Get Outdoors PA strives to connect citizens with outdoor Program Highlights to GetOutdoorsPA.org to learn more, access partner recreation activities to increase their appreciation and active Partner Power resources, get updates, become Get Outdoors PA has 101 community partners–in- EGSQQYRMX]TEVXRIVERH½RH use of parks, forests and public spaces while imparting a mes- cluding over 40 park and recreation departments outdoor events. and over 40 trail and conservation organizations. sage of environmental stewardship and healthy living. 7MRGIMXWPEYRGLMR+IX3YXHSSVW4%TEVXRIVWLMTLEWKVS[RWMKRM½GERXP]I\TERHMRKSYXHSSV recreation opportunities to all regions of the state. Community partners offer over 1,200 Get Outdoors PA programs, statewide, annually. Get Outdoors PA Grows 'SQQYRMX]TEVXRIVWVIGSKRM^IXLIZEPYISJGSPPEFSVEXMSRERHEGXMZIP]WIIORSRTVS½XTVMZEXI Get Outdoors PA is a partnership of state agencies, sector and governmental partners. state-wide and community organizations, and recreation departments–all committed to providing outdoor recre- Quality Programming ation learning events in the communities they serve. Get Outdoors PA events offer participants a variety In 2004, Get Outdoors PA was established as a way to SJFIRI½XWMRGPYHMRKPIEVRMRKFEWMGXSEHZERGIHWOMPPW expand recreational programming in state parks and con- in outdoor activities, connecting with other outdoor nect people to the outdoors in a meaningful way. enthusiasts, and discovering new outdoor places. Get Outdoors PA, in an effort to improve and expand -R+IX3YXHSSVW4%SJ½GMEPP]I\TERHIHFI]SRH recreational programming across the state, offers a va- state parks and into communities across Pennsylvania to riety of educational opportunities to recreation provid- bring outdoor experiences closer to where people live. ers including webinars and training sessions.
Over a thousand events and programs are offered, state- The Get Outdoors PA Mini-Grant Program was un- & Forests Foundation Parks PA wide and year-round, to help promote interest in a vari- veiled in 2015. The program provides Get Outdoors IX]SJSYXHSSVEGXMZMXMIWMRGPYHMRKLMOMRK½WLMRKLYRXMRK PA Community Partners up to 50% of training and/or camping and biking. equipment costs related to improving outdoor pro- PA Parks & Forests Foundation gramming (not to exceed $3,000). Ten projects were ȱĵȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱ Get Outdoors PA awarded in June 2015, totaling $14,000. the Great Allegheny Passage in Ohiopyle State Park. The Partner Portal at GetOutdoorsPA.org offers a va- Expands to 101 riety of recreation and health-based resources including programmatic best management practices % &! Community Partners and sample lesson plans.
! ! Outreach & Awareness $ " GetOutdoorsPA.org is the website for promoting Penn- ' $ () sylvania outdoor recreational events.
# ! ' ! Community partners receive a monthly email entitled Get Outdoors PA Partner News which provides helpful resources like grant deadlines, resources and ideas. Outdoor enthusiasts may sign up for Get Outdoors PAth- These low-cost high-quality recreation outings with ½RHIV, a monthly e-newsletter that offers interesting in- experienced trip leaders are intended to increase partici- sight on the world of outdoor recreation plus featured pants’ appreciation and active use of our parks and forests Get Outdoors PA events. while imparting messages of environmental stewardship Get Outdoors PA promotional materials, including and healthy living. posters, trading cards, business cards and stickers, are available to community partners. Get Outdoors PA is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Lehigh Gap Nature Center PA Game Commission A birder at Bake Oven Knob Hawk Nest. and Pinterest. Top-Notch Outdoor Programs Many Thanks “Our partnership with Get Outdoors PA has “The Millbrook Marsh Nature Center was allowed us to network with professionals from awarded a $1,500 matching grant to assist organizations that share our mission of provid- with equipment for its introductory kayaking ing top-notch outdoor programs and facilities programs. These programs will be held in the to the residents of Pennsylvania. The recent controlled environment of Welch Community mini grant award will help us to purchase Swimming Pool to provide a safe setting for much needed equipment to expand our pro- new kayakers to get comfortable with and learn how to safely use the boats. Many thanks grams and the various webinars have refreshed to the Get Outdoors PA Mini-Grant for mak- our creativity and kept us up-to-date regarding ing this program possible.” industry standards and best practices.” Melissa Freed Tammy Agesen A Lancaster County naturalist guides participants of all ages on a Centre Region Parks & Recreation Centre Region, thanks in part to a Get Outdoors PA mini-grant, will Lancaster County Parks Department nature hike. ěȱȱ¢ȱȱȱǯ
“The Partnership for Better Health co-hosts a free 6-week walking ±%WEREZMHLMOIV-PSZIXLISTTSVXYRMX]XS½RHRI[XVEMPWQIIX series with the Carlisle Parks & Recreation Department. The walks new people and learn more about our natural surroundings. I feature trails from our Simply Moving guide. The people who attend learn something new every time I attend one of ClearWater Con- the walking series like the socialization of walking with others and servancy’s Adventures in Conservation and I often take my friends are uneasy about going out in remote areas on their own. They