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PODCAST

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

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/

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All Episodes

34:47

The Story Behind Laurel Caverns with David Cale

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/04/10

“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

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23:09

Getting to Know Black Moshannon State Park with Park...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/04/06

"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

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38:55

Exploring the Bureau of Forestry with Director Seth...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/03/23

"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

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18:50

Why Colonel Denning Should be on Your List with...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/03/09

“State parks are definitely great places for everybody. We want everyone to feel included and that it's a welcoming, safe place.”Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Chelsea DePoe, Park Manager at Colonel Denning State Park, nestled in north-central Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Chelsea came to Colonel Denning by way of Ricketts Glen and Delaware Canal State Parks before pursuing the management path, landing the position when it opened last fall.Colonel Denning is a park that rewards those

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38:10

Experience Jacobsburg: History, Nature, and Community...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/02/23

“Other people are there, and they're utilizing the parks and hiking as their form of recovery, whether it's from substance abuse, whether it's from a medical issue, whether it's mental health... It's become a part of who they are.”Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Rob Neitz, Park Manager at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It’s the only state park within the two-county Lehigh Valley region and a quiet sanctuary amid one of the East Coast's

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33:31

Next Gen Voices: Shaping the Future of Pennsylvania’s...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/02/09

"Plant a seed in someone, a young person you know, that this is an opportunity, conservation careers exist, that there's opportunities for you to get involved."Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Ali Bowling, who joined Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) three and a half years ago. Before that, she worked in wildlife rehabilitation in Oklahoma, corporate sustainability, and environmental advocacy through Audubon Pennsylvania.Now serving as executive advisor for

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26:05

A Life in the Park: Leonard Harrison State Park...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/01/28

“The more you get to use state parks and see what they have to offer, the more you’re going to want to make sure they continue in perpetuity.”When Greg Sassaman arrived at Leonard Harrison State Park in 1978, he found a rundown facility with a chain-link fence and a trail barely worthy of the name.What followed was a decades-long labor of love that transformed Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon into the destination it is today!The Turkey Path rehabilitation stands as Greg's crowning achievement.Without

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23:50

The Outdoors, Designed for Everyone with Pam Metzger

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2026/01/12

“It's kind of amazing to think that almost any challenge that you have, there's some brilliant, intelligent person out there doing the research to come up with a solution to it.”Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Membership Coordinator Pam Metzger. When Pam’s husband Bill was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, staying active became his lifeline. After cycling thousands of miles on traditional bikes, he transitioned to a three-wheel hand cycle.That

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36:03

Keeping Older Adults Active, Engaged, and Connected...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/12/15

“Being outdoors is a part of our story, part of our essence. And so we don't want to abandon or forget about those who are growing older, and they just need a little help and support in connecting them to these benefits.”Our host, Marci Mowery, welcomes Nicole Faraguna, Director of the Office of Planning and Policy at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to discuss both the personal and societal impacts of outdoor engagement for seniors. Nicole draws from her own

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14:36

It's a Family Thing - Exploring Together with guests...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/12/01

“For me, coming to the Pennsylvania State Parks has been a way to really disconnect from the stress of the world and the stress of our individual lives and just enjoy nature. And it has such a healing effect.”Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with Cindy and Polly, whose Pennsylvania State Parks journey began in 2018 at Gifford Pinchot, where a passport sparked a family tradition that would grow from four campers to over twenty participants.As self-described "box checkers," the sisters established

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17:41

An Off-Season Adventure: Exploring PA State Parks and...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/11/17

“Supporting local businesses not only enhances your experience, but also supports that community, and oftentimes those community businesses are very supportive of the park and forest.”Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with Jessica Myers, whose quest to visit all 124 Pennsylvania state parks and 20 forest districts began unexpectedly in 2017.After moving from DC and adopting a dog, she discovered the Parks Passport at Cowans Gap, which launched a six-year adventure that would become transformative for

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09:41

The Space In Between: A Journey with Charles Hutler

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/11/03

“Every park I go to is an adventure.”Charlie Hutler's journey began with a single visit to Promised Land State Park. Right there, at Pickerel Point’s campground, he caught the park bug! By 2021, via the See ‘Em All challenge, Charlie had visited all 124 state parks and 20 forest districts. He shares his treks on his YouTube channel, "PA Parks Man".Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Charlie to learn about the method to his madness. Rather than treating visits as isolated destinations, he planned

