Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Podcast Por Marci Mowery arte de portada

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

De: Marci Mowery
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Think Outside is your guide to outdoor opportunities, nature exploration, and wellness. Discover expert tips, inspiring stories, and new ways to connect with the great outdoors for a healthier, happier life. More information: https://thinkoutsidepodcast.com/Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Ciencia Ciencias Biológicas Higiene y Vida Saludable
Episodios
  • The Story Behind Laurel Caverns with David Cale

    The Story Behind Laurel Caverns with David Cale
    Apr 10 2026
    “I wasn't afraid of the cave, but I was afraid of people.”Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with David Cale, former owner of Laurel Caverns in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, for a conversation about one of the state's most singular natural wonders.It’s a cave system that became Pennsylvania's 125th state park, and the first underground state park in the commonwealth.David's relationship with Laurel Caverns began before he was born. His grandfather purchased the surrounding land in the 1920s, when the cave, then known as Delaney's Cave, was already a beloved destination for amateur explorers and weekend campers. David's earliest memories are of scrambling through its passages as a boy, naming chambers after Grieg compositions, and dreaming of what lay deeper in the mountain.That dream never let him go. Starting at age 15, David began digging through sand-clogged passages to find a new cave no one had ever seen, eventually opening what his staff named Cale's Canyon. Today, the system spans four known miles, with perhaps four times more still buried in sand.A philosopher by training, holding a doctorate in philosophy from Duquesne University, David ran the cavern for decades alongside his wife Lillian, pioneering bat hibernation protections as early as the 1970s and hosting Carnegie Mellon University researchers testing echolocation-inspired drones underground.His vision for the property was always a state park. He held off developers, resisted offers of quick profit, and ultimately donated the land outright with Lillian.Now that vision is reality.Key Topics:A Family Legacy in the Cave (01:47)The Hall of the Mountain King (03:21)Buying Back Laurel Caverns (08:58)Bat Conservation and Hibernation Closures (12:04)Cave History and Local Legend (15:35)Tour Levels: From Guided Walks to 45-Story Descents (22:27)Pennsylvania's 125th State Park (26:55)Laurel Caverns as a Scientific Laboratory (32:20)Resources:Laurel Cavern State Park: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/laurel-caverns-state-parkLaurel Caverns: https://laurelcaverns.com/Go Laurel Highlands: https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/London Symphony Orchestra performing Hall of the Mountain King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqvHWUZZdP0🎧 Listen to the Think Outside Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite app while on the go! New episodes drop bi-weekly on Mondays, and you may occasionally find a bonus episode, as well!The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.Learn more, find events, download outdoor resources, and get involved!👉 Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter🎥 Watch outdoor tips and stories on our YouTube channel📸 Follow the podcast on Instagram🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau📱 Follow PPFF on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeMeetUp
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    35 m
  • Getting to Know Black Moshannon State Park with Park Manager Mathias Weinzen

    Getting to Know Black Moshannon State Park with Park Manager Mathias Weinzen
    Apr 6 2026
    "We want to see everybody enjoying this place. That's where it all comes to fruition."Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Park Manager Mathias Weinzen to talk about one of Pennsylvania’s most ecologically distinctive parks: Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County."Black" describes the dark, tannin-stained waters of the 250-acre lake, colored as clear water flows through sphagnum moss and bog vegetation. It acts, as Mathias puts it, like a giant teabag. "Moshannon" comes from the Native American name for the watershed, traditionally meaning "moose stream."At the heart of the park lies a remarkable bog, a vast natural wetland home to all three of Pennsylvania's carnivorous plants: pitcher plant, sundew, and bladderwort, alongside wild blueberries, cranberries, and a flyway for over 175 recorded bird species.The fully accessible Bog Trail is Mathias’ top recommendation for first-time visitors, though his personal favorite is the Star Mill Trail, where he keeps a bench for reading.Beyond the bog, the park offers 22 miles of trails, a sandy beach, campsites, and 23 roofed overnight facilities. These include deluxe cottages named Blueberry, Cranberry, and Winterberry in honor of what grows here.The park's calendar runs from a winter festival on a frozen lake to Women in the Wilds, PA Wild Child, the Lumber Legacy event (complete with professional log burling demonstrations), and the wildly popular Haunted Lake Loop Trail each October.History runs deep here, too. The area was a thriving lumber community in the late 1800s before being reforested by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, whose rustic cabins and pavilions (some now converted into warming huts in winter) still serve visitors today. The park is also a gateway to over 43,000 acres of surrounding Moshannon State Forest, including the 40-mile Allegheny Front Trail.Mathias credits his staff above all else, and his message to anyone hesitating about a visit is to “trust us, come out, and we'll show you what it's about!”Key Topics:Trails, Beach, and Recreational Amenities (02:10)The Loaner Program (05:10)Ice Fishing and Winter Recreation (06:31)Festivals and Events Throughout the Year (08:15)Park History: Logging Era and the CCC (11:28)Elevation, Climate, and What to Pack (13:44)Surrounding Moshannon State Forest (16:44)First-Timer Recommendations (19:10)Resources:Black Moshannon State Park: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/black-moshannon-state-parkFriends of Black Moshannon: https://www.facebook.com/friendsofblackmoHappy Valley Adventure Bureau: https://happyvalley.com/🎧 Listen to the Think Outside Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite app while on the go! New episodes drop bi-weekly on Mondays, and you may occasionally find a bonus episode, as well!The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.Learn more, find events, download outdoor resources, and get involved!👉 Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter🎥 Watch outdoor tips and stories on our YouTube channel📸 Follow the podcast on Instagram🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau📱 Follow PPFF on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeMeetUp
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    23 m
  • Exploring the Bureau of Forestry with Director Seth Cassell

