2019 Walk in Penn's Woods

At more than 60 sites across the state Pennsylvanians of all ages will be getting out in the woods, building appreciation for the forest, the people who own them, and the importance of caring well for them.

Pennsylvania's woods bring us values that we sometimes take for granted. The trees and ground cover provide nutrients for the soil, food and homes for wildlife, clean air and water, wood products that we use daily, and peace and tranquility for us to enjoy. The woods "work" for us. Walk in Penn's Woods raises awareness about the importance of forests to our lives and the effort that goes into caring for them.

Since 2017, the first Sunday in October has been set aside for Pennsylvanians to join hosted walks to learn more about Penn's Woods and gain easy access to expert forest and wildlife professionals. Last year, over 1,100 people joined in at 68 walks throughout the state. Some walks will have children's activities; others will highlight managed wildlife habitat or watersheds; you may see the results of harvesting activities or plantings of native trees and shrubs; still others may demonstrate the effects of urban tree cover or riparian buffers. Walk in Penn's Woods also features a growing number of sites with wheelchair and stroller accessible walks. For a complete list of individual walk locations, times, descriptions, and more, go to www.walkinpennswoods.org. The website is regularly updated as new walks are added, so keep checking!

What are folks saying when they take a Walk in Penn's Woods:

• "…our Walk in Penn's Woods…was a smashing success! The weather was perfect, the presenter was outstanding, and the diverse group of attendees made for a wonderful afternoon."
• "It was just the program that I was looking for!
• "…we ended up talking about invasive plants and insects and management of those, the importance of forests to our watershed, streamside forests, and beavers!"
• "There's more about a forest than can be said in two and a half hours, but we had a great time walking together among such a great legacy of trees."

The 2019 Walk in Penn's Woods organizing partners include the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, The Center for Private Forests at Penn State, Penn State Forestry and Wildlife Extension, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Forest Stewards, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Consulting Foresters, and the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

We invite you to get out in the woods on Sunday, October 6 at a Walk in Penn's Woods near you!

Find out more about Walk in Penn's Woods:
* Website
* Facebook