DCNR’s Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps is seeking projects for its 2024 season. Municipalities and non-profits can host PAOC crews on a cost-share basis to complete work on public lands.

The PAOC employs youth ages 15 to 24 to complete conservation and outdoor recreation projects in parks and forests across Pennsylvania.

The DCNR-led program engages underserved citizens and trains the next generation of conservation leaders.

Crews are located throughout the state and can travel about an hour from their host locations to project sites. Each crew is staffed with professional leaders that work with your local project coordinator to oversee project implementation.

Typical projects include tree planting, riparian corridor improvement, mechanical invasive species removal, hiking trail improvements, light construction, community shade tree inventories, and young tree maintenance.

Hosts are responsible for purchasing any needed materials and specialty tools. Crews are staffed with six to eight people and bring basic trail maintenance tools and can-do attitudes.

To submit your project for consideration, contact Mike Piaskowski, Outdoor Corps Program Manager, at mpiaskowsk@pa.gov.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

(Reprinted from WeConservePA website.)

NewsClips:

-- York Daily Record: DCNR Grants Include $1.2 Million For 275 Acre Hellam Hills Land Preservation Effort

-- Observer-Reporter: DCNR Invests In Local Recreation And Conservation Efforts

-- Beaver County Times: Beaver, Lawrence, Butler Parks Receive DCNR Grants For Improvements

-- Williamsport Sun: Denton Hill State Park May Re-Open As 4-Season Resort

-- WESA: Upgraded, Wider Mon Wharf Trail Reopens, Critical Part Of Great Allegheny Passage

-- LancasterOnline: Hiking The Appalachian Trail Thru 4 States In 1 Day

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Working To Improve Sprawling Hays Woods Park

-- TribLive: Fall Festival Planned Oct. 20 In Allegheny River Trail Park In Aspinwall

-- WeConservePA: North American Land Trust Opens 2 New Trails At Brinton Run Preserve In Chadds Ford, Delaware County

-- Warren Times: Johnny Appleseed Fest Kicks Off In Sheffield

-- The Daily Item: New Playground At White Deer Commons Funding By American Rescue Plan Funding

-- US Fish & Wildlife Service: Largest Dam Removal In PA - Oakland Dam, North Branch Susquehanna River

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Families Fishing For Fun At Blytheburn Lake

-- Williamsport Sun: Ticks And Tick-Borne Illnesses On The Rise This Year - By  John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Related Articles:

-- 2024 River Of The Year Nominations Now Being Accepted Through Nov. 10  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro, First Lady Visit Kinzua Bridge State Park, Re-Announce DCNR Local Recreation, Conservation Grants

-- DCNR Celebrates Keystone State Park’s Selection As Nation’s Top Fall Foliage Destination

-- DCNR: 3rd Fall Foliage Report Shows ‘Best Color’ Appearing In Northern Half Of Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- Out For Your Fall Hike And Find An Illegal Dump Site Or Graffiti Defacing The Environment?  Don’t Ignore It, Report It!  [PaEN]

-- DCNR PA Outdoor Corps Seeks Public Land Partner Projects In 2024  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Accepting Applications For 2023 PECO Green Region Grants  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Opens Survey For Public Input On Plans For New Susquehanna Riverlands State Park In York County  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Blog: Forests Help With Climate Change

-- DCNR Blog: Using Fossils To Determine The Age Of Rocks

-- Governor's Invasive Species Council Shares Updates On State-Level Invasive Species Initiatives In Latest Newsletter  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 11, 2023]

10/16/2023