2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Lancaster Youth Crew - PO-00802511

Student Conservation Association • Lancaster, 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 motivated, team-oriented high school students for its summer Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Crew members work with a small team of peers on hands-on trail, habitat, and facility projects on Pennsylvania public lands. Crews are supervised by two trained adult crew leaders or one solo leader. Participants earn a paycheck, develop practical job skills, and take part in environmental education and team-building activities related to conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation careers.

The program runs from June 28 through August 6, 2027, for six weeks. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break; July 5 is a workday. Travel between the meeting location and worksites is part of the paid workday. The position is 37.5 hours per week, although that amount is not guaranteed because severe or dangerous weather may result in an unpaid day off. Pay is $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly.

Housing is not provided. Crews meet 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–August 6, 2027.
• Live in or near Lancaster 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.
• Attend every workday, arriving on time and ready to work; no more than three absences are permitted for the season.
• Bring sturdy, closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and strong work ethic and work cooperatively with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

Responsibilities

• Complete trail maintenance and construction projects, potentially including water management, brushing, blazing, and reroutes.
• Support habitat restoration, including invasive species identification and removal, data collection, and tree planting.
• Perform facility maintenance, including painting, staining, and basic carpentry.
• Participate in building projects such as picnic tables, stairs, and signs.
• Maintain fencing and boundary lines.
• Attend workdays on time and ready to work, with 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 instructions from crew leaders and project partners and comply with SCA safety policies and procedures.
• Help maintain a safe, respectful, and welcoming crew environment.
• Take part in environmental education sessions and team-building activities.
• Help track project accomplishments and data and complete end-of-program feedback surveys.

Benefits

• Paid work at $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly.
• Practical job skills development.
• Environmental education and team-building activities connected to conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation careers.
• SCA-provided tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment.
• Travel together to worksites in an SCA vehicle.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed