2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Philadelphia Youth Crew

Student Conservation Association•Philadelphia, PA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is seeking motivated, team-oriented high school students for a six-week summer position with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps in Philadelphia. Crew members work with peers on hands-on trail, habitat, and facility projects on Pennsylvania public lands. Crews are supervised by two trained adult crew leaders or a solo leader. Participants earn $17.31 per hour, build practical job skills, and participate in environmental education and team-building activities connected to careers in conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation. The program runs June 28 through August 6, 2027. The weekly schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break, for 37.5 hours per week. Travel between the daily meeting location and worksites is part of the paid workday. Severe or dangerous weather may result in an unpaid day off, so weekly hours are not guaranteed. Housing is not provided. Crews meet at a central location in Philadelphia and travel together to worksites in an SCA vehicle. SCA provides tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment. Members must provide sturdy, closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items. The work is field-based, and schedules and projects may change on short notice. Members may encounter severe weather, poor air quality, high heat and humidity, poisonous plants, ticks, mosquitoes, snakes, and other wildlife.

Requirements

Be 15–18 years old at the start of the program.
Be a current Pennsylvania resident.
Be available for the full program, June 28 through August 6, 2027.
Live in or near Philadelphia and have reliable transportation to and from the daily crew meeting location.
Complete all onboarding requirements and receive field approval from SCA staff before the program begins.
Arrive on time and ready to work and have no more than three absences during the season.
Bring a positive attitude and strong work ethic and work cooperatively with the crew.
Follow crew leader and project partner instructions and all SCA safety policies and procedures.
Provide sturdy, closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items.

Responsibilities

Complete trail maintenance and construction projects, including water management, brushing, blazing, and reroutes.
Carry out habitat restoration work, including identifying and removing invasive species, collecting data, and planting trees.
Perform facility maintenance such as painting, staining, and basic carpentry.
Complete building projects such as picnic tables, stairs, and signs.
Maintain fencing and boundary lines.
Attend every workday, arrive on time and ready to work, and limit absences to no more than three for the season.
Work as a team to complete daily tasks and projects as routines, weather, and conditions change.
Follow instructions from crew leaders and project partners, and comply with SCA safety policies and procedures.
Help maintain a safe, respectful, and welcoming crew environment.
Participate in environmental education sessions and team-building activities.
Help track project accomplishments and data, and complete end-of-program feedback surveys.

Benefits

$17.31 per hour (approximately $649 per week before taxes), paid biweekly.
Hands-on job skills and experience connected to conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation careers.
Environmental education and team-building activities.
SCA-provided tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment.
Travel together from the central city meeting location to worksites in an SCA vehicle.

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