PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship

A few weeks ago, the PA Wilds Center teamed up with Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for the first ever National Leadership Forum on Rural Development. This event brought together 70 national leaders in economic development, outdoor recreation, and conservation to identify shared priorities and core opportunities for rural communities looking to enhance their economies through outdoor recreation. The National Leadership Forum on Rural Development featured a keynote address from Baratunde Thurston, Emmy-nominated host, producer, writer, and public speaker, as well as high-profile discussions with Basil I. Gooden, Ph.D., USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development, I Ling Matthews Thompson, CEO of the Foundation for America's Public Lands, Marc Berejka, Divisional Vice President at REI Co-op, Glenn Hughes, President at American Sportfishing Association, and many others to discuss the current state of rural America, key development opportunities to tap into, and lessons from effective communities from around the country to demonstrate how outdoor recreation and rural economies can thrive together. Many thanks to Richard King Mellon Foundation for their support of this event and the Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation for their partnership and collaboration.

Check out this fun video of Governor Shapiro visiting Black Moshannon State Park in the PA Wilds and testing out one of the new colorblind viewfinders! https://lnkd.in/etSW7UxJ These new viewfinders were made possible through a three-way collaborating with the PA Wilds Center, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. The donations came from the PA Wilds Center's Charity Checkout for Conservation, asking travelers at the PA Wilds Conservation Shops and ShopThePAWilds.com to make a donation for improvements at PA Wilds-area parks and forests. Thank you to everyone who helped or donated!

What an honor it is to receive Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry award for Investment in Community at the Celebration of Excellence Gala! The community of Warren has been a pleasure to partner with over the years, and we are proud to invest in the people, businesses, organizations, and community spirit there. The PA Wilds Center appreciates this award and looks forward to continuing to serve our mission of marrying conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities throughout the PA Wilds. * Photos courtesy of Donnie Rosie and Lydia Spencer at Rosie Marketing.

Potter County invites proposals from experienced consultants or firms to develop a County-Wide Economic Revitalization Implementation Plan (Revitalize Potter County). This plan is intended to provide actionable steps aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and leveraging economic prosperity, and building stronger, more vibrant connected communities across Potter County. Proposals will be accepted until December 20, 2024. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/epsqYwcH

The Pennsylvania Wilds region was thrilled to be featured as part of Chuck's Big Adventure, a travel segment on WTHR-TV in Indianapolis! Chuck and his crew came to visit us last week, exploring around the PA Grand Canyon and Elk Country. Check out this sneak peek video... can you spot the footage they got in the PA Wilds? https://lnkd.in/eFWZD4un

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship celebrated new colorblind viewfinders at Leonard Harrison State Park, as well as the partnerships and donations that helped make the project possible. Thank you to everyone who stopped by LHSP yesterday! This special partnership between the PA Wilds Center, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation means that parks are becoming even more enjoyable for those with red-green color deficiency.

Do you remember when you first fell in love with the outdoors? For many of us, the call of the wild starts from a young age, with inspiring adults helping us connect with nature and explore new possibilities outside of the four walls of our homes. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship is helping to engage the next generation and encourage them to think about ways they can work and recreate outdoors, with the Outdoor Industry Exploration Series program. As a state-approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO), the PA Wilds Center is able to offer innovative programming to public schools within the PA Wilds region. Many thanks to Piper VanOrd from Allegheny Outfitters, Inc and Dana Harrington from Goat Fort for providing students with these valuable opportunities. Many thanks as well to the generous donations from Warren-based Whirley-DrinkWorks!, Plastikos Inc in Erie, C&N – Banking, Lending, Wealth Management and other donors.  Learn more about how youth got involved recently in Warren County here: https://lnkd.in/eT2JcSR2

It's always a joy to get out and appreciate a local festival in the PA Wilds, especially on a day as gorgeous as this one! The Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival is a spectacular event that is now in its 71st year! The PA Wilds Center's communications manager Britt Madera spent a day exploring and enjoying ALF.

The PA Wilds Center is honored to be part of the first-ever National Leadership Forum on Rural Development by Outdoor Recreation Roundtable in Pittsburgh! This forum brings together leaders from across the country to share ideas and strategies for rural economic development through outdoor recreation.

As Pennsylvania as a whole was celebrating PA Trails Month in September, the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship joined in the celebration at a few trails-related events in the rural Pennsylvania Wilds region. This included the Western PA Trails and Greenways Summit and the official dedication of the Trails at Jakes Rocks as Pennsylvania's 2024 Trail of the Year. “Much of the work of our nonprofit is based around those public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities. These trails and natural spaces are special to us. They bring in travelers from all over the world, and they make it a joy to live and work here,” PA Wilds Center communications manager Britt Madera said. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/efc2F9pv