Pine Grove Furnace State Park, recently named the 2010 State Park of the Year, the South Mountain Partnership, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are sponsoring National Get Outdoors Day to provide outdoor and education opportunities for the entire family. Events for the day begin at 8 a.m. with a half marathon and 5K run to support the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace, a nonprofit organization that helps promote volunteerism and assist with events at the park. Other events include trail hikes to local scenic vistas and historical sites, a wildflower walk, a historical scavenger hunt and kayaking for beginners.
Lunch will be available at the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy’s newly renovated Ironmaster’s Mansion. Meals will include hamburgers, hotdogs, sloppy joes, potatoes salad, watermelon, desert and drink for only $7.
“The afternoon of National Get Outdoors Day will feature the South Mountain Ramble as part of the South Mountain Speaker Series,” said Jason Zimmerman, manager of Pine Grove Furnace State Park. “This will be a fun interactive 1.5-mile hike for the whole family that will explore the area’s rich history. Topics will include local Native American history, the Underground Railroad in South Mountain, the South Mountain Iron Industry, a local history of the natural world, Appalachian Trail Balderdash and history at the Appalachian Trail Museum, and the history of Camp Michaux.”
Registration is required for all events and, with the exception of the half marathon and 5K run, are free. To register, visit the DCNR Calendar of Events for Pine Grove Furnace State Park at www.dcnr.state.pa.us or call the Park Office at 717-486-7174.
The Appalachian Trail Museum will hold its first festival on June 18-19 at the park. “The festival will celebrate hiker culture and feature a new traveling exhibit developed by the museum,” Zimmerman said. The kick-off for the festival will be the inaugural Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet on the evening of June 17, at Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs. At the banquet, the first class of six honorees will be inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame, which will be located in the museum’s building at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The festival will feature a hiking program, music, storytelling, crafts, competitions and history programs. There also will be a variety of activities for children on both days. Additional information on the Appalachian Trail Museum and the festival weekend events can be found at www.atmuseum.org.
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