January 24 Weekly PA Wilds News Digest
January 24, 2025 Weekly Digest: Recent News from the PA Wilds
The PA Wilds Weekly Digest is a roundup of news articles about the PA Wilds, the region’s public lands and its Landscapes and Journeys that have been published over the past week.
Note: some of the news websites may have paywalls that prevent you from reading their content.
Enjoy this week’s PA Wilds News Clips below.
On the PA Wilds visitor-facing blog, renovations are happening at the Kinzua Skywalk, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still plan a great adventure at Kinzua Bridge State Park and the surrounding towns. Also on the PA Wilds blog, Beth Jones from Deep Green Journey shares a reflection on the patterns of winter chill. Jody Fesco at Gateway Lodge has advice for how to impress your Valentine with a visit to Cook Forest and the Gateway Lodge.
A reminder that the letters of intent are due by February 3 for the PA Wilds Center’s Request for Proposals for a user adoption plan for a new mobile technology platform.
In the news media, Keystone Newsroom highlighted some “weird and wacky” events and festivals throughout Pennsylvania, many of which you can find right here in the PA Wilds region.
OUR BLOGS
PA WILDS
Things to do around Kinzua Bridge State Park during Skywalk renovations – Britt Madera
Deep Green Journey: Patterns – Beth Jones, Deep Green Journey
Make your Valentine swoon with a trip to Cook Forest and Gateway Lodge – Jody Fesco, Gateway Lodge
WCO
WCO Member Spotlights
January spotlight – Horner’s Pens: One-of-a-kind quality hand-turned pens
PA WILDS CENTER
PA Wilds Center issues RFP for User Adoption Plan (letters of intent due February 3, responses due February 20)
PA WILDS MARKETPLACE
Martha’s Gourds: A Unique and Creative Medium for Crafting
IN THE NEWS
MENTIONING PA WILDS
Highlands Chocolates and PA Wilds Center team up to make Bigfoot Bars – NorthcentralPA.com
Learning to love the winter – NorthcentralPA.com (Republishing of Britt’s blog, originally on PAWilds.com)
MENTIONING TA ENOS
Highlands Chocolates and PA Wilds Center team up to make Bigfoot Bars – NorthcentralPA.com
MENTIONING TOWNS IN PA WILD REGION
25 weird & wacky Pennsylvania festivals happening in 2025 – Keystone Newsroom (MANY listed in the PA Wilds… Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous in Ridgway, Forest County Bigfoot Festival in Marienville, PA Firefly Festival in Tionesta, Bark Peelers’ Festival at PA Lumber Museum in Potter County, SquatchFest in Kane, Elk Expo in Benezette, Peanut Butter Festival in New Bethlehem.)
8 Eclectic Small Towns In Pennsylvania – WorldAtlas (Benezette)
MENTIONING PA WILDS PUBLIC LANDS
Parks, forests, rivers
Elk State Forest
8 Eclectic Small Towns In Pennsylvania – WorldAtlas (Benezette)
Black Moshannon State Park
Compiling Things To Do At Penn State During The Winter – Onward State
Clarion River
Moments in History: Digging for Gold in Clarion County and Western Pennsylvania – exploreClarion
Kinzua Bridge State Park
East meets west with help from KVTC – The Bradford Era
Kane Republican Events – Clarion Summer Festival 2025: Rail 66 Time Trial Saturday June 7th – The Kane Republican
Highlands Chocolates and PA Wilds Center team up to make Bigfoot Bars – NorthcentralPA.com
Leonard Harrison State Park
Highlands Chocolates and PA Wilds Center team up to make Bigfoot Bars – NorthcentralPA.com
Sinnemahoning State Park
Community Calendar – Tioga Publishing
Sproul State Forest
Tourism Grant hands out $100000 to support 17 area organizations, events – The Express
Landscapes and Journeys
Elk Country
8 Eclectic Small Towns In Pennsylvania – WorldAtlas (Benezette)
25 weird & wacky Pennsylvania festivals happening in 2025 – Keystone Newsroom (MANY listed in the PA Wilds… Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous in Ridgway, Forest County Bigfoot Festival in Marienville, PA Firefly Festival in Tionesta, Bark Peelers’ Festival at PA Lumber Museum in Potter County, SquatchFest in Kane, Elk Expo in Benezette, Peanut Butter Festival in New Bethlehem.)
MENTIONING WCO / CONSERVATION SHOPS
Highlands Chocolates and PA Wilds Center team up to make Bigfoot Bars – NorthcentralPA.com