5th Annual Walk in Penn’s Woods is Happening Sunday, October 3!

Since 2017, the first Sunday in October has been set aside for the public to join hosted walks at sites throughout Pennsylvania to learn more about Penn’s Woods and gain easy access to expert forestry, wildlife, and natural resources professionals. Some walks have children’s activities; others 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 that are wheelchair and stroller accessible.

If a hosted walk isn’t for you and yours, you can still get out and discover Penn’s Woods in your own way! Create your own woodland learning adventure at a trail, park, or forested landscape near you, and be sure to report your adventure at www.walkinpennswoods.org to receive your “I did it!” stickers and some great resources about Penn’s Woods and the people who care for them.

Pennsylvania’s forests bring us a wide array of benefits—some values we see clearly; others are a little more hidden. The trees and ground cover provide nutrients for the soil, food and homes for wildlife, clean air and water, wood products that we use in our daily lives, and peace and tranquility for us to enjoy. Walk in Penn’s Woods—whether at a hosted walk or a family afternoon in the forest—raises awareness about the importance of forests to our lives and the effort that goes into caring for them.

The Walk in Penn’s Woods partnership includes the Center for Private Forests at Penn State, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, 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, the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

For more information about trails, parks, and sites across the state, and a listing of hosted walk locations, times, and descriptions, go to www.walkinpennswoods.org.

Written by The Center for Private Forests and the Walk in Penn’s Woods Partnership
Contact Abby Jamison at alj191@psu.edu for more information about the partnership.