2027 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps - Reading Youth Crew

Student Conservation Association • Reading, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, is hiring motivated, team-oriented high school students for the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps in Reading, 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.

The six-week summer program provides paid work experience, practical job skills, environmental education, and team-building activities connecting participants’ work to conservation, natural resource management, and outdoor recreation careers. Projects may include trail maintenance and construction, habitat restoration, facility maintenance, building projects, and fencing or boundary-line maintenance.

The program runs June 28 through August 6, 2027. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break, for 37.5 hours per week. Travel between the meeting location and worksites is included in the paid workday. Hours are not guaranteed in severe or dangerous weather, when crews may be called off for an unpaid day. Housing is not provided. Crews meet at a central location in Reading 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. The position involves outdoor field work in changing conditions, including potential exposure to severe weather, poor air quality, heat and humidity, and natural hazards.

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 Reading 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, with no more than three absences for the season.
• Work as part of a team, follow instructions, and maintain a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Follow all SCA safety policies and procedures.
• Be able to perform outdoor manual physical work for a full workday in varied weather conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Be able to stay alert, understand and follow safety policies, manage known medical conditions during the workday, wear required personal protective equipment, and seek support when needed.
• 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, potentially including water management, brushing, blazing, and reroutes.
• Contribute to habitat restoration through invasive species identification and removal, data collection, and tree planting.
• 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 environmental education sessions and team-building activities.
• Help track project accomplishments and data, and complete end-of-program feedback surveys.
• Attend workdays on time and ready to work, collaborate with the crew, follow directions from crew leaders and project partners, and follow SCA safety policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Pay of $17.31 per hour, approximately $649 per week before taxes, paid biweekly.
• Practical job skills and experience.
• Environmental education and team-building activities.

What This Job Offers

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