like out to the new places I’ve discovered through these events.” the group aspect while getting introduced to new trails and people.” Susan Braun Gail Witwer Get Outdoors PA program participant Partnership for Better Health An Excellent Resource One, United and Strong, Voice “Get Outdoors PA has been an excellent “Being a Get Outdoors PA partner means resource for Let’s Go Outdoors and a great promoting healthy, outdoor recreational op- organization that we can refer our participants portunities with one, united and strong, voice. to! We love the ability to post events on the Sharing our public paddling and bicycling events website, collaborate with others for ideas and along the Susquehanna River using GOPA’s check out new ideas, information, and activities online tools is easy and impactful. The Partner that others are having. People who stop by our Portal has been a useful resource as we con- table love the trading card facts and kids love sider hosting new types of events and provides the stickers. One of our participants said, “This forms, tools, and experiences shared by other is really great and it is nice to be able to see partners. If you’re looking for one-stop-shop- what is happening across the state! It makes TMRKXS½RHSYXHSSVIZIRXWEGVSWWXLIWXEXI me want to get outdoors more!” Get Outdoors PA has you covered!” A family enjoys a snowy outdoor adventure hosted by Let’s Go ȱ ¢ȱȂȱȱȱĴȱŝśȱ Keisha Scovens ǰȱȱ ȱȱȱȱȱȱĴȱȱ Erin Pierce participants in 2014; the event contributed an estimated $14,000 to Let’s Go Outdoors outdoors and into nature. Susquehanna Greenway Partnership the local economy through the purchase of goods and services. p Susquehanna Greenways Partnershi Susquehanna Greenways
Get Outdoors PA Community Partners
Abington Area Joint Recreation Board Friends of Canoe Creek State Park Penn Township Abington Friends School Ĵ¢ȱȱȱ¢ Perkasie Borough Abington Parks and Recreation Greater Johnstown Adventure Club Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Allegheny Land Trust HJP Park and Open Space Commission Ĵȱȱ¢ Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Hampden Township Parks and Recreation Plymouth Township Parks and Recreation Appalachian Mountain Club Haverford Township Parks and Recreation Pocono Environmental Education Center Appalachian Trail Conservancy Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Pocono Heritage Land Trust Berks Conservancy Hollow Oak Land Trust ȱ¢ȱȱ ȱ Berks County Parks and Recreation Ĵ¢ȱ Rail Trail Council of Northeast PA Department Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station Ridgway Main Street Program Blue Mountain Recreation Commission ȱ ȱ¢ ȱȱĴ Brentwood Borough Lancaster County Department of Parks Ross Township Parks and Recreation Brodhead Watershed Association and Recreation Department Bucks County Conservation District Lehigh Gap Nature Center Saint Joseph’s University Adventure Club ěȱ¢ȱȱ¢ Let’s GO Outdoors Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education Carbon County Environmental Education Live Well Luzerne (Wilkes-Barre YMCA) Center Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center Manada Conservancy Central PA Conservancy Silver Spring Twp Parks and Recreation Manheim Township Department Centre Region Parks and Recreation Au- Marshall Township thority Spring Garden Township Meadville Area Recreation Complex Chester County Facilities and Parks Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve Merrill Linn Land and Waterways Department Stroud Region Open Space and Conservancy ClearWater Conservancy Recreation Commission Monroe County Conservation District Council on Greenways and Trails Susquehanna Greenway Partnership Mount Pleasant Borough Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation Swatara Watershed Association Muhlenberg Township Park and Department The Land Conservancy for Southern Get Outdoors PA Goals Recreation Department Crystal Lake Ski Center Chester County Murrysville Recreation Department connect people with the outdoors through Pennsylvania’s public lands; Cumberland County ȱȱ ȱȱĴ Natural Lands Trust Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Township of Spring Parks and Recreation inspire environmental conservation, stewardship and healthy living; Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Department Delaware Highlands Conservancy Newtown Township Parks and Recreation Upper Dublin Township encourage physical activity through outdoor recreation; ȱ¢ȱȱ Norristown Farm Park ȱ Derry Twp Department of Parks and deliver quality outdoor recreation opportunities to the public through best Recreation North Branch Land Trust Warwick Regional Recreation Commission Downingtown Area Recreation Northcentral PA Conservancy Washington County Department of Parks practice models; Consortium Northern Lebanon Recreation and and Recreation East Berlin Area Community Center Parks Commission West End Park and Open Space Commission increase the number of quality outdoor recreation programs in Pennsylvania; East Goshen Township Ohio River Trail Council Western PA Orienteering Club East Hanover Township Ohio Township develop public-private partnerships encouraging economic growth in a sustain- Whitpain Township Endless Mountain Heritage Region Paddle without Pollution Wildlands Conservancy able way; Fern Hollow Nature Center ȱȱĴȱ Women’s Care Center of Erie County Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Philadelphia Parks