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: Emma Walters
Though originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Emma has found a new home in the PA Wilds. Always passionate about the outdoors; she grew up hunting, fishing, and hiking new places with her dog. Starting as a Penn State DuBois Wildlife Intern, she worked the rut of 2023. Emma then retuned the following summer after graduating college with a degree in Wildlife Technologies from Penn State University. Through the Summer as the John DeBerti Intern, she found wildlife education to be her passion and KECA to be a second home. Now as the education specialist, she is excited to teach and explore more of elk country.
Conservation Education Technician: Dakota Malmgren
Growing up in the countryside outside of Falls creek, Pennsylvania Dakota quickly fell in love with the great outdoors. As an avid hiker, hunter, fisherman, kayaker, Atv rider, forager, photographer, and birdwatcher. He is also an avid aquarist, horticulturist, and herpetoculturist. He spent a majority of time growing up in forests and exploring the PA Wilds. After graduating from Brockway High School in 2021 Dakota continued his education at Penn State DuBois and completed an associate’s degree in Wildlife Technology in 2023. Then he completed a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science at main campus Penn State in 2025. Interning at Black Moshannon State Park in 2024 he quickly fell in love with outdoor environmental education. Through that Dakota knew he wanted to share his knowledge and expertise with the public. Dakota started a job at Keystone Elk Country Alliance in 2025 the day after graduation and he knew this would be great place to work after interning at KECA during the rut of 2023.
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 educational programs for students and the public a success.