The Wilds are Working is back in 2023: See the small towns poised to transform WFH culture
- by Guest Contributor
- May 16, 2023
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By Cara Aungst
In 2022, The Wilds are Working was unveiled as a chance for remote workers to experience life in a charming downtown in Pennsylvania’s Wilds while enjoying outdoor adventure, all while working remotely. The opportunity provided paid housing and a stipend for local experiences that ranged from dining to recreation. More than that, it created the chance for remote workers to visualize their life in a place where livability, outdoor recreation, and close communities lived hand in hand. After two successful experiences in Bellefonte and Kane, The Wilds are Working is back in 2023 with opportunities in Emporium and Warren.
Samantha Spengler is a research editor living in Philadelphia, PA. Last year, she was part of the remote worker experience in Kane. She said that the experience was a perfect chance to explore a new location risk-free. “It was the perfect opportunity to do something different.”
Her favorite part of the month-long visit was the location. “I was floored by how beautiful it is here,” she said. “It was so great to be closely surrounded by wilderness — there’s a number of hikes within a 20-minute drive, and you can’t get that in Philly.”
A close second, she said, was the small-town closeness that Kane offered. “I was so immediately included. It felt great to be part of a place like this. Kane changed my perspective about small towns — I didn’t realize how forward-thinking it was. The energy and drive here is making this a great place.”
A vision for growth
The concept for The Wilds are Working initiative was created to help tackle the challenges that come with outmigration and a dwindling tax base by empowering workers to try out living, working, and becoming involved in communities in the PA Wilds. In other words, it’s an invitation to have the career that you want in a place that you love.
Steve Brawley, President/CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pa, which is one of the investing partners of the initiative says that it’s a great opportunity for workers who are working from home in crowded, expensive areas.
“I would love to tell people in New York, and DC, and Boston that you can live here and have a lifestyle, costs, and opportunities that you can only dream of affording in the large metros,” he said before last year’s Wilds are Working experiences.
In follow-up interviews after the inaugural events in Bellefonte and Kane, an overwhelming number of the participants expressed interest in moving, purchasing a vacation spot, or visiting the small town on a regular basis. (You can find the interviews here and here.)
The communities poised to change “work from home” (WFH) culture this year
This year, two new towns will be welcoming remote workers to a month of outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, and kayaking, along with soon-to-be-favorite dining spots, wineries, and breweries. More than 40 applicants from around the nation have applied to the program for 2023.
Emporium is the county seat of Cameron County and geographically centered in the “heart of the PA Wilds.” It is situated between the region’s Elk Country and Dark Skies landscapes. With just under 2,000 residents, this small, thriving downtown is filled with locally owned shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.
The location promises to offer a peaceful retreat for five participants and their partners or families during the month of July. During the month, workers will have the opportunity to experience a small-town Fourth of July celebration, farmers’ markets, and other gatherings.
Warren is located in the northwestern corner of the PA Wilds. Many of last year’s participants expressed awe that outdoor opportunities were so easy to access while they were a part of The Wilds are Working, and it is even easier to enjoy in Warren. The Allegheny River runs through the town, offering an immediate opportunity for kayaking, fishing, or strolling by the waterfront.
With its location in the Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds landscape of the PA Wilds, Warren is a perfect location for avid hikers, and mountain bikers will enjoy the trails at Jakes Rocks. Five participants will spend the month of August there with their partners or families, giving them the chance to enjoy late summer weather.
What will the summer hold for this year’s participants? If last year was any indication, it will mean a month of connecting with nature, slowing down, and enjoying a new location without missing work. And it might just be the catalyst to relocate to a place where small-town charm and outdoor recreation come together to create an ideal work-from-home spot.
“This is an opportunity for tech and innovation workers who have the flexibility to ‘work from anywhere’ to explore the PA Wilds and find a community that provides a great quality of life,” Abbi Peters, Chief Operations Officer at the PA Wilds Center, said. “It’s also an opportunity for our region’s communities to look inward at all their great assets to ensure they’re properly positioned for the modern worker and traveler.”
About the Author:
Cara Aungst lives in Central PA with her husband, two dogs and five kids (who are all taller than her). She writes about travel, innovation and industry in the heart of Pennsylvania. You can reach her on LinkedIn or by emailing CaraAungst@gmail.com.
