New exhibits designed to enhance the park visitor’s wildlife watching opportunities in the Pennsylvania Wilds region are now in place at the Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park in Cameron and Potter counties.

About 350 park visitors got the first peak at them during an open house in August.

There are a rich variety of exhibit types that appeal to multiple learning styles – immersive environments, multi-media experiences, murals, sculptural elements and interactive exhibits.

The First Fork Valley is an important travelway, linking the natural, cultural, educational, and recreational resources of the Pennsylvania Wilds. This travelway theme is present throughout the building. In the lobby, a winding topographical map model leads visitors toward the exhibit gallery, introducing the steep valley topography of the region.

Bird models and an impressive swarm of monarch butterflies trace the shape of the map, subtly presenting the concept of migration. Visitors walk through a rockwork gateway to enter the exhibit gallery, from there following a winding path through a series of themed environments.

Wildlife watching, nature photography and outdoor recreation are prominently featured in the new exhibit gallery. Inside the bark shanty, visitors can use the interactive display to learn about the history of the First Fork Valley.

Links to special sights and activities in the Pennsylvania Wilds are present throughout. As visitors leave, the last exhibit element they encounter is an interactive Pennsylvania Wilds map with multiple suggestions on what else to explore in the region.

The new exhibits in the Wildlife Center are not for adults only. A cave, a hollow tree, an eagle’s nest, and many other hands-on exhibits allow the youngest visitors to learn about nature in their own style.

The Open House event offered an informal, fun way for families to view the exhibits for the first time. Nellie and Brandon, from Lilly, PA commented, “The exhibits look great! We were here last year and a lot has been added. We love it!” Bobby, from Johnstown, PA, summed it up simply, “The Wildlife Center in amazing! Thank you so much.”

Sinnemahoning State Park is a 1,910 acre multi-use park in Cameron and Potter counties with overnight facilities and year-round recreational opportunities. The park offers camping, cabin rental, picnic pavilions, environmental and outdoor recreation programs, trails for hiking, biking and snowmobiling, and the 145-acre George B. Stevenson Reservoir for fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Sinnemahoning is also popular for viewing wildlife such as bald eagles and elk.

The Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park is free of charge and open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week from April 1 through October 31. For off-season hours, please contact the park office located in the Wildlife Center at 814-647-8401.

(Reprinted from the September 4 DCNR Resource newsletter.)

9/9/2013