PA Outdoor Ambassadors​

PA Outdoor Ambassadors

Applications for the Outdoor Ambassador Program are closed, but you can still experience the online portion of the program. It’s free and available to anyone interested in learning more about serving visitors to these regions!

Click on the relevant StoryMap to get started:

Laurel Highlands

Pocono Forests and Waters

Check back for future Outdoor Ambassador cohort applications.

Outdoor Ambassador Program

Welcome! If you’re curious about the new Outdoor Ambassador program in the Laurel Highlands and Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscapes, then you’ve come to the right place. We’re glad you’re here!

So... What Is the Outdoor Ambassador Program?

This program was created in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC). The purpose of the program is to provide training, resources, and a peer network for those who interact with visitors to the region’s outdoor spaces.

If you are a DCNR staff member or volunteer, or, if your business or organization interacts with visitors seeking to enjoy the outdoors, then this is the program for you!

You can be part of the very first cohort of Outdoor Ambassadors in your region by participating in approximately 20 hours of training and field trips.

Why Be a Part of the Outdoor Ambassador Program?

The Cliff Trail at Delaware Water Gap NRA, part of the Pocono Forests and Waters Conservation Landscape, offers breathtaking views of the Delaware River.

Learn

  • Deepen your knowledge about the region and outdoor recreation
  • Experience private tours of recreational, natural, cultural, and historical sites

Network

  • Be part of a community of people with shared interests
  • Create personal and professional connections with others in your region

Help

  • Help locals and visitors alike have safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences
  • Encourage responsible recreation and stewardship of natural spaces

… plus enjoy additional perks!

Want to Learn More?

Check out this fact sheet and FAQs.

And check out this informational webinar recording!

Want to Stay Up to Date?

Laurel Hill State Park, part of the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape, offers 15 miles of trails, including the Ridge Trail.

Fill out this interest form to receive communications related to the Outdoor Ambassador program. Please note: Completing the form does not commit you to the program, nor does it register you for the program.

Ready to apply? 

Click here to apply to the Outdoor Ambassador program in your region.

Not Able to Participate in the Full 20-Hour Program?

Check back this spring for self-paced online content. Complete the online materials, and you’ll receive a completion certificate.

Here Are Some Key Dates for the Very First Cohort of Outdoor Ambassadors​

  • Informational webinar: January 30
  • Registration period: February
  • Self-paced material: March
  • In-person/site-visits (PFW Region): April 9, April 30, and May 14
  • In-person/site-visits: (Laurel Highlands Region): April 23, May 7, and May 20

This program is presented in partnership by The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.