    Exploring the Bureau of Forestry with Director Seth Cassell
    Mar 23 2026
    "Everybody can be a steward of Penn’s Woods in some way."Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Seth Cassell, Director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, also known as the State Forester, to take a sweeping look at one of Pennsylvania's most consequential and quietly essential agencies.Seth came to the role with a deep reverence for the state's remarkable forest heritage and a vision for what stewardship in the 21st century demands.Pennsylvania's Bureau of Forestry oversees more than 2.2 million acres of state forest, but Seth is quick to point out that its reach goes far beyond that number.With 16 million acres of total forest in the commonwealth (70% of it privately owned), the Bureau operates as a statewide resource, providing technical assistance to roughly 650,000 private landowners, coordinating wildfire suppression, planting riparian buffers, and advancing urban tree canopy programs.Pennsylvania holds a rare distinction. It was the first state to certify its entire state forest system under the Forest Stewardship Council, achieving that milestone in 1998, and later added Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification to become dual-certified, a testament to decades of rigorous, accountable management.The Bureau's new strategic plan, Forests for All, signals a meaningful cultural shift, explicitly naming people and communities in its mission for the first time.Recreation across the system runs the gamut from scenic driving and snowmobiling to primitive backcountry camping on river islands, with a particular emphasis on the irreplaceable value of quiet. Wild and natural areas like Allen Seeger and Hammersley offer Pennsylvania's closest thing to true wilderness, while a growing focus on soundscape research reflects a commitment to protecting that stillness.Seth champions the power of partnership, crediting the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and a broad ecosystem of collaborators as essential to delivering on the Bureau's mission.He believes that everyone can be a steward of Penn’s Woods.Key Topics:Ecosystem Management Explained (01:19)The "Forests for All" Strategic Plan (10:12)Incident Management and Emergency Response (14:10)Recreational Opportunities in State Forests (15:36)Camping: Primitive, Roadside, and Water Trails (21:08)Wild Areas and Natural Areas (25:28)Forests and Water Quality (27:54)The Value of Planting Trees (29:34)Wildfire Prevention and Spring Fire Season (33:25)Partnership and the Trail Stewards Program (37:31)Resources:Bureau of Forestry: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/about/bureaus-and-offices/forestryStrategic Plan: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/conservation/forests-and-tree/state-forest-management/penn-woods-strategic-planRole of Quiet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQwXLJRHEqA&t=231sForests, Clean Water and Craft Beverages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JGwntQQpvc&t=187sFinley Center for Private Forests: https://ecosystems.psu.edu/research/centers/private-forestsTake Along Guide to Wild and Natural Areas: https://paparksandforests.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-natural-and-wild-areas-booklet.pdfMira Lloyd Dock: https://paconservationheritage.org/documentaries/Burn Bans: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/community-outreach-and-development/wildfire/burn-bans🎧 Listen to the Think Outside Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite app while on the go! New episodes drop bi-weekly on Mondays, and you may occasionally find a bonus episode, as well!The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.Learn more, find events, download outdoor resources, and get involved!👉 Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter🎥 Watch outdoor tips and stories on our YouTube channel📸 Follow the podcast on Instagram🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau📱 Follow PPFF on:FacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeMeetUp
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    39 m
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