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Pennsylvania State Parks

😎 Educator E-Blast 😎

July 2025 Edition

Poem

July has certainly brought us the heat and strong thunderstorms⛈️! Once they dry out, check out some of those dirt trails. Summer 🌞 is time for educator professional development, & we are offering a lot of low-cost, fun, & innovative trainings for Act 48 hours. Check them out below. ⬇️


This year marks a major milestone – 30 years since the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) were established as two distinct agencies, united in their mission to protect and conserve Pennsylvania’s environment & natural resources. Check out this short video message from the DEP & DCNR Secretaries.

July is National Park & Recreation Month + the 7th Annual Park & Recreation Professionals Day is on Friday, July 18th!


Consider sharing your appreciation to your local park & recreation providers -- visit a PA State Park to enjoy the facilities & services on your public lands.


Consider saying 'Thank You" to park educators, park managers, park rangers, resource rangers, maintenance crews, office staff, & more for all that they do. 💖PA Recreation & Park Society (PRPS) & National Recreation & Park Assoc.

PA State Parks Educator E-Blast Contents -

  • Section 1: Summer Teaching Ideas + FREE STUFF!
  • Section 2: In-Person Educator PD Workshops - Act 48 hours
  • Section 3: Explore the Outdoors!
  • Section 4: Striving Towards Inclusion
  • Capstone: PA State Park Info. & Updates

Section 1: Summer 😎 Activity Ideas!

Your Summer of Mini-Adventures Starts Here with Out🌱Grown!

FREE! Simple outdoor fun for infants, toddlers, & preschoolers! Explore nature at a child’s pace with printable trackers, sensory activities, & a full Caregiver Guide.

Download the Full Caregiver Guide which includes:

🌱 Step-by-step instructions for the Mini-Adventures series

🌱 Tips tailored to each age group with developmental milestones & skills supported through nature play

🌱 Weekly themes & simple activity prompts (6-wks. total)

🌱 Printable tracking pages for each age group with journaling




  • Make the rest of your July Plastic-Free🥛! Plastic Free July™ provides resources & ideas to help you (& millions of others) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, & more.

🥛Find those pesky plastics, take the quiz.

🥛Take the Plastic Free July Pledge & Share It!

🥛Tips for Reducing Plastic Waste at Your School 🚸


  • Investigating Grasshoppers! 🦗 Go on a grasshopper hunt, use a quadrat to survey what plants grasshoppers eat, chirp like a grasshopper, make a hopping grasshopper, & more! - from ChildsPlayAbc (this is a UK resource)

Check out the “Summer Field Guide” from the “Little Botanist’s Club!”

This issue features Common Milkweed, the Luna Moth, & the Common Puffball. This wonderful resource is perfect for summer day camps & kid's summer programming. It includes an activity page with an “I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of” prompt! Subscribe to the "Little Botanist's Clube" newsletter.

July is Lakes💧Appreciation Month!

You work and play on them. You drink 🚰 from them. But do you really appreciate them? Learn more from the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS).



Celebrate lakes by joining the annual NALMS Secchi Dip-In! Volunteers have been submitting data for the annual Dip-In since 1994! Submit your data.

Section 2:

Educator Professional Development Workshops

View ALL of the Upcoming Educator Workshops on the DCNR Calendar

Growing Up🦊WILD Educator Workshop

Saturday, August 2, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM

In-person at Vosburg Neck State Park, 470 Vosburg Rd., Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Act 48: 2.5 hrs.

Fee: $15 payable in advance; pre-registration required

Formal & non-formal educators are welcome to join us for a workshop focused on using children’s curiosity to foster learning through engagement with the natural world. All participants will receive a copy of the Growing Up WILD Curriculum Guide that includes lessons designed for ages 3-7. Lessons from the guide will be modeled during the training.​ Register NOW! Register by 7/22/25. Questions? Contact Amanda Kiernan, EES amkiernan@pa.gov or 570-543-2663.


PA🐦Songbirds Educator Workshop

Tuesday, August 5, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Wildwood Park--Olewine Nature Center, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $37.75 pre-registration required; morning refreshments & snacks provided.

