Student Applicants Sought as Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Labor & Industry Expand Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today joined Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Kathy Manderino and Student Conservation Association representatives in announcing applicants are being sought to expand the highly successful Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps to work in state parks and state forests across the state.

"The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is again offering young people the opportunity to work on one of 14 teams across the state, completing conservation projects to protect, enhance and restore Pennsylvania's public lands," Dunn said. "Last summer I heard firsthand at their job sites how these young crews appreciated both the job opportunities and the chance to connect with the outdoors and gain training necessary for future successful employment. Whether rehabilitating hiking trails or restoring habitat, corps members received the knowledge and expertise to be good stewards of our natural resources."

First established in summer 2016, the innovative Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps offers paid work experience, job training, and educational opportunities to young people who complete recreation and conservation projects at state parks, forestlands, and other Pennsylvania public lands.

This year the program is being expanded to include teams in the following areas: Erie, Meadville, Pittsburgh, Uniontown, Altoona, McConnellsburg, St. Marys, Renovo, Williamsport, Harrisburg, York, Wilkes-Barre, Reading, and Philadelphia.

Dunn notes the program is a key element of the department's strategic efforts to connect with youth and expand job opportunities, particularly in underserved areas of the state. The employment and enrichment program is managed by DCNR in cooperation with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), with financial and program support provided by DCNR and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's Reemployment Fund.

"We are proud at Labor & Industry to support this program that will allow our young people the opportunity to participate in real life job experiences," said Labor & Industry Secretary Kathy Manderino. "We hope from these experiences, they will be able to move forward in their lives with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the workforce, and we are pleased that this program allows lower-income students with a barrier to employment, such as transportation, the opportunity to reach for that success."

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps consists of two components: a 10-month program for young adults ages 18-25, already under way in four areas of the state; and the six-week, summer program for youth between the ages of 15-18, for which applications now are being accepted. Applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 15 to 18 at the start of the program;
• Be able to conduct physical work in challenging, outdoor conditions;
• Be enthusiastic about working on a diverse crew;
• Have an interest in conservation and natural resource management;
• Be able to always model safe and professional behavior.

Successful applicants will be assigned to a crew of 10 members and two leaders working on trail maintenance, habitat restoration, vegetation management, park maintenance, light construction and more. Environmental education and job skills trainings also are provided in these assignments, which can be physically demanding and take place in outdoor settings regardless of weather.

This program runs six weeks (July to mid-August) and successful applicants will work full-time, 37.5 hours per week. Compensation will be $10.15 per hour, with transportation to worksites, and breakfast and lunch provided daily.

Applicants are instructed to visit https://www.thesca.org/serve/program/pennsylvania-outdoor-corps. Upon completing the SCA application, would-be corps members are asked to email [email protected] and notify organizers of their interest.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is America's oldest and largest youth conservation organization. SCA seeks to conserve land and transform lives by empowering young people of all backgrounds to plan, act and lead, while they protect and restore natural and cultural resources.  Founded in 1957, its mission is to build future conservation leaders, and seven in 10 of SCA's 80,000 alumni worldwide are employed or studying in conservation-related fields.  For more information: www.thesca.org.

For more details on Pennsylvania Outdoors Corps: www.outdoorcorps.dcnr.pa.gov

MEDIA CONTACT: Terry Brady, 717-705-2225; [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

Related Links

http://www.outdoorcorps.dcnr.pa.gov