Registration is now open for community and organization events to be held during Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week from September 28 through October 6.

Organizers of events that showcase the history, beauty, and wonder of Pennsylvania and provide opportunities for citizens to learn or exercise good stewardship are encouraged to apply.

Click Here to register your event. Registered events will be included in statewide promotional efforts for PA Healthy Lands Week.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for groups to engage new supporters, recruit volunteers, and foster lifelong stewards of our natural and cultural heritage,” said Marci Mowery, President of the PA Parks and Forests Foundation. “Events can be anything from guided nature hikes, virtual workshops or community clean-up days to interactive exhibits and educational seminars. Whether in-person or virtual, scheduled or open-ended, the goal of these events is to foster a deeper connection to the cultural and natural assets that makes the lands Pennsylvanians call home special and inspire collective action towards their preservation.”

Some examples of Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week events include:

-- Education: Offer opportunities for visitors to expand their understanding of Pennsylvania’s environment, cultural diversity, and history.

-- Appreciation: Promote recreational activities that allow people to enjoy and engage with our state’s resources. Encourage participants to explore, play, and connect with their surroundings.

-- Conservation: Create initiatives that empower individuals to contribute to the health of Pennsylvania’s lands. Activities could include volunteering, learning Leave No Trace principles, planting pollinators, combating invasive species, restoring an historic cemetery, and honoring our heritage.

“Stewardship makes Pennsylvania’s lands healthy lands,” Mowery added. “Together, let’s make Pennsylvania’s treasured assets more vibrant for generations to come!”

Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week is a cooperative venture of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Parks and Forests Foundation, the PA Recreation and Park Society, PA Museums, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Pennsylvania Forestry Association, and WeConservePA, whose collective initiatives create and steward clean, safe and accessible parks, forests, waterways, historic sites and other public points of interest.

Visit the PA Healthy Lands Week website to volunteer and for more information.  Questions should be directed to: Amy Hill, 717-343-9475, amy@hillcommstrategies.com.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Blog: Organizations Making The Outdoors More Inclusive In Pennsylvania

-- DCNR To Host Aug. 23 Meeting For Prospective Vendors At Catawissa Motorized Recreation Area In Luzerne, Schuylkill Counties  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Grants Newsletter: ATV/Snowmobile Grants; Whitehall Road Regional Park In Spotlight; Creating Close-To-Home Recreation Access In Reading

-- Aug. 9 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- State Museum Of PA Hosts Aug. 16 Virtual Program On How The PA Geological Survey Uses Satellite Data And You Can Too  [PaEN]

-- City Of Lock Haven, PA Municipal League And KABOOM! Unveil Kid-Designed, Community-Built Playground At Hoberman Park In Clinton County  [PaEN]

-- Latest Conserved Land Census Reports 187,626 Acres Of Land Conserved In PA From 2014 To 2023-- 51 Acres A Day  [PaEN]

-- Call For Presentations! WeConservePA Is Accepting Presentation Proposals For The April 2-4 PA Land Conservation Conference In State College  [PaEN]

-- South Mountain Partnership Holds Annual Power Of The Partnership Program Sept. 27 In Franklin County  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Fox43: Kayakers Clear Flood-Prone Swatara Creek As Remnants Of Hurricane Debby Expected To Dump More Rain On Lebanon County

-- NextPittsburgh: New Interactive Map Shows EV Charging Stations Near PA State Parks

-- Beaver County Times - Brian Whipkey: If You Like Waterfalls, Here Are The Top 5  State Parks To Visit

-- Warren Times: National Canoe, Kayak Races Open Thursday At Chapman State Park

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Adaptive Kayak Launch Added At Montour Preserve To Help More People Access Lake Chillisquaque In Montour County

-- NextPittsburgh: Highland Park And Allegheny County Tennis Courts Adapted To Include Blind, Wheelchair-Using Players

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: 29 Students Split Across 2 Day Explore Wellsboro State Park In HERYN Environmental Education Expansion Program

-- Patch.com: Ross Twp., Allegheny Land Trust Team On 30 Acre Woodland Conservation  Effort In Allegheny County

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Land Trust Unveils Preliminary Plan For Trails, Parking At Unity Preserve

-- PPL Electric Keeps Pollinators Buzzing At Lancaster Conservancy’s Kellys Run Preserve

-- TribLive: 4-Mile Trail To Open Soon In Leechburg, Thanks To Volunteers’ Dedication In Armstrong County

-- WTAE: Three Rivers Heritage Trail Not High Crime Area Despite Complaints, Pittsburgh Officials Say

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset Commissioners Want To Create Countywide ATV Trail

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset Twp. Board Split On Whether To Allow ATV Traffic On Its Roads

-- Warren Times: Allegheny National Forest Highlights Work Funded By Federal Great American Outdoor Act

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Approves Funding For Mountain Bike Skills Park In Williamsport

[Posted: August 9, 2024]

8/12/2024