Getting Ready for 2019 Walk in Penn’s Woods!

The excitement is growing for the third annual Walk in Penn's Woods on Sunday, October 6. At sites across the state, Pennsylvanians of all ages will be getting out in the woods, building appreciation for forests, 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 in our daily lives, 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 individual walk locations, times, descriptions, and more, visit the website. The website is regularly updated as new walks are added, so keep checking!

Crowdfunding Campaign

A Walk in Penn's Woods fundraising campaign is underway during the month of July to raise $5,000 to help spread the word. You are invited to make a donation to this campaign that will make a huge difference in the upcoming October walks. Walk in Penn's Woods is fortunate to have many statewide partners: all the venues and the resource professionals have volunteered their time and land. Every dollar raised will support efforts to advertise and promote the walks in Penn's Woods occurring across the Commonwealth. For campaign details and to make a donation visit the crowdfunding website.

Hosting a Walk

Interested in hosting a walk? Visit the Resources for Walk Hosts page for information about hosting - new walks are being added every week. Consider partnering in your community with woodland owners associations, environmental education centers, state- or municipal-owned land, or other landowners to make a walk happen. And if you have potential locations that will allow for greater accessibility, consider partnering to add some "roll." We want to get multitudes of people out to learn about and love the woods. After you get your plans made, you can register your walk.

The 2019 Walk in Penn's Woods 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. These partners invite you to participate by volunteering at a venue, being a mentor, demonstrating a skill, showcasing your stewardship, contributing, and sharing posts with your contact list to help get the word out! And, don't forget to put Sunday, October 6 on your calendar and join a Walk in Penn's Woods near you!
Find out more about Walk in Penn's Woods on the website, Facebook, or the crowdfunding page.