When taking a hike, people don’t often think about everything it takes to keep trails operational. The bridge building, the trail restoration, the habitat enhancement, the invasive species management and so on. The work often goes unseen.
And if you don’t spend much time thinking about the work that takes place, even less time is spent thinking about the people that do the work. The image of burly guys in flannel with hardhats and chainsaws come to mind. Rough and tough individuals who would have been lumberjacks or coal miners in previous generations. Now, wearing safety orange they tend to the land for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians.
Yeah. That’s just not the case. While many of those guys and gals are still out there performing the work, often time projects are being done by kids. Well not kids, kids but young adults ages 15 to 25.
Members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps take on projects across dozens of state parks and forests every year through programs lasting 6 weeks to nine months. Mentored by older individuals, these crews complete tens of thousands of hours of work on improvement projects while also receiving training and education and developing team building and career opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps was created by DCNR Sec. Cindy Adams Dunn to connect youth and young adults with job opportunities relating to the outdoors and the environment.
On this episode, we’re going to be exploring the work they do, their service to the Commonwealth and the careers that come from working in the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.
On this episode, I speak with Michael Piaskowski. Mike is the manger of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.
Be sure to support our 2025 sponsors:
Keystone Trails Association
Purple Lizard Maps
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Sisters' Sunflowers
Visit our website to learn more about the podcast, to purchase merch and to find out about our incredible sponsors. Follow us on Instagram and Meta to stay connected.
Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.