This profile was first published on the PA Conservation Heritage website--
Mary Herrold Hirst was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania on August 13, 1960. She was raised in Milesburg, Pa.
In elementary school, Mary and her friends formed an Ecology Club focused on environmental issues and natural resource protection. They enjoyed the club activities until they could pursue their interests in the first environmental science-based class in high school.
She graduated from Bald Eagle Area High School in 1978 and attended Thiel College in Greenville, Pa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science in 1982.
Even before graduating from college, Mary worked for the Bureau of State Parks in the Department of Environmental Resources [now DCNR] as a Youth Conservation Corps [the early version of the PA Outdoor Corps] crewmember at Poe Valley State Park in 1976.
In that position, she worked with the Corps members to paint the changing rooms at the beach, build hiking trails, and perform general park maintenance.
For two summer seasons while in college, she worked as a lifeguard at Bald Eagle State Park.
In 1982, for a senior internship at Thiel College she shadowed clerks, rangers, and park managers at Pymatuning State Park.
It was during this internship that she got real taste for everything it takes to operate a park.
A Career In State Parks
After graduating from college, Mary worked in a variety of progressively responsible positions in state parks as follows:
-- 1983 & 1984 Summer Seasons-Environmental Interpretive Technician at R.B. Winter State Park
-- 1985 & 1986 Seasons-Environmental Interpretative Technician at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
-- Fall of 1986 & Early 1987-State Parks Central Office developing Chesapeake Bay Program Curriculum for State Parks & Environmental Education Centers
-- Mid 1987 to 1990-Assistant Park Superintendent at French Creek State Park-As the first female in that role in the state park system. While there, served temporarily as acting park superintendent at the Tobyhanna State Park Complex
-- 1990 to 1996-Park Superintendent at Sizerville State Park. While there, served temporarily as acting Park Superintendent at the Bendigo State Park Complex and Sinnemahoning State Park
-- 1996 to 2018-Park Superintendent at Kettle Creek and Ole Bull State Parks. While there, served temporarily as acting Park Superintendent at Mt. Pisgah and Little Pine State Parks.
-- Throughout her long State Park tenure of nearly 36 years, served on numerous strategic planning committees, the Employee Uniform Committee and as an instructor for the Search and Rescue Committee.
Childhood Experiences
Mary’s fond association with state parks in Pennsylvania started early in her childhood. Her family camped many weekends during the spring and summer.
Their favorite campgrounds were at Poe Valley and Little Pine State Parks and in Tioga State Forest near Darling Run.
These state park visits inspired her to set a goal very early in life to be a park ranger.
The family also enjoyed one uncle’s state-leased camp a mile from Ole Bull State Park and another uncle’s state-leased camp in Bald Eagle State Forest, visiting them year-round.
Blazing Trails For Others
Throughout her long career with state parks in the PA Departments of Environmental Resources and Conservation and Natural Resources, Mary highly valued and promoted environmental education, customer service, relationship-building, working with and mentoring employees, and community-building.
She describes how she loved exposing people of all ages, particularly youth, to positive experiences in the parks to build a strong, life-long commitment to environmental stewardship and outdoor recreation.
Becoming the first female park superintendent and “breaking the ice” for female managers in state parks was not her primary goal in becoming a park manager.
Her goals centered around her love for state parks and fostering the same feeling in every park user and employee.
Her hope is that she has been a positive role model to other women who were interested in the field.
Her pioneering career path towards state park management as a woman was not always an easy one as there were a few peers and other employees who had trouble relating to a female in this position.
However, she points out that the majority were supportive, and she greatly benefitted from those many managers and employees who accepted her into the ranks and were willing to answer questions, give advice, and show respect.
She doesn’t believe in burning bridges, so she always strived to understand differing opinions and show respect even in difficult situations.
Mary has trouble relating to those who see their job as just a paycheck and are not invested in customer service and managing a resource.
She always enjoyed being a team player with a positive attitude towards sound resource management practices and customer satisfaction.
She learned early on that environmental stewardship is a learned behavior and always worked toward encouraging park users to learn about the natural world and to leave “no trace.”
Switching Gears, Not Slowing Down
Mary’s association with and love for PA State Parks did not weaken after her retirement. Her role changed from manager to customer and volunteer.
She and her husband, Larry, purchased a camper in 2017 with the goal of camping in all the state park campgrounds, especially in those parks she has not visited during her career.
She maintains and checks on bluebird houses at Kettle Creek and Ole Bull State Parks.
She is a founding member of the Friends of Ole Bull State Park, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of R. B. Winter State Park, and serves with Larry as campground hosts at R.B. Winter, Greenwood Furnace and Little Pine State Parks.
At the statewide level, Mary serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation.
Mary’s professional contributions to the field of state park management have been recognized with the following--
-- DER Management and Development Program Certificate
-- DER Excellence in Service Awards-1991-1992 & 1993
-- Park and Recreation Management School Certificate
-- DCNR Women in Leadership Program Certificate
-- DCNR Secretary’s Achievement Award-Search & Rescue Committee Leadership
Mary credits her successful and rewarding professional development and job performance largely to the inspiration gained from the park rangers and educators she met as a kid camping in state parks.
She says, “I wanted to be them.”
However, she noted while interviewing for a lifeguard position and saying that her long-term goals were a career in state parks and a park superintendent position, the interviewer “just looked me in the eye and told me women were not suited for park superintendent jobs.”
Undoubtedly, Mary proved that person to be well off base.
Visit the Pennsylvania Conservation Heritage website to see more profiles of conservation leaders, find educator resources for teaching Pennsylvania’s conservation history, video documentaries and much more.
Add Your Story
If you have stories of diversity in conservation or want us to highlight a certain conservationist or naturalist in or from Pennsylvania with unique perspectives, email intern@paparksandforests.org.
[Posted: January 2, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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