Tell us about your position at Oil Creek State Park.
I work for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources out of Oil Creek State Park. This department is responsible for maintaining and protecting 124 state parks, managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land, providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources, and establishing community conservation partnerships.

What is your role at the Park?
I am the Environmental Education Specialist at Oil Creek. I provide educational and interpretive programs on the environment and local history for schools, private groups, and the public. I also provide outdoor recreation programming from kayaking to archery, maintain our social media accounts, and act as the park’s volunteer coordinator.

What is your favorite part about your job?
I love getting to talk to people and share information about the park’s cultural and natural resources. I think there is a lot more going on here than most people realize, and watching them get excited and make connections to the land is very rewarding.

What would surprise people about the Park?
We have over 61 miles of hiking trails, a 9.7 mile bike trail, and a network of cross-country ski trails. The park is around 7,300 acres, which is much larger than most people think.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about Oil Creek State Park?
Petroleum Centre is a ghost town that once stood near the park office. During the 1860’s it was the center of the world’s oil industry, and had a huge impact on turning the tide of the Civil War. The money that the federal government made in taxes on oil was enough to support the Union when funds were running dry.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) June 2023 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.