DCNR Calendar of Events

Events

Friday, August 9

Koppenhaver Trail Hike (2.5-mile loop)

Koppenhaver Trail Hike (2.5-mile loop) Take a guided hike along a creek and wooded trail as the park naturalist points out interesting species and notable...

Morning Hike

Join our park educator for a morning hike around our park. We will explore one of the park's easier trails, chatting about whatever we find on the hike!...

River Ecology Educator Workshop

Cook Forest State Park will be conducting a two-day River Ecology Educator Workshop. This course is considered a Watershed Education workshop, so educators...

Nature Story

Bring your children to the Amphitheater to enjoy a story and participate in an activity, game, or craft. Park and meet at the Amphitheater. Contact...

Smokey Bear's Birthday: Bears of the World Exhibit

Celebrate Smokey Bear's birthday by joining your DCNR Park Naturalist for a special exhibit along the Multi-Use Trail about bears of the world. Learn about...

Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation

Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation is a tale of science, culture, and thrilling adventure. Earth is a planet born of fire. For billions of years, volcanoes...

Historic Gristmill Summer Hours - Memorial Day through Labor Day

The 19th century gristmill is the centerpiece of McConnells Mill State Park. The historic gristmill at McConnells Mill State Park is open Memorial Day...

Turtle Odyssey

Sea Turtles are some of Earth's most ancient and majestic creatures. For over 100 millions years, they have traversed the seas, surviving multiple mass...

Backyard Wilderness

Backyard Wilderness will surprise and entertain viewers with the unexpected wonders of nature that are right under our noses- in our own backyards. Spanning...

Mysteries of the Great Lakes

Travel to the 'inland seas' where some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth is also the world's largest concentration of freshwater. The Great Lakes are...

Smokey Bear is 75

It’s Smokey’s birthday! Come and build a sand birthday cake on the beach to celebrate. All ages welcome.

Park Scavenger Hunt

Meet up with our park naturalist to get your list then explore the park looking for all sorts of items! Once your list is complete or you've run out of time,...

Intro to Kayaking

Here’s your chance to try kayaking! Participants will learn kayak terminology and basic paddle skills before heading out on the water. Ages 12 and up....

Learning at the Beach: Wildfire Safety

Stop by the beach area to learn about wildfire safety and there may be special guest visiting us this day.

Turtle Odyssey

Sea Turtles are some of Earth's most ancient and majestic creatures. For over 100 millions years, they have traversed the seas, surviving multiple mass...

Backyard Wilderness

Backyard Wilderness will surprise and entertain viewers with the unexpected wonders of nature that are right under our noses- in our own backyards. Spanning...

DiscoverE - Outdoor Explorers

The Outdoor Explorers and Hide-N-Seekers programs at the park will follow a different format this year. Each of the two programs will have a number of...

Paws & Jaws: Raccoons

Join us on the pool deck to learn about these clever creatures. We’ll be playing a fun game that involves using your senses. Afterward, we will make a craft...

Hike the Nature Trail

Join the park naturalist for an afternoon walk along the Nature Trail at Ole Bull. There will be a discussion about the flora and fauna seen along the trail...

Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation

Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation is a tale of science, culture, and thrilling adventure. Earth is a planet born of fire. For billions of years, volcanoes...

Kayaking Holman Lake

Join us for an evening kayak on Holman Lake. You must register as space is limited. Call the park office to register. Meet at the small kayak shed next to...

State Parks & Prescribed Burns

Join the park naturalist at the Kell Visitor Center to learn how state parks have been utilizing fire as a management tool. This management technique is not...

Birthday Party for Smokey

Come help us celebrate Smokey Bear's Birthday at the Brightbill Interpretive Center. Hear Smokey's story. There will be snacks, fun activities and even a...

Dark Sky Telescope Workshop

Get more out of your own telescope! Dust it off and bring it out for a night under the stars. OR Find out what to look for when purchasing a telescope or...

Introduction to the World of Bats

Bats are a fascinating, unique, & important group of mammals! This program will discuss the various ecological roles that bats play around the world &...

Launch Into Space

Launch into space by joining us for astronomy themed educational games. These games will provide an introduction into astronomy and the Night Sky Tour...

Outer Space Hats

Learn about outer space, the planets, and sun as you create a wearable solar system. All materials provided.

Smokey Bear's 75th Birthday

Help us celebrate 75 years of Smokey Bear! Learn a little about black bears here in Pennsylvania, and the history of Smokey Bear.

Smokey Bear's 75th Birthday Party!

Meet: Education Building Come help us celebrate a very special 75th birthday with Smokey Bear. Learn about our native PA black bears and then practice your...

Smokey Visits the Campground!

Today, is Smokey the Bear’s 75th birthday! Watch for him as he tours the campground, then come to the amphitheater at 7:00 for a program about how you can...

DiscoverE: Bats in the Night

Presented in collaboration with Mifflin Library, at this special event for children aged 8+ we will learn about the bats of Nolde Forest and then go out on...

State Symbol Trivia

Do you know our state tree? Do you know our state beverage? Did you know we have a state fossil or a state dog? Come on out to the campground amphitheater...

Coffee Break

Friday evening at 8:00 we will have our weekly coffee break. This is an informal question and answer period and general chat session, held every Friday...

Legends

Join the Park Naturalist around the campfire. Tonight we’ll explore the time honored tradition of storytelling. Every place and family has their own local...

A Beautiful Crusade

The first woman to hold a job in PA government, Mira Lloyd Dock served on the Forest Commission and led many to the idea of conserving resources. Learn more...

National Parks: Morning of Creation

This final episode of the Ken Burns series explores the grand legacy we have received, and our responsibilities to bequeath it to the future.

Night Hike

Venture with the Park Naturalist for a 1.5-mile hike along the dark trails to hear, maybe see, & learn about the nightlife within Bald Eagle State Park....

Night Sky Viewing

Join Tom Traub, Project Director for the Martz Observatory, and learn the essentials of stargazing. The planets Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn will be...

Three Smart Dogs

Examine the world of red fox, gray fox, and coyote to learn about their unique features and survival strategies in the wild. Skins, mounts, photos, and...

Shamans & Saints

Enjoy learning about historical beliefs explaining the mystical falling stars and our current understanding of meteor showers. The program includes a...

The Perseids Meteor Shower

Join the park naturalist to watch the meteor shower that is peeking this weekend. The bright moon may make it hard to see many of the meteors and stars, but...

Moon & Meteor Watch

Join park staff for a Moon & Meteor Watch! The Perseid Meteor Shower will be peaking this weekend, however the 1st quarter moon will negatively impact...

The Perseid Meteor Shower

This annual event is usually the most spectacular meteor shower of the year. This year, although a one-quarter moon may reuce the viewing, it will still be a...

Friday, August 9