2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Wellsboro Youth Crew

Student Conservation Association • Wellsboro, PA

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), is recruiting motivated, team-oriented high school students for its six-week Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps program in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. 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 one solo leader. Participants earn a paycheck, develop 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 Monday, June 28 through Friday, August 6, 2027. The usual schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break; travel between the meeting location and worksites is part of the paid workday. Compensation is $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly. The schedule is 37.5 hours per week, but hours are not guaranteed: crews may move to safe or indoor work during brief bad weather, and severe or dangerous weather may result in an unpaid day off.

Applicants must be 15–18 at the start of the program, be current Pennsylvania residents, be available for the full program, live in or near Wellsboro with reliable transportation to the daily meeting location, and complete onboarding and receive field approval from SCA staff before the program begins. Members are expected to attend every workday, arrive on time and ready to work, and have no more than three absences during the season. They must work cooperatively, follow crew leader and project partner instructions, maintain a positive and safe team environment, and follow SCA safety policies and procedures.

Housing is not provided. Crews meet each morning at a central location in Wellsboro and travel together to worksites in an SCA vehicle. SCA provides tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment. Members must supply sturdy closed-toe work boots, long sturdy pants, weather-appropriate clothing, and a backpack or bag for personal items.

Work is field-based, and schedules and projects may change on short notice. Conditions may include severe weather, wildfire smoke or smog, high heat and humidity, and natural hazards such as 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 through August 6, 2027.
• Live in or near Wellsboro 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 allowed for the season.
• 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, including painting, staining, and basic carpentry.
• Help build 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 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

• Pay of $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly.
• SCA provides tools, crew work shirts, and required safety equipment.
• Practical job skills development and environmental education and team-building activities.

What This Job Offers

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