Songbirds have fascinated people for 1000s of years, inspiring art, music, science, & engineering! Join Naturalists at Wildwood Park for a Pennsylvania Songbirds Workshop featuring the newly revised DCNR Pennsylvania Songbirds K-8 Guide. During this hands-on workshop we will explore bird biology, adaptations, & migration; discover how birds influence design & engineering; and examine issues that affect both birds & people, such as land use & climate change. The workshop will also include bird ID & a short hike to discover the many species of birds that at Wildwood Park. Open to any educator interested in birds & teaching through place-based education such as classroom teachers, non-formal educators, college students studying to be teachers (pre-service), school administrators, homeschool teachers, & youth leaders. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Savanna Lenker at 717-221-0292 or slenker@dauphincounty.gov.


Project WILD🦊Educator Workshop

Tuesday, August 5, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

In-Person at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: FREE!

Join Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) educators for an in-person educator workshop and receive your own copy of the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide. Through hands-on, phenomena-based, and cross-cutting lessons, Project WILD activities help foster responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. This workshop is suitable for both formal & non-formal educators and is targeted towards grade levels 3-12. To register, contact Jordan Sanford, PGC Wildlife Outreach Coordinator, at jorsanford@pa.gov or 717-787-4250 ext. 73337. Register by: 8/1/25.


PA🐦Songbirds Educator Workshop

Tuesday, August 5, 2:00 PM - 8:30 PM

In-Person at Presque Isle State Park, 301 Peninsula Dr., Ste. 1, Erie, PA 16505

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $15 pre-registration required

Transform your teaching with Pennsylvania Songbirds! The ultimate K-8 activity guide for teachers & non-formal educators. Dive into science & ecology through the engaging lens of birds while addressing key environmental issues. This curriculum uniquely blends science with English, art, & math. This workshop includes a field experience of Purple Martins staging prior to migration facilitated by staff from the Purple Martin Conservation Assoc. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Anne Desarro, EESS at adesarro@pa.gov or 814-833-7424.



Project WET💦Climate, Water, & Resilience Educator Workshop

Wednesday, August 6, 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM

In-Person at Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Rd., Kane, PA 16735

Act 48: 2.5 hrs.

Fee: $15 pre-registration required

Climate, Water, and Resilience helps educators teach middle and high school students about climate and climate change using interactive, objective, science-based activities that students will enjoy. The workshop is open to all educators who work with students from grades 6-12, including teachers, naturalists, scout leaders, and others! Participants will receive the Climate, Water, and Resilience Educator Guide. To register, contact Holly Dzemyan at hdzemyan@pa.gov or the park office at 814-778-5467. 


PA🐦Songbirds Educator Workshop

Wednesday, August 6, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

In-Person at Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mt. Olivet Rd., Wyoming, PA 18644

Act 48: 4.5 hrs.

Fee: $15 pre-registration required; call 570-696-3525 to pay with credit card 

PA Songbirds is a K-8 educator’s resource designed for teachers & non-formal educators. The guide contains over 40 bird-related lessons & activities to enhance your curriculum. Dive into science & ecology through the engaging lens of birds while addressing key environmental issues. Register by 7/31/25. To register, contact Kathy at kkelchner@pa.gov or 570-696-9105. 


Project Learning Tree (PLT)🌲Professional Development Workshop

Thursday, August 7, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Grey Towers National Historic Site, 151 Grey Towers Dr., Milford, PA 18337

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $20 payable in advance; pre-registration required by 7/30/25.

PLT’s flagship curriculum Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Collection includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature & increase young people's awareness & knowledge about their environment. Activities include detailed step-by-step instructions, academic correlations, time & material requirements, & corresponding student worksheets with green career connections. Join Grey Towers staff & PA State Parks Educators for a day of forest-based learning at the home of America’s 1st Chief of the US Forest Service & 2Xs PA Governor! This is one workshop you won’t want to miss! All participants will receive the PLT Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Collection, a tour of Grey Towers, light refreshments, & more! Register NOW! Questions? Contact Darian Rivera at darian.milerarivera@usda.gov or 570-296-9635.


Project Learning Tree (PLT)🌲Professional Development Workshop

Thursday, August 7, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Sinnemahoning State Park, Wildlife Center Classroom, 4843 Park Rd., Austin, PA 16720

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $20 payable in advance; pre-registration required by 7/30/25.

Connect your learners to nature with hands-on, engaging environmental experiences! Lessons offer exciting investigation-based teaching activities, making learning fun while also building skills, stimulating knowledge gains, & actively engaging students. PLT affords students opportunities to learn through real experiences, rather than just reading or hearing about them. Participants will receive a K-8 curriculum guide with over 50 standards-aligned lessons & printable material. Lessons easily adapted to new PA State STEELS standards. Open to formal classroom teachers & informal educators such as homeschool parents, scout leaders, etc. Best suited for instructors of grades K-8. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Susan Schenck at 814-435-3580 or sschenck@pa.gov.


Watershed Education💦Workshop - Native Brook Trout Edition

Friday, August 15, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

In-Person at Sinnemahoning State Park, 4843 Park Rd, Austin, PA 16720

Act 48: up to 11.5 hrs. (includes 3 hours of pre-workshop assignments)

Fee: $20 pre-registration required

Introducing Watershed Education (WE) with a twist. This educator workshop is perfect for teachers who like connecting the classroom with real-world applications & experiences. Learn how to utilize the WE curriculum & apply it in your classroom, in this specially adapted workshop that focuses on the Brook Trout. Discover what these fish can tell us about the world around them. This WE workshop is open to educators working with students in grades 6 – 12. WE is an inquiry-based, interdisciplinary curriculum developed by the DCNR Bureau of State Parks to help educators utilize local natural resources as valuable teaching tools. By blending hands-on classroom & field investigations modeled on professional research methodologies, students participate in data collection & analysis, community networking & partnerships, & stewardship & service-learning activities. By completing both parts - homework, & in-person workshop – participants will receive a copy of the award-winning WE curriculum, maps, & more. Register NOW. Questions? Contact Bob Edkin, EES at redkin@pa.gov or 814-647-8401 ext. 105.


Project WET💦Educator Workshop

Wednesday, August 20, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Presque Isle State Park, Tom Ridge Envi. Center, 301 Peninsula Dr., Erie, PA 16505

Act 48: 5.5 hrs.

Fee: $15 pre-registration required

Water is one of our greatest resources, & it must be protected! Join PA State Park educators to delve into the award-winning Project WET curriculum. Project WET - Water Education Today - is a national curriculum that strives to educate, empower, & activate students in grades K-12. This PD workshop, designed for classroom teachers & non-formal educators alike, will help you teach about water resources through hands-on, investigative, & easy-to-use activities. All participants will receive the Project WET 2.0 Educator Guide & access to Project WET's online resources. Register NOW! Questions? Contact John Laskos at jlaskos@pa.gov or call the Park office (814) 833-7424.


Project WILD🦊Educator Workshop

Monday, August 25, 2025 9am to 3:30pm

In-Person at Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19114

Act 48: 6 hrs.

Fee: $15.00 /pay-what-you-can

Join Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) educators for an in-person educator workshop and receive your own copy of the award-winning Project WILD K-12 Curriculum & Activity Guide. Through hands-on, phenomena-based, and cross-cutting lessons, Project WILD activities help foster responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources. This workshop is suitable for both formal & non-formal educators and is targeted towards grade levels 3-12. Questions? Contact Jordan Sanford, PGC Wildlife Outreach Coordinator, at jorrsanford@pa.gov or 717-787-4250 ext. 73337. Register by: 8/25/25. Register NOW!

PA Songbirds🐦Educator Workshop

Saturday, September 27, 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM

In-Person at Lackawanna State Park, 1839 Abington Rd., N. Abington Township, PA 18414

Act 48: 5 hrs.

Fee: $15.00; pre-registration is required.

