Parks and Recreation Events

Join us for the fourth annual Off the Beaten Path Bus Trip. Aboard a luxury coach, on a crisp fall day, we will be transported to Historic Penn’s Cave and Wildlife Park in Centre Hall, PA. By flat-bottom boat, we will explore the magnificent cave system through an interpretive tour. Our group members will also experience the wonders of native North American animals in a carefully preserved habitat, while on a Farm-Nature Tour.

Discover the beauty and resilience of hellebores, the elegant perennials that bring color to the garden when little else is in bloom. Join Penn State Master Gardener Kevin Kelly as he explores the fascinating genus Helleborus-from species and hybrids to the best varieties for home gardeners. Learn how to grow these shade-loving evergreen gems with tips on soil preparation, care, and plant selection.

Join volunteer Jane Earle for a fall tree walk to view the leaves in their full color and learn how to identify them. Meet in front of the Nature Center. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Calling all ghosts and ghouls! Come in costume to Fort Hunter Park for the Trick or Treat Trek. Follow the clues to keep your search on track. Your reward? Goodies at each stop along the way! This adventure is for those age 12 & younger. Trick or Treat Trek is sponsored by The Hershey Company and Aetna and presented in collaboration with Dauphin County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services. This is a rain-or-shine event. Pre-registration is required to participate.

Join us for a Walk with a Doc on the Greenbelt Connector starting at Fort Hunter Park. The walk will be approximately 2 miles in length, but it is a well-marked path and you can choose to do as much or as little as you would like. The pathway is paved and wheelchair accessible. Meet Up Location: Heckton Church at the end of the Fort Hunter Parking Lot where the Greenbelt Connector begins. his is a FREE walk, but we ask that you pre-register.

Have you ever wondered how historic sites learn about their own history? Have you ever wondered what kinds of things are kept in museum archives? Join a Fort Hunter history educator to learn about the mansion through a unique lens as we study items from the park’s archives. This program is geared towards students in grades 2-6 and their grownups. Pre-registration is required.

During this interactive tour designed for children and families, learn what life was like for the families that lived in the Fort Hunter Mansion from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. You will walk through the mansion’s rooms and learn about their different uses, learn about objects of their everyday life, and do some hands-on activities. This tour is best suited for the young (age 6-12) and young at heart who want to have fun and enjoy learning. The mansion tour is approximately 45 minutes.

Fall fruits are not just a favorite of squirrels and chipmunks! There are a few humans can enjoy as well. Take a walk with a Naturalist along the Towpath Trail to view and taste these curious fall fruits known as persimmons. Meet at the South Lot trailhead. Pre-registration is required.

Join a Naturalist for a fun interactive story session for children ages 3-5. Stories, rhymes, and a craft/activity will introduce science through the eyes of the Cat In The Hat. Classes are offered during 3 consecutive Thursdays. This program is sponsored by Altrusa of South Central PA, providing a book for each participant. Each participant will go home with a theme-related book. Pre-registration required.

Join us in this fun class to make a fused glass ornament workshop! This is an introduction to glass fusing workshop. In this 2-hour workshop, you will assemble pre-cut pieces to design two festive ornaments – one sweater and one tree. You can choose your pieces and design to make this uniquely yours. A Park Rx wellness program sponsor by Highmark Blue Shield.