Parks and Recreation Events

Come and see how John and Helen Reily, the last inhabitants of Fort Hunter Mansion, spent their time from their marriage in 1887 through the early 20th century. View John as an outdoorsman, Helen in her wedding dress, among other artifacts, clothing photos and even entries from Helen’s diary, plus much more. All mannequins will also feature period-accurate hairstyles courtesy of professional wig maker and stylist, Ashley Leitzel-Reichenbach. Please visit our website to schedule a tour time, or stop in the museum shop to purchase an exhibit-only ticket.

Enjoy a moderately-paced walk around Wildwood lake while enjoying the trees and animals at the park. This will be a walk on paved or gravel surfaces. You can choose to walk only a portion, then turn around at any point if you would like to customize the length of your walk to your own individual fitness goals.

October is a good month to see the transition of migrant bird species as they come and go. Join Rick and Peggy Price to look for fall warblers and other songbirds heading south; raptors including Broad-winged and Sharp-shinned Hawks are on the move; and year-round resident birds are still active. Meet in front of the nature center at 7:30 am. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.

Please join the Friends of Wildwood for a fun afternoon of Birdhouse Construction and Design. Bring your friends and your creativity along to construct a bluebird box, paint a natural birdhouse gourd and design your own wooden songbird ornament. You will surely have fun while here and leave with multiple items to enhance bird viewing in your backyard. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Wildwood.

“Picking up pawpaws, put em’ in your pocket, way down yonder in the pawpaw patch.” That old familiar Appalachian Trail tune is a melody of the ages. Meet a Naturalist in front of the Mansion for an afternoon walk with a chance to learn about the largest native North American fruit, the pawpaw. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

This workshop will be taught by Dr. Dan Hinnerschitz who has 10+ years of experience in treating folks who have a history of falling due to decreased balance. This is a free workshop as part of the Park Rx Series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. 

A Friends of Fort Hunter virtual program. In this virtual lecture we will learn about the many steps it takes to go from the idea for a museum display, through the research phase, and ending with the final product when it comes to the world of hair. Our speaker, Ashley Leitzel-Reichenbach, IATSE Hairstylist from NYC, has shared her talents in several exhibits at the Fort Hunter mansion. Her presentation will focus on historical styling techniques and how these can be achieved with modern-day tools and products. Come along with us as we bring hairstyles of the past to life for visitors to enjoy today. To receive the link to attend the lecture, please register for this free virtual program using the link below. A meeting link will be provided to you via email prior to the lecture.

Wildwood Park Free Join Penn State Master Gardeners for a leisurely one-hour stroll to learn about plants in the parks. A short presentation related to what we will be seeing will precede the walk. Participants can choose to walk only a portion. This program is open to all ages, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.

The evening will begin with a short 0.75 mile walk along variable terrain to the open fields of the Airstrip Loop. Dress for the weather, bring a flashlight. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration is required.

Take this opportunity to work outside and help Wildwood’s continued park and habitat enhancement projects. Tools and work gloves provided. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.