Shaver's Creek Environmental Center

This resource provides an incredible opportunity to get involved in the greater State College community within the comfort of Penn State Outreach affiliations. The Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center provides educational and recreational opportunities for community members and Penn State students. While the landing page is not as relevant to opportunities to get involved provided the annual winter closure that will occur from December to January, in general there are opportunities for volunteering and engagement for Penn State students. When clicking on the “Penn State Students” tab on the top menu, students can see a variety of opportunities dedicated to undergraduates and graduates.

“Penn State Students” tab

Whether taking courses for credit or participating in a work study, this website has the necessary information for students in any range of comfort and interest. Two interesting programs to highlight from this list are the AURORA Outdoor Orientation Programs and Outdoor School. These are both credit-bearing opportunities that allow for students to serve their communities (whether incoming first-year undergraduates or fifth graders) in a mentorship or counselor role. They involve outdoor experiences mixed with educational opportunities and a deep exploration of the Pennsylvania wilderness. Interested students can contact the names listed in each of the subpages of these websites for further information.

Outdoor School

Tips for Navigating this Resource

Shaver’s Creek understands its audience and has thus prioritized students as some of the primary users of its website. It is recommended that students stick to the “Penn State Students” tab on the website and read through each of the programs that have their own monetary, credit-bearing, or experiential benefits to them. If a reader has something specific in mind, they can also utilize the search bar to more quickly find what they are looking for.