by John Jimenez, Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps
My teacher, Mr. Hearne, showed my class a flyer for a summer job with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps. I was interested because the pay was pretty good — but there was a problem.
Mr. Hearne said, “If you like being outdoors, you should sign up; but if you don’t like being outdoors, don’t sign up.” That definitely discouraged me. I didn’t like being outdoors; at least I thought I didn’t.
I had never been camping. I never hiked. I never swam in a lake.
I remember the drive to our first park – Tuscarora State Park. I was riding shotgun with one of leaders, Marie, and I asked her if we were going to see any wildlife.
She said yes, but I shouldn’t worry about it. A minute later, a deer crossed the road. It was my first deer! The most wildlife I ever saw in Brooklyn was a pigeon, or maybe a squirrel.
I saw so many beautiful things that I would’ve never seen. I saw…
Read more at dcnr.pa.gov…