Building an Outdoor Recreation Economy

Bringing Visitors to the Region

Let Us Help Your Business Grow

Being Good Stewards of our Region's Unique Character

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Wilds

More about the PA Wilds Center

Buy a PA Wilds Gift Card

Those wishing to support small businesses in the Pennsylvania Wilds region now have a new tool to do so. People from anywhere can now make sure their dollars stay within the region by purchasing the new Shop the PA Wilds digital community gift card for friends, family or even coworkers.

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Nominate a Champion

Each year the PA Wilds Center recognizes individuals, groups, and businesses that have made significant contributions to help grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in the Pennsylvania Wilds. Do you know someone deserving? Nominate them today!

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PA Wilds Big Idea Contest

In partnership with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Ben Franklin Technology Partners is looking for innovators with BIG IDEAS located in the Allegheny National Forest & Surrounds landscape — including Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean, or Warren County — to apply to win $50K in the the PA Wilds Big Idea Contest.

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The Latest PA Wilds Center News

PA Wilds Center, Leave No Trace establish sustainable tourism partnership

The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship and Leave No Trace have developed a partnership to promote sustainable tourism practices across the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds region, which is explored by millions of visitors each year. The PA Wilds Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to marry conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and…

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Wilds on Main, selling products made in PA Wilds, opens in Lock Haven

A new retail operation recently opened in Lock Haven, selling products that have been proudly made in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. Through a collaborative effort between Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. and the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, a regional nonprofit whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and…

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Bureau of Economic Analysis: 2021 a record-breaking year for outdoor recreation economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, released national and state economic data showcasing the record-breaking year the outdoor recreation economy had in 2021. This analysis demonstrates outdoor recreation’s powerful and positive economic impact on the U.S. economy as the nation rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and Americans…

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