A partnership of Pennsylvania organizations-- including the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, the PA Recreation and Park Society, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and WeConservePA-- is calling on groups and individuals to join in hosting volunteer events and programs as part of the first Healthy Lands Week from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2, 2002.

The goal of Healthy Lands Week is to bring Pennsylvanians of every interest area out to lands and waterways to learn about natural and cultural resources, participate in stewardship projects or enjoy the natural landscapes.

From beautification projects and clean-up events to invasive species removal and maintenance projects, groups are invited to market an existing event or create a new event during Healthy Lands Week.

“Volunteers are important stewards of many places in Pennsylvania’s landscape. Visitors, habitats, waterways, local economies and more benefit from the efforts of volunteers,” said Marci Mowery, President of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, one of Healthy Lands Week founding organizations. “Healthy Lands Week provides Pennsylvanians with the perfect opportunity to help protect these special places for future generations.”

Groups from around the Commonwealth can host events and volunteer opportunities through the Healthy Lands Week website.

Friends groups, hiking clubs, biking clubs, church groups, service organizations, businesses, outdoor clubs and anyone else who wants to show their appreciation for the outdoors is invited to host an event.

"We are honored to partner with like-minded organizations to support the work of volunteers all across the state who are committed to caring for our shared public spaces," said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Healthy Lands Week is a statewide initiative to strengthen volunteer activities and raise awareness of stewardship of public lands. Healthy Lands Week is a cooperative venture of statewide partners whose collective initiatives create and steward clean, safe and accessible parks, forests, waterways and other public lands.

“It’s a ready-made opportunity for Pennsylvania’s park enthusiasts to help care for the lands and spaces they love the most,” declares Tim Herd, CEO of the PA Recreation and Park Society. “Healthy Lands Week invites everyone to help keep our parks and open spaces clean, safe, and ready-to-use, and to multiply their healthful impacts with many others statewide.”

Healthy Lands Week is supported by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnership Program,

Visit HealthyLandsWeek.org to register an event, view a calendar of upcoming events, take advantage of an event toolkit and other resources to celebrate the Week.

Looking to volunteer?  Follow the website to locate volunteer or educational opportunities near you.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Guest Essay: Investments In Clean Pennsylvania Air, Land And Water Will Pay Off For Decades - By Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of DCNR & Ramez Ziadeh, Acting Secretary of DEP  [PaEN]

-- WITF Smart Talk: Outdoor Recreation In Pennsylvania Is Serious Business

-- DCNR Acquires 5,600-Acre Property in Schuylkill, Luzerne Counties For Motorized Recreation Area  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Blog: Digging Into History In State Parks & Forests - PA Outdoor Corps Cultural Resources Crew -- By: Angie Jaillet-Wentling, M.A., RPA, DCNR Cultural Resources Program Coordinator  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Prohibits Hunting With Firearms In State Parks In Bucks, Chester, Montgomery Counties

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Blog: What Is The Economic Value Of Protected Open Space In Pennsylvania? -- By Jason Lenker, Intern, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- Temple University Invites Families Living Near Their Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Ambler Campuses To Join HOOT - Healing Ourselves Outdoors Together  [PaEN]

-- August 12 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA: 107 Foot Three Rivers Heritage Trail Segment In Natrona, Allegheny County Has Big Impact

-- Keep PA Beautiful To Work With PennDOT To Reduce Cigarette Litter At State Welcome Centers  [PaEN]

-- PA Resources Council Erie ReuseFest Set For Sept. 10, Donate Used Items To Local Nonprofit Groups [PaEN]

[Posted: August 12, 2022]

8/15/2022