Our Conservation Education Team

Conservation Education Coordinator- Ben Porkolab 

Ben grew up near Kane, PA spending most of his time hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors. He earned a scholarship to attend the Safari Club International’s Wildlife Leadership School in Jackson Hole Wyoming while in high school. Ben then attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and obtained his Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education. Ben student taught at McKeever Environmental Learning Center and absolutely loved his experience there. Upon college graduation, Ben taught elementary school for two years in the bush country of Alaska and then taught one year in Nevada. He then chose to return to his family and his roots in the hills of Pennsylvania, and took a teaching position in nearby Cameron County where he taught for 19 years. While there, Ben was very involved in many conservation education programs. Some of those were Trout in the Classroom, a pheasant egg hatching program, a con-ed program with the Cameron County Conservation District, working with 4H, programs with the local gardening club, working closely with the Cameron County Outdoor Youth Association and National Archery in the Schools Program. He is also trained in Project Wild, Project Wet, Project Learning Tree, Go Teach Snowshoeing Wild About Bears and Wild About Elk. Ben has also taught Hunter-Trapper Education with the PA Game Commission for the past fourteen years. Now living in St. Marys, Ben continues to find himself in the woods, and on the rivers and streams.

Conservation Education Specialist- Hunter Horning

PA Game Commission Northcentral Environmental Education Specialist- Mandy Marconi

Mandy graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences, Minor in Natural Resources, and an Associate in Science in Wildlife Technology. Mandy is the Northcentral Environmental Education specialist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission with the responsibility of providing educational outreach throughout the Northcentral Region, including at the Elk Country Visitor Center. She has co-developed the Woodring Farm Interpretive Hiking Trail, the Game Commission Elk Information Radio Station, as well as the production of educational videos and materials. Mandy is a facilitator for Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Project WET. She has completed training as a NAI Certified Interpretive Guide, Hunter Education Instructor, National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Instructor, Growing up WILD, Project WILD, Pennsylvania Songbirds, Pennsylvania Biodiversity, Pennsylvania Land Choices, and Watershed Education. She also graduated from the American Wilderness Leadership School.

KECA Conservation Education Volunteers

KECA has so many volunteers who make a difference in our organization. The conservation Education Department has several volunteers who help make field trips and education programs a success.