Matt Truesdale (’10), Catching the Dream Job
As an avid fisherman and outdoors man, Matt Truesdale (RPTM 2010) has landed his dream job. He was recently hired by the PA Fish and Boat Commission to serve in the role of Outreach and Education Coordinator for the south-central region of PA, which includes the 13 counties south of Centre County and University Park.
A stand-out high school baseball player at Bellefonte Area High School, Matt was recruited by several schools to play at the college level. He ended up in North Carolina but found that the coaching style and his playing style weren’t a match. “I had a friend whose mother works in admissions, and I very quickly made a call to get some help getting into Penn State,” he laughs. “I already had a lot of friends at Penn State.”
“I was in graphic design at my previous school,” he said. “I figured out pretty quickly that sitting at a computer was not what I wanted to do.” An advisor in DUS talked with him about his interests and suggested he enroll in RPTM 101, an introductory course that exposes students to some of the many career paths one can take in RPTM. Matt landed in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management in the Outdoor Recreation Management option.
Matt took a Field Dendrology course – the study of trees – as an elective at Penn State. “I met some people in that class who told me about Tau Phi Delta, the hunting and fishing fraternity at Penn State. It is the only chapter of its kind in the United States.” Through membership in his fraternity, Matt participated in outdoor activities like whitewater rafting in West Virginia and in service activities like the bi-annual clean-up of Walnut Spring Park. Through Tau Phi Delta, Matt participated in IM sports and THON, serving on the rules and regulation committee. They won the “Blood Cup” between Penn State and Michigan State, donating the most blood to the Red Cross. “We even had a contract with Under Armour,” said Matt. “They would send us equipment and clothes, and we would write up reviews.”
While in college, Matt foreshadowed his current role when he volunteered with the PA Fish and Boat Commission and at Black Moshannon State Park. He participated in what is now called SEED semester (formerly BLOCK) the Student Engagement and Experiential Discovery semester at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Penn State’s affiliate nature center. After earning his degree, Matt spent a year as a post-graduate intern at Shaver’s Creek.
From there, he took a one-year position with Americorps. “I was assigned to Johnstown, PA, if you can believe it,” he said. With the title of Education Coordinator, Matt’s focus was on invasive species removal, identifying sites and then developing plans for addressing the invasive species, as well as participating in outreach programs about native plants to local schools. “We also received a grant to develop an outdoor classroom for the Bellwood-Antis school district in Blair County,” said Matt.
At the end of his year with Americorps, Matt accepted a seasonal position closer to home at Bald Eagle State Park as an Environmental Education Specialist. In 2013, his position was moved to full-time. He provided educational programs for the public including developing programs for school groups.
“After a while, I felt like I needed to see what was happening outside Pennsylvania,” Matt said. That led to a stint selling Recreational Vehicles (RVs) in Fort Worth, Texas and running an after-school program at a YMCA in Boulder, Colorado. By taking those risks and trying new things, Matt felt the draw to return to PA and to be closer to his family. “I find that I resonate with the northeast,” he shared.
“Things happen for a reason” he said. “I recently heard (sports personality) Dan Patrick on the radio, and he said something like, ‘Don’t set a concrete timeline for yourself,’ and I agree with that.”
When a full-time position opened at Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey, Matt applied for and accepted the position of Environmental Educator.
Washington Crossing State Park is part of Washington Crossing, a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The park includes the site of George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River. In addition to the traditional amenities of a state park including hiking and picnic areas, the park offers both historical and environmental education and experiential programs as well as historical buildings to tour, a visitor center and formerly, an open-air theatre.
One of the more popular activities at Washington Crossing is their annual maple sugaring program. Matt is especially proud of a popular nature program for toddlers that he developed.
Matt had a unique experience in the Fall of 2024 as part of an old-time baseball demonstration with his colleagues at French Creek, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. They offered an education program, demonstrating how baseball was played in the 1860s, in period clothing, while teaching and playing baseball’s rules of 1864.
With his move to a new role with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, Matt leaves a community where he felt connections. He is excited to take on new challenges. In his new role, he will be the primary outreach contact for the region. This will include collaborations and partnerships with the State Parks in the region.
In his spare time, Matt is all about the outdoors. He enjoys hunting and backpacking but especially fly fishing. “I spend a lot of time fly fishing or fly tying,” he said.
Matt is also a huge sports fan including Penn State football, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Last year, prior to the Penn State-Ohio State game, Matt and his fellow tailgaters flagged down Jason Kelce who was walking by. He joined their tailgate and shared a pre-game beer with the group. “The game wasn’t great, but the tailgate was fun,” he laughed.
Matt Truesdale shows us how our career path is not always linear, as well as how varied the roles that one can take in RPTM and outdoor recreation and education. “Try to experience as many things as you can,” said Matt. “As they say, the older you get, the harder it is to do new things. Study abroad, go on Consortium (RPTM 335). Do as many things as you can.”