2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Lock Haven Youth Crew

Student Conservation Association • Lock Haven, PA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is hiring high school students for a six-week summer Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps crew in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Crew members work with a small team on hands-on trail, habitat, and facility projects on public lands. Each crew is supervised by two trained adult crew leaders or one solo leader. The program also includes environmental education and team-building activities that introduce participants 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. The position pays $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, and is paid biweekly. The stated schedule is 37.5 hours per week, but hours are not guaranteed during severe or dangerous weather. Travel between the meeting location and worksites is part of the paid workday. Crews may move to safe or indoor work during short periods of bad weather when possible.

Participants must be 15–18 years old at the start of the program, be current Pennsylvania residents, live in or near Lock Haven with reliable transportation to the daily meeting location, and be available for the full program. They must complete SCA onboarding and receive field approval before the program begins. Members are expected to attend every workday, arrive on time and ready to work, follow crew leader and partner instructions and SCA safety procedures, work cooperatively, and contribute to a safe and welcoming crew environment.

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 bring sturdy, closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items.

Field work may involve changing schedules and projects, severe weather, poor air quality, high heat and humidity, and natural hazards including poisonous plants, ticks, mosquitoes, snakes, and other wildlife. SCA is an equal opportunity employer and makes selection decisions based on merit, qualifications, and performance without unlawful discrimination.

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 Lock Haven 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 workdays, with no more than three absences for the season.
• Bring 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.
• Conduct habitat restoration work, including identifying and removing invasive species, collecting data, and planting trees.
• Perform facility maintenance such as painting, staining, and basic carpentry.
• Build projects such as picnic tables, stairs, and signs.
• Maintain fencing and boundary lines.
• Attend workdays and arrive on time and ready to work, with no more than three absences during 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 in conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation.
• Environmental education and team-building activities.
• SCA-provided tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment.
• Travel between the daily meeting location and worksites in an SCA vehicle.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed