2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Wilkes Barre Youth Crew

Student Conservation Association • Wilkes-Barre Township, PA

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is hiring motivated, team-oriented high school students for a six-week summer program in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Crew members work with a small team on hands-on trail, habitat, and facility projects on Pennsylvania public lands. Each crew is supervised by two trained adult crew leaders or one solo leader. Participants earn $17.31 per hour, build practical job skills, and take part in environmental education and team-building activities connected to conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation careers.

The program runs June 28 through August 6, 2027. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break; travel between the meeting location and worksites is part of the paid workday. The stated schedule is 37.5 hours per week, although hours are not guaranteed during severe or dangerous weather when crews may be called off for an unpaid day. Short periods of bad weather may involve safe or indoor work when possible. Pay is issued biweekly and is subject to applicable taxes.

Housing is not provided. Crews meet each morning at a central location in the program city 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.

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 the program city 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.
• Provide sturdy, closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items.
• Attend workdays reliably, with no more than three absences during the season.

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, including 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 have no more than three absences for the season.
• Work as a team to complete daily tasks and projects as routines, weather, and conditions change.
• Follow crew leader and project partner instructions and all SCA safety policies and procedures.
• Help maintain a safe, respectful, and welcoming crew environment and bring a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• 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 in compensation, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly.
• Hands-on job skills development.
• Environmental education and team-building activities.
• Tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment provided.
• Travel together to worksites in an SCA vehicle.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED