Soak in the Start of Summer!

As we prepare to celebrate the summer solstice on Saturday, June 20, we invite you to kick off the season by exploring, discovering, creating, and relaxing at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve.


Our staff has been hard at work in the gardens, laying the foundation for a season filled with vibrant blooms and abundant harvests. The Nature House, outdoor play spaces, and educational trails continue to grow and evolve, offering new opportunities for exploration, learning, and connection with nature.


One of the joys of visiting the Reserve is that no two visits are ever quite the same—I think you'll find something new to discover each time you stop by this summer!


We look forward to welcoming the summer season with you!

Sincerely,

Executive Director, Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve

Learning Center Barn

Summer Closure

The Learning Center Barn will be CLOSED on

Friday, June 19th

for summer staff professional development.

Enjoy the trails and outdoor spaces!

Mud Day was MARVELOUS!

Thank you to the Over 200 visitors to MUD DAY this past Friday! We hope you had as much fun as we did! From mud painting and free play on the back patio and delectable dishes served up in the mud kitchen, to pinch pots, compostable newspaper pot plants, and seed bombs, there was something for every mess level comfort zone!


Special thanks to Miss Amy from the Verostko Center for the Arts at SVC, for bringing over mud stamping and her pottery wheel-I think we all learned something new and got an itch for a new hobby!

Be on the lookout for more summer fun as we head into the heat of the season! Follow us on social media!

Meet Our Summer Staff!

You will see both new and familiar faces around the Reserve this summer as we welcome Aidan back for his second summer internship with us and welcome Abby, Eliot, and Sister Maria as they jump into summer programming, gardening, animal care, and more at WPNR.

Wildlife Safety and Care

With baby wildlife season in full swing, it's important to know what to do should you encounter a baby animal in your outdoor adventures. In most cases, THEY DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP! Watch from afar for the mother to return, do not touch or approach the animal, and in the case of visible signs of injury or distress, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or the Pennsylvania Game Commission for further assistance.

Wildlife Works, Inc.

836 Chestnut St, Youngwood, PA

(724) 925-6862

Forest Friends

735 Nighthawk Drive, Mt. Pleasant, PA

(412) 732-4076

PA Game Commission, SW Region Office

4820 PA-711, Bolivar, PA

(724) 238-9523

Harrier Hotline

Northern Harriers have called WPNR's fields and meadows home in the past, and now, given their steep population decline, Hawk Mountain wants to collect information and sightings from all over Pennsylvania! Scan the code or call if you see a Northern Harrier at WPNR or anywhere in PA!

MORE Mini Winnie Summer Fun

Winnie's History Garden

Winnie (Walzer) Palmer (1933-1999) was an avid supporter of the arts, conservation, and education. She leaves a legacy that lives on here at WPNR.


In honor of the woman whose vision we base our mission on, Winnie's History Garden takes visitors on a journey through the history of the land and the lady, including the original stone pathway from the farmhouses that once stood on the property, lined with the daffodils that welcome Spring each year, and plenty of Winnie's favorite flowers and plants, including peonies, contorted filbert, rose mallow, and more, many which were transplanted from other areas of the reserve.


Next time you visit, consider taking a stroll through the more manicured garden space, right off of Walzer Way, and immerse yourself in Winnie's vision of protecting our little nook of nature.

For Our Furry Friends...

We started with a Little Free [Book & Seed] Library at the Walzer Way entrance to the reserve. Then, with the opening of the Nature House play space, we added a Little Free Library for kids in the Library Nook of the Nature House. Now, to show our love for our four-legged friends, we've added a Little Free TREAT Library for dogs, also at the Walzer Way entrance. Stop by while you're on your adventure to let your furry friends get a treat of the own while you pick out a new read!

Magnificent Monarchs

The Westmoreland Pollinator Partners (WPP) are spearheading an initiative to certify 250 new properties in America’s Laurel Highlands as Monarch Waystations this year, and they need your help!

Penguin Court will accept Monarch Waystation applications, ensure certification requirements are met, and assign a Monarch Waystation identification number to participants who qualify. Certificates and signs can be picked up at select locations throughout the region.  

Register your waystation at the link above to determine if your yard/garden/wild space meets the criteria to qualify as a Monarch Waystation!

Visit WPNR and find our Monarch exhibit for additional resources for creating and sustaining a thriving Monarch habitat in your outdoor spaces and to pick up a paper application if you prefer!

Fantastic Finds Online

Get in Touch!

(724) 537-5284

744 Walzer Way ​

Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650

Learning Center Barn Hours: 

Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Trail Hours: Daily Dawn to Dusk

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