DCNR kicks off America250PA GeoTrail through 25 of Pennsylvania’s state parks

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week announced the DCNR America250PA GeoTrail at Codorus State Park in York County.

Created in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the GeoTrail leads visitors to 25 state parks where themed geocaches reveal stories from Pennsylvania’s past through a technology-driven scavenger hunt.

The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail launched on Saturday, April 11, and will run through March 2028.

“America’s story lives on Pennsylvania’s land, and DCNR has long conserved the parks, forests, and historic landscapes where that story was written,” said Secretary Dunn. “This anniversary year, we are proud to join America250PA in celebrating that legacy through education, conservation, and public events. Through initiatives like the DCNR America250PA GeoTrail, we are creating new opportunities for Pennsylvanians to connect with the places that shaped our nation. And as we honor the past, we are investing in the future to ensure these lands remain protected and accessible for generations to come.”

Participants will discover Pennsylvania’s rich history through its state park system by joining this technology-driven scavenger hunt. Called geocaching, this free activity begins by entering the coordinates provided on DCNR’s website into any GPS-enabled device. From there, hike through one of the 25 participating state parks to search for a hidden container or cache. Each park features a unique cache that highlights a piece of Pennsylvania history that occurred at the park. Visit all 25 parks and find all 25 caches to receive a completion coin.

“Pennsylvania’s story lives in its landscapes—in the places where people worked, played, and helped shape the nation,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director, America250PA. “The DCNR America250PA GeoTrail invites people to explore our state parks in a new way, connecting history and the outdoors through discovery and hands-on experience. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, this initiative helps bring our shared history to life and helps ensure that every corner of Pennsylvania has a place in this milestone.”

With more than 14,000 miles of trails, 6,400 local parks, 125 state parks, and 2.2 million acres of forest land, all of which are free and open to the public, Pennsylvania boasts one of the largest public trail systems in the eastern U.S. — positioning the Commonwealth as a leader in four-season recreation, and a hub for active tourism.

Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests are also home to some of the nation’s most significant historic sites, including Point State Park’s French and Indian War history, Washington Crossing’s Revolutionary War legacy, and Presque Isle’s ties to the War of 1812.

Investments helped grow PA’s outdoor recreation economy by $1.5B; added 9,000 jobs in 2024

The Shapiro Administration’s investments in outdoor recreation are strengthening Pennsylvania’s economic growth, with new data showing the industry grew by $1.5 billion in 2024 — reaching $20.4 billion, outpacing the national growth rate, adding 9,000 jobs, and generating $9.5 billion in wages across the Commonwealth.

Outdoor recreation continues to be a key driver of economic growth, tourism, and quality of life across Pennsylvania, with the industry accounting for 2 percent of the Commonwealth’s GDP.

Since taking office, Gov. Josh Shapiro has grown Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation economy by 21%, adding 12,000 jobs and raising wages in the outdoor workforce by nearly 25%.

DEP and ‘Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’ honor 2026 ‘Litter Hawk’ youth award winners

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful (KPB) honored students across Pennsylvania today for their commitment to raising awareness about litter and the importance of keeping our communities clean through art, writing, and video in the annual Litter Hawk Youth Award Program.

“Every student that takes part in the Litter Hawk program knows that litter is bad, and they are encouraging their friends, their parents, their neighbors, and their communities to be good stewards and keep Pennsylvania beautiful and litter free,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “As we’re preparing for America’s 250th birthday we want to put our best foot forward and the entries this year emphasize loving our nation and keeping it litter free.”

This year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award theme is “Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful!” in support of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. Students were asked to show how we can all keep our communities litter free for America’s 250th birthday. Over 500 students participated in this year’s program. Promotional partners included Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and PA Turnpike Commission.

First and second place winners in each grade level received medals, certificates, and a Litter Hawk decal. Check out their amazing posters, essays and videos on Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s website.

First Place

Alexandriah, prekindergarten, Farrell Area Elementary, Mercer County

Calvin, kindergarten, Ringing Rocks Elementary, Montgomery County

Carter, grade 1, Jenny Lynn Preparatory, Luzerne County

Henry, grade 2, Norvelt Elementary, Westmoreland County

Amelia, grade 3, Hares Hill Elementary, Chester County

Tanesha “Gia”, grade 4, Queen of All Saints Academy, Lehigh County

Paula, grade 5 (essay), Norwood School, Delaware County

Beckett, Rylissa, Emalee, Teegan, grade 6 (video), West Greene School, Greene County

Life Skills (poster): Mario, Maverick, Mason, Zurella, Krispin (grade 1); Emma, Luci, Charlotte, Namirr (grade 2); Aria, Mark, Amina, Willow, Milana, Trinity (grade 3), Wyoming Area School District, Luzerne County

Second Place

Khloe, prekindergarten, Farrell Area Elementary, Mercer County

Ayonna, kindergarten, Jenny Lynn Academy, Luzerne County

Isabelle, grade 1, Holy Name Elementary, Cambria County

Amelia, grade 2, Homeschool, Washington County

Anwitha, grade 3, West Bradford Elementary School, Chester County

Faith, grade 4, Homeschool, Lancaster County

Alec, grade 5 (essay), Haine Middle School, Butler County

Elizabeth, Leighton, Mackinze, Savannah, grade 6 (video), Twin Valley Middle School, Berks County

Life Skills (poster): Emilia, Ethan, Eva, TJ (grade 1), Lincoln, (grade 2), Charlotte (grade 3), Jack, Kate (grade 4), Brockway Elementary, Jefferson County

Winning entries will be displayed in the East Wing Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg through April 30. Artwork is also showcased throughout the year at various state facilities, including PA Turnpike Service Plazas and PennDOT Welcome Centers.