Parks and Recreation Events

Visit naturally inspired trailside creations along Wildwood Park’s wandering trails and wetlands. Using mostly natural materials, artists have constructed large and small installations. This year’s theme is “Pathways.” A map-brochure about the exhibit is available online, at the kiosks or inside the Nature Center. Art In the Wild is Presented by the Mooney family foundation.

Explore the history of the Fort Hunter Park Service Station in this year’s special exhibit. Built in 1929, the Fort Hunter Park Service Station has served the community in a variety of ways over the past century. Once home to an automobile service station, café, antique store, mini golf course and more, there are unlimited possibilities of what lies ahead for this historic building.

Now is a great time to visit Wildwood Park, camera in hand to snap outdoor photos for the upcoming Photo Contest!

Join a Naturalist near Heckton Church along the River for an afternoon of Monarch Tagging. Learn about Monarch Watch and Project Monarch Health, annual community science efforts to help track Monarch Butterfly migrations and population trends. Try your luck with a butterfly net and get a chance to tag a butterfly with a unique round sticker. The program is for children or adults. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.

Join Certified Sound Therapist, Matthew Kramer for a Community Sound Meditation. Sound Meditations encourage deep listening practices which can create an ideal entry point for a meditative experience, particularly for anyone who has struggled to embrace more traditional forms of meditation.This experience creates space for deep relaxation, calming of the mind, and empowering positive change within oneself. No experience is necessary! A Park Rx wellness program sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration is required, space is limited.

Enjoy a moderately paced walk around Wildwood Lake while enjoying the trees and animals at the park. September - December - The walk will occur from 1-2 PM, weather permitting This will be a walk on paved, gravel, and dirt 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 individual fitness goals.

Fall is right around the corner, and what better way to get into the spirit than by creating your own one-of-a-kind mosaic! In this class, you will get to make a bright orange 10” pumpkin mosaic. This workshop will be hosted by Amanda from Mosaic Montage. This is a beginner-level workshop; no prior experience is needed!

Spend time outdoors this fall at beautiful Detweiler Park enjoying The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and illustrated by Nicola Slater. Dauphin County Parks and Recreation and Penn State Health are excited to provide an interactive Storywalk®. Squirrel is happily counting the colorful leaves on his tree when he notices—gasp!—one is missing. Convinced there's a thief in the forest, he sets off on a frantic quest to find the culprit, dragging his calm and patient friend Bird along for the ride. As Squirrel suspects everyone from Mouse to Woodpecker, he eventually learns a gentle lesson about the natural cycle of the seasons.

Join Penn State Master Gardeners for a leisurely walk to learn about some of the many perennials, shrubs, and trees in the Park. Gather inspiration for your garden and gain unique information about this local Park. Whether you are a serious gardener or outdoor enthusiast, you will find this Park to be a great place for a walk, get some fresh air, and relax! This is a Park Rx wellness program sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield and presented by Penn State Master Gardeners. Pre-registration is required.

Design and decorate a fall wreath base out of bamboo. Everything will be supplied to make a custom-sized wreath base and then embellish it with decorations from nature, including dried flowers, grasses and seed pods.