The department offers conservation education opportunities for:
- Teachers and other non-formal educators hoping to connect students to their natural environment
- Students looking for an outdoor, educational experience
- Families who want to learn more about recreation on our public lands
- Campers expanding their knowledge of the natural world around them
- Special interest groups including seniors, veterans, volunteers, homeschool groups, and outdoor recreation clubs
State Park Public Education Programs
Pennsylvania State Parks offer thousands of educational programs every year focusing on the natural, cultural, and recreational resources we steward. Would you like to learn how to stand-up paddleboard? Or perhaps you’re interested in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Or maybe you’d rather observe the dark sky and uncover its mysteries.
Pennsylvania State Parks offers programming on a wide variety of topics for everyone. Whether you’re camping at a park, visiting for the day, or live down the road—everyone is welcome. By participating in park programming, you will try new skills, investigate nature, learn from experts, and connect with Pennsylvania’s vast natural resources. To learn more about upcoming public programs and to register, please visit the DCNR Calendar of Events.
Education Publications
Pennsylvania State Parks offers two, free educational publications for exploring parks on your own or with groups.
- Animal Tracks and Traces (PDF) is a simple guide to identifying tracks (i.e., paw prints) and traces (i.e., chewed leaves, nests, etc.) of common Pennsylvania animals. The guide (PDF) is also available in Spanish.
- Pennsylvania Natural Symbols (PDF) shares information about the eight plants and animals designated as Pennsylvania’s state symbols. Learn about the state tree, flower, fish, insect, and others.
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Envirothon Pennsylvania Envirothon is a fun, academic event that challenges high school students to think critically about the natural world and their roles in it. -
Geology Education The rich natural history, abundant mineral resources, and varied landscape of Pennsylvania provides teachers, students, families, and the public many opportunities to enjoy and learn about geology. -
Land Conservation and Stewardship Conservation is not just part of DCNR’s name, it is deep-rooted in everything we do. We know that to make conservation truly successful every one of us needs to take action. -
Penn’s Explorers Youth Program Pennsylvania State Parks’ youth program is an exciting way for young people (ages 4–17) to engage in fun, educational activities. Program participants, called Penn’s Explorers, track their visits to state parks and the programs they attend in their Adventure Journal. -
Project Learning Tree Project Learning Tree is an award-winning, environmental education program committed to advancing forest literacy and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. -
Recreation Skills Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation opportunities are as diverse as its people and places. Four seasons, mountains, rivers, lakes, and millions of acres of forests and fields serve as the settings for nearly every type of recreation. -
Scouts Conservation Awards The Forest Conservation Award honors both boy and girl scouts for their hard work on projects related to nature. -
Think Outside Colleges can use the Commonwealth's 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests for hands-on, place-based education through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Think Outside Program. -
Water Education Whether you want to explore your local stream, measure the turbidity of your state park lake, or learn how a dam works, the department offers hundreds of programs throughout the year focused on water. -
Wildlife Education Pennsylvania’s wildlife is as diverse as its rivers and forests. To spot an elk or see a bald eagle is experiencing Pennsylvania at its wildest. Many wildlife-focused educational opportunities for individuals and families are offered throughout the year.