Fall is around the corner, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council has an exciting list of events on the calendar over the coming months. These events build on our efforts to conserve the Commonwealth’s tremendous natural resources as well as to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of others.
Here’s a roundup of all that we have planned and how you can get involved.
Public Lands Ride
Sep. 30, Black Moshannon State Park
Join us for a group ride around Black Moshannon State Park as part of our annual Public Lands Ride, with multiple course distances ranging from 20-65 miles. We’ll have music, snacks, beer, and other fun activities!
If you can’t make it to the group ride, you can still participate by cycling one or more of our featured routes.
Follow @publiclandsride on Instagram to stay up to date.
Environment Ride
Oct. 13-15, Adams and York counties
Each year, PEC hosts the Environment Ride to support its trail work across the Commonwealth, from the Great Allegheny Passage to the Circuit Trails Coalition. This year’s ride will tour south-central Pennsylvania, focusing on Adams and York counties. You can choose from either a one-day or a three-day excursion. The ride begins in Harrisburg and traverses hilly apple orchards during the area’s National Harvest Festival.
View more details and register for the ride here. You can also donate to support the ride here.
Climate Awakening Forum
Oct. 14, Pittsburgh
The Climate Awakening Forum, hosted by Contemporary Craft, will take place at their Pittsburgh in conjunction with its exhibit Climate Awakening: Crafting a Sustainable Future.
The day will feature speakers from various sectors, including nonprofit organizations, business leaders, and visual artists. PEC’s John Walliser will be leading a session titled, Climate Change, Energy, and Policy in Pennsylvania. He’ll focus on efforts to advance meaningful climate change decarbonization policies in Pennsylvania, reflecting on the Commonwealth’s energy profile, political climate, and other factors.
Other topics include how choices in honey-making can impact beekeepers’ carbon footprint and how our clothing and textile choices have the potential to heal the Earth as well as communities.
Register here.
33rd Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment
Oct. 19, Luzerne County
The annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Awards recognize the achievements of individuals or organizations that, through partnerships, have achieved excellence in environmental protection or conservation. This year’s dinner takes place on Thursday October 19, 2023 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Plains, PA, starting at at 5 p.m.
Winners include avid volunteers, nonprofits collaborating to conserve vital ecosystems, and a student whose love for fishing inspired civic engagement. View a full list here.
Register here.
For information on how to sponsor the event, please contact Angela Vitkoski at 570-718-6507, extension 201 or email [email protected]
Pennsylvania Statewide Watershed Conference
Oct. 29-30, Altoona
The annual Statewide Watershed Conference returns Oct. 29-30 for two days of inspiring, engaging, and meaningful presentations and conversations. This year’s conference will take place at the Altoona Grand Hotel located at 1 Sheraton Drive, Altoona PA 16601.
Hear from watershed organization leaders who will share restoration and education project success stories as well as their journeys toward effective strategic planning and people-centered- leadership.
Our keynote address speaker is the artist Victoria Prizzia, founder of Habithèque. Through her work, Prizzia aims to engage the public with nature-based solutions to some of the planet’s most critical challenges. Her most recent work is POOL, A Social History of Segregation, a multi-award winning installation located at the Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia that weaves together history, site-specific artwork, storytelling, scholarship and place-based learning.
Register here.
Questions about the conference program or sponsorships can be sent to Tali MacArthur at [email protected]
53rd Environmental Partnership Dinner
Nov. 9, Philadelphia
The annual Environmental Partnership Dinner returns to Philadelphia on Nov. 9 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Over more than five decades, this signature PEC event has brought together a diverse group of leaders from industry, labor, nonprofits, and government agencies.
Join us for an evening of dinner and drinks as we pay tribute to those who have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence and leadership.
Register here.
We hope you’ll join us for some or all of these events and celebrations. To view our full events calendar, click here.