2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Trail Crew

Student Conservation Association•White Haven, PA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Trail Crew is an SCA AmeriCorps service position delivered in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The crew’s primary project is restoring the Glen Onoko Falls Trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, with occasional assignments to other parks and forests across the state. The work focuses on technical stonework, including building staircases and retaining walls, and on sustainable trail restoration. Members gain hands-on field experience, job-skills training, and professional development in conservation and infrastructure work. The service term runs March 15, 2027, through November 18, 2027, and requires at least 1,200 service hours. Members attend mandatory paid orientation in person from March 15 through March 22. The schedule is described as eight days on and six days off, generally Wednesday to Wednesday, with standard hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Start and end times may vary according to weather and project needs. The posting gives both 37.5 hours per week in the schedule section and 40 hours per week in the commitment section; 40 hours are not guaranteed during extreme weather. This is a field-based role involving overnight hitches and communal living. While assigned to Glen Onoko Falls Trail, members are housed at Hickory Run State Park, and meals are provided during hitches. Housing is provided locally for other projects; when park housing is unavailable, members may need to tent camp and establish a base camp. No lodging is provided on off days, and members must have a Pennsylvania residence to return to. A personal vehicle and reliable transportation to and from hitch locations are required.

Requirements

Be 21–25 years old at the start of the program.
Be a Pennsylvania resident.
Be available for the full service term from March 15 through November 18, 2027, and complete at least 1,200 service hours.
Be willing and able to complete overnight hitches, spending eight days away from home at a time.
Have a valid driver’s license, a personal vehicle, and reliable transportation to and from hitch locations.
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national.
Be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent, or be actively working to complete one.
Be willing to undergo a National Service Criminal History Check after acceptance, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with staff, crew leaders, and other members.
Live and serve effectively with teammates, contributing to team goals and success.
Understand verbal and/or written communication.
Be dependable, flexible, and cooperative; take initiative; accept leadership and supervisory authority; and complete tasks appropriately and on time.
Commit to serving in environmental conditions that may include extreme heat, cold, high winds, and precipitation.
Communicate the presence of safety hazards through visual and auditory means.
Participate fully in professional development activities, including virtual and in-person sessions.
Comply with AmeriCorps prohibited-activity restrictions specified in the SCA AmeriCorps Member Service Agreement.
Participate in communal living and shared crew responsibilities while on hitch.

Nice To Haves

Previous trail-building experience.
Previous experience with group living or hitch-based work.
Interest in pursuing a career in conservation or a related field.

Responsibilities

Maintain and restore existing trail infrastructure.
Build stone staircases and retaining walls.
Use technical rigging to move and source stones.
Shape and set stones.
Define trail tread surfaces and close down social trails.
Apply sustainable trail design practices, including water management, benching, trail assessments, trail clearing, blazing, new construction, and reroutes.
Complete additional service activities assigned within the scope of the core project.
Help maintain and manage program supplies and materials.
Assist with inspection and maintenance of program vehicles.
Support coordination of transportation, safety protocols, accessibility needs, and other program supplies.
Participate in shared crew responsibilities, including chores, cooking group meals, and grocery shopping.

Benefits

Living allowance of $675 per week, subject to applicable taxes.
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.50 upon successful completion of the 1,200-hour term.
Eligibility for federal student loan forbearance and interest payment deferment through AmeriCorps for qualifying student loans.
Option to enroll in AmeriCorps health, dental, and vision benefits (individual enrollment only).
Lodging and meals during mandatory orientation.
Housing at Hickory Run State Park while serving on the Glen Onoko Falls Trail; local housing for other projects, with tent camping possible if park housing is unavailable.
Meals provided during hitches.
Technical rigging training and trail design and management training focused on building with rock.
First Aid with CPR/AED training.
AmeriCorps and SCA orientation, SCA risk management training, and workforce development and job-readiness training.
All Corps Gathering.