasive-species treatment; tree planting and landscaping; fencing and boundary-line maintenance; and other related service activities. Members may also help manage program supplies, inspect and maintain vehicles, and support transportation, safety, accessibility, and supply coordination. Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents, ages 18–25 at the start of the program, enrolled in an accredited college or university, available for the full service term, and have housing within a 45-minute drive of the program meeting location and reliable transportation to that location. Housing is not provided. A personal vehicle is recommended for getting to the daily meeting location. Members over 21 with a clean driving record will be required to drive an SCA vehicle at times during the field season.

Requirements

Be 18–25 years old at the start of the program.
Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
Be a Pennsylvania resident.
Have or secure housing within a 45-minute drive of the program city; housing is not provided.
Have reliable transportation to and from the crew meeting location.
Be available for the full service term, June 28, 2027, through August 6, 2027.
Be able to perform physically demanding outdoor service in all conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, high winds, and precipitation.
Be able to stand or remain on your feet for up to 8 hours per day.
Be able to regularly walk or hike 2 miles over uneven terrain, including uphill and downhill routes.
Be able to hike up to 5 miles, often while carrying a backpack, tools, and equipment.
Be able to lift objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
Be able to swing hand tools such as shovels, pick mattocks, and McLeods for 6 or more hours per day.
Be able to communicate safety hazards through visual and auditory means.
Model safe and professional behavior and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with staff, crew leaders, and other members.
Work effectively with team members, understand verbal and/or written communication, and contribute to team success.
Be dependable, flexible, cooperative, and able to take initiative without prompting.
Accept leadership and supervisory authority and complete tasks appropriately and on time.
Be willing to learn to use hand tools and power tools for service activities.
Fully participate in professional development activities, including virtual and in-person sessions.

Nice To Haves

Interest in conservation careers, trade skills, or a related field is highly encouraged.
Individuals over 21 with a clean driving record will be required to drive an SCA vehicle at times during the field season.
A personal vehicle is recommended for transportation to the daily meeting location.

Responsibilities

Complete assigned conservation and outdoor service projects, which may include facility maintenance, painting, staining, light carpentry, plumbing, siding, and building upkeep.
Construct or maintain bridges, stairs, picnic tables, pavilions, and masonry features.
Perform trail maintenance and construction, including water-management work, brushing, blazing, and reroutes.
Conduct habitat restoration, including identifying and treating invasive species and applying herbicides.
Plant trees and perform general landscaping.
Maintain fencing and boundary lines.
Complete additional service activities within the scope of the core project.
Participate in education, training, and professional development activities related to resource management, environmental education, and recreation.
Help maintain program supplies and materials and assist with inspection and maintenance of program vehicles.
Support coordination of transportation, safety protocols, accessibility needs, and program supplies.
Communicate the presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means and model safe, professional behavior, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
Drive an SCA vehicle at times during the field season if over 21 and meeting the clean-driving-record condition.