Pennsylvania Songbirds is a hands-on, interdisciplinary K-8 teachers resource & activity guide developed by DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks & Audubon Mid-Atlantic. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on observation & identification of songbirds, bird biology, habitat, migration, & much more! This workshop is open to classroom teachers & non-formal educators including pre-service teachers, homeschool parents, naturalists, & scout leaders. Participants will receive the updated PA Songbirds K-8 Teacher’s Guide & will have the opportunity to see a bird banding demonstration. Register by 9/19/25. Register NOW! Questions? Contact Tony DeSantis, EES at antdesanti@pa.gov or 570-945-7110.

More Educator PD Trainings are scheduled.

Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities!

Section 4:

Explore the Outdoors!

Headed out to a PA State Park to fish?

We ask that anglers help to leave their fishing spots the same as or in better condition than they found them. Stay safe, Leave No Trace, & Happy Fishing! 🎣

#KeepPaBeautiful #LeaveNoTrace

Looking to stay fit and be of service? Sign up for the 52 Hike Challenge!

Join Leave No Trace / 52 Hike Challenge 🥾 for the NEW Earth Series Challenge.


Complete any combination of 10 stewardship hikes + 2 Leave No Trace (LNT) activities between 8/1/25 - 10/31/25 to raise funds & awareness for LNT! Learn more & sign-up. Hike with a purpose & leave the earth 🌎 better than you found it.

Section 5: Striving for Inclusion

- Learn more about DCNR's DEIB efforts-

2025 Outdoors For All Day!

  • When: Saturday, July 19th
  • From: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Where: Culliton Park, 210 S. Water St, Lancaster, PA
  • Cost: FREE!

Let's Go 1-2-3, in partnership with the PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), SoWe Neighborhood, & the City of Lancaster invite you to the 2nd annual "Outdoors for All Day!" Experience FREE family-friendly, nature-based activities, music 🎶, food 😋, games , & more! 


Pre-Registration is encouraged - http://bit.ly/46CLzuB (get your Passport Ticket for food & refreshments, while supplies last). 

July is Disability PRIDE MONTH!

This year’s theme, chosen by The Arc’s National Council of Self-Advocates, is “We Belong Here, and We’re Here To Stay.” 

Disability Pride Month commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990.


Celebrate Disability Pride Month! Recognize the history, achievements, experiences, & struggles of people with disabilities. Disability is a natural & valuable part of human diversity—not a deficit or condition to be fixed.

  • Today, more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults —over 70 million people— identify as having a disability. This month calls on everyone to promote inclusion & ensure people with disabilities are accepted exactly as they are, without conditions.
  • Learn more about Disability Pride in PA.
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PA State Parks are YOURS!

Book your virtual, in-person programs, and field experiences with PA State Park Educators! Find a PA State Park. Need help connecting to a PA State Park with an Educator on staff? Reach out to Carissa Longo at calongo@pa.gov.


DCNR facilities and Programs are OPEN to ALL👐

  • Many Environmental Education programs require pre-registration. Explore the DCNR events calendar for details & to register.
  • Plan your outing before you leave. Learn about facilities, download a park map on your phone or print it, & review regulations here: Find A Park
  • Take care of & respect the resource. Park, hike, hunt, explore, & more only in designated areas.
  • Check the weather before you depart, wear proper footwear, & bring water. Wear orange if hiking in designated hunting areas. Please clean up after pets 🐕.
  • Do not litter 🚮.
  • Alcohol is not allowed in PA State Parks.
  • Make a Reservation (up to 11-months in advance) at a PA State Park Campground, Camping Cottage, Cabin, Yurt, or Pavilion.

 

You can help keep state parks safe for all by following these practices:

  • Use the restroom before you leave your house 🏡 Take hand sanitizer with you & use it
  • LNT! Bring a bag & either carry out your trash or dispose of it properly
  • If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick, stay home

🌞 Happy Summer! 🌞



Carissa Longo, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating Project WILD & Pennsylvania Songbirds Curricula for all of PA)

&

Christine Ticehurst, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating PLT & DCNR's GO Teach Curricula for PA State Parks)

&

Kim Lott, Natural Resource Program Specialist

(Coordinating DCNR's Watershed Education, PA Land Choices, & Project WET curricula for PA State Parks)

Visit the DCNR Events Calendar- Teacher Workshops to find additional training opportunities!