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19:37

All of Them: A Journey Through Pennsylvania’s Parks...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/10/20

“It's amazing... when you get together with people at a campground or a park, there’s no barriers to participation. Everybody just enjoys being out and about.”Joe Brosky's retirement began with a discovery that would reshape his next five years: a Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation passport he picked up at the Laurel Hill State Park's gift shop. Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with him in this episode of Think Outside.This chance encounter at the beginning of June 2018 launched Joe and his wife

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50:44

Public Lands, Recreation, and Community Wellbeing:...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/10/06

“What are we doing today so that a century from now, people look back and say, ‘Thank goodness Marci was there to do this, or Secretary Dunn was there to do that.’ You can have that kind of impact if you’re really committed to the work.”Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with Dr. Silas Chamberlin in this episode of Think Outside. Dr. Silas Chamberlin's career trajectory, from Academic Historian to York County's Chief Economic Development Officer, embodies Pennsylvania's evolving understanding of outdoor

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26:08

Got Stewardship? A Conversation with Amy Hill...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/09/26

"Every little bit makes a difference. And do not assume that someone else is going to continue to take care of it."Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week, running from National Public Lands Day through Walk in Penn's Woods each fall, represents a growing coalition effort to transform how Pennsylvanians engage with their natural and cultural heritage. The initiative, now in its fourth year, extends beyond traditional conservation to embrace diverse forms of stewardship that range from cemetery preservation

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41:55

The Future of Recreation and Trails in Pennsylvania:...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/09/22

"We want to be native to somewhere, and I think park space and outdoor space grounds us and makes us native to the places that we call home and recognize that we occupy place in space, and we are part of that redemption story, and part of that reconciliation story of people to that place.”Pennsylvania's latest Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and Pennsylvania Trail Network Strategic Plan 2025-2029 reveal how the Commonwealth is adapting its 14,000 miles of trails and

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47:18

Sunrise Hikes & Social Shares: Adventures with...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/09/08

“I just really like attracting other people to get outside. That’s kind of my goal right now, is to get as many people outdoors as possible.”Our host, Marci Mowery, chats with two Pennsylvania hikers turned social media influencers, OneEyeWanderz and TheDapperHiker, who are reshaping how people discover the state's outdoor spaces through authentic storytelling and hard-won experience.Dapper began hiking after losing 150 pounds starting in 2022. His first backpacking trip to Quehanna State Forest (a

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38:13

Exploring Words End State Park with Educator Jane Swift

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/08/25

“There are families that have been coming here for five generations, and occasionally all five are here. And that's pretty amazing.”Our host, Marci Mowery, is joined by Environmental Education Specialist Jane Swift, who shares why World's End State Park has captivated visitors for 93 years in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains region.Controversy sparked the park's beginning when geologists in 1932 wanted to name it after the S-shaped whirlpool in Loyalsock Creek, but locals insisted on "World's End."

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34:25

Seasons, Springs, and Stewardship at RB Winter with...

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/08/11

"Some say that the best thing about this park is that there is no cell signal. If you need to disconnect from the world, from the electronic world, you can do that here."Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Park Manager Mike Crowley as he reveals why RB Winter State Park remains a cherished destination for families seeking authentic outdoor experiences in Pennsylvania's wilderness.Nestled within 200,000 acres of Bald Eagle Forest, this 695-acre park offers a unique blend of history and nature

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31:14

Behind the Badge: The Work of DCNR Rangers

Think Outside with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests... ·

2025/07/31

“There's a lot of days where I kind of have to pinch myself and realize, ‘Oh, I'm out hiking a trail that somebody probably took off work to go hike, but I get to do it and get paid.’”From boat patrols to timber theft investigations, DCNR Rangers Sam and Dani chat with our host Marci Mowery about the diverse and demanding world of protecting Pennsylvania's parks and forests and their visitors.With over 30 years of combined experience, these stewards balance multiple roles—educator, law enforcement

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31 results

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