The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks will be hosting several Exploring Careers Outdoors Days throughout the summer.

Students in 9-12th grade are invited to spend the day at Hickory Run State Park to learn about

several careers in the outdoors. Sign up for one or more of the following careers you’d like to learn more about: Forestry, Geology, Wildlife Biology/State Parks.

Each session will be held from 10-2:30 p.m. and meet at the Hickory Run State Park Visitor Center. This program is free of charge.

Registration is required by calling 570-403-2006 or on our calendar of events at http://events.dcnr.pa. Dress for being outdoors, wear closed toed shoes, and bring a lunch and water. Participants’ charge will receive a variety of free materials for each corresponding career topic.

July 25 – Forestry Exploring Careers Outdoors Day. During this ECO Day, become familiar with a variety of duties our foresters get involved with to protect and improve forest lands. You will be introduced to common tree identification, how to determine board footage and worth of the trees, and some techniques used to manage “Penn’s Woods.”

Also, spend some time with some Wildland Fire Crew members learning about their equipment and get a hands-on experience on how they deal with fire suppression and management. DCNR offers careers as a forester, forest technician, forest program specialist, forest fire specialist, recreational forester, wildlife biologist to name a few.

Aug. 1 - Geology Exploring Careers Outdoors Day: Spend some time with staff from DCNR’s Bureau of Geological Survey which is more than 180 years old. Geologists and partners work to map the surface and subsurface geology of the state. They also provide maps, publications, reports, groundwater information, earth science education, petroleum, and subsurface geology information essential to environmental stewardship, human health and safety, infrastructure development and economic growth. Participate in a mapping exercise and visit Hickory Run’s unique geologic wonder, the boulder field during this interesting day in the field. DCNR offers careers as a Geologic Scientist and Geologic Trainee to name a few. Aug. 8 - Wildlife Biology & State Park Exploring Careers Outdoors Day.

Spend the day with a wildlife biologist learning some of the techniques used to maintain our native species and ways they study animal populations and work to protect habitats for a variety of animal populations.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park or make inquiries through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-888-537-7294 (TTY).

Bureau of State Parks Staff will gladly discuss how to accommodate your needs. With at least three days’ notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.

For more information on any of Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks visit DCNR website at https://www.dcnr.pa.gov (choose Find a Park) or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS.