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New toolkit aims to connect older residents with the outdoors

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn unveils a new toolkit at Codorus State Park designed to help older Pennsylvanians connect with the outdoors and improve their health. Developed by the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Aging, and Health, the resource offers practical strategies for caregivers, long-term care facilities, and community groups — including low-cost adaptations, guides for bringing nature indoors, and evidence-based research highlighting 10 proven health benefits of outdoor recreation. The unveil comes as Pennsylvania has been officially designated an Age-Friendly State by AARP earlier this spring — building on the Shapiro Administration’s 10-year strategic plan, Aging Our Way, PA launched last year. Under Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership, the Commonwealth has expanded home- and community-based services, invested in caregiving, and delivered the largest tax cut for seniors in nearly two decades through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. “Getting outside and exploring our state parks is good for your health. We are proud to partner with Aging and Health to connect older adults with the many benefits nature provides and help them continue the outdoor activities they love as they age,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to providing healthy, safe, and high-quality opportunities for all Pennsylvanians to get outside and enjoy our wealth of natural spaces.”

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn talks with hike participants at Codorus State Park in York County last week. — Courtesy photo

Members of the Shapiro Administration visited Codorus State Park in York County last week to unveil “Connecting to the Outdoors as We Age: Pennsylvania’s Rx for Nature” — a new toolkit to help older Pennsylvanians connect with the outdoors and improve their overall health.

Developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Aging and Health, the toolkit provides practical strategies for caregivers, long-term care facilities and community organizations.

It includes guides for bringing nature indoors, low-cost facility adaptations, tips to overcome access barriers, and research highlighting 10 proven health benefits of outdoor recreation — from reducing stress and anxiety, to lowering risk of chronic disease, to improving memory, attention, and overall well-being.

“Getting outside and exploring our state parks is good for your health. We are proud to partner with Aging and Health to connect older adults with the many benefits nature provides and help them continue the outdoor activities they love as they age,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “The Shapiro Administration is committed to providing healthy, safe and high-quality opportunities for all Pennsylvanians to get outside and enjoy our wealth of natural spaces.”

The toolkit comes as Pennsylvania was officially designated an Age-Friendly State by AARP earlier this year — a milestone recognizing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s commitment to making the Commonwealth a place where older adults can live with dignity, independence and support. Pennsylvania has delivered results for older adults, including expanding home- and community-based services, investing in caregiving, and delivering the largest tax cut for seniors in nearly two decades through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

Building on a 10-year strategic plan, Aging Our Way, PA, the toolkit strengthens connections between older adults and the outdoors. The plan focuses on reducing social isolation, expanding volunteer networks, and reinforcing community- and regional-level partnerships to improve and broaden services.

“Spending time outdoors improves overall well-being and quality of life as we age,” said PDA Secretary Jason Kavulich. “This toolkit is an important part of our Aging Our Way, PA plan — it creates awareness of opportunities to connect with nature and encourages older adults to enjoy the recreation and social connections that our state parks and outdoor spaces provide. I urge everyone, particularly older adults, to gather with friends and loved ones to explore Pennsylvania’s state parks and all things outside in recreation.”

DOH’s State Health Improvement Plan highlights the essential health benefits that the outdoors provides, emphasizing “affordable and accessible opportunities to be physically active, such as parks, trails, fitness events and recreational facilities, particularly in under-resourced communities,” as a key strategy to improve Pennsylvanians’ health.

“Access to nature is more than leisure — it’s a vital component of health and well-being,” said DOH Special Advisor Dr. Rob Bonacci. “Outdoor activities like walking, bird watching or fishing can bring real physical and mental health benefits for older Pennsylvanians.”

The “Connecting to the Outdoors” toolkit can be downloaded from the state Department of Aging at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/aging. Scroll down the page and click on “newsroom” then click on the article that begins “At Codorus State Park” dated Aug. 19, 2025. The link to the toolkit is embedded in the article.

Regional state parks, listed by county, include:

Bedford County

• Blue Knob State Park, 124 Park Road, Imler; 814-276-3576. This year-round wilderness adventure consists of over 5,600 acres of woodland. An extensive hiking trail system offers 17 miles of trails through changing timber types, across cool streams and occasionally passing by pioneer homesteads that are slowly yielding to the forces of nature.

• Shawnee State Park, 132 State Park Road, Schellsburg; 814-733-4218. Located along Route 30 near Schellsburg, Shawnee consists of 3,983 acres with a 451 acre lake. Picnic tables and fire rings are available. Nonpowered and electric boats are permitted with a permit or registration. Rentals available. A 12-mile hiking / biking system is also suitable for cross country skiing.

• Warriors Path State Park, 1153 Warriors Path Road, Saxton; 814-658-3847. This small park (334 acres) is located 2 miles south of Saxton (near the northeastern tip of Bedford County). This finger of land is bounded on 3 sides by the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. This is a good area for canoeing/kayaking and picnicking.

Blair County

• Canoe Creek State Park, 205 Canoe Creek Road, Hollidaysburg; 814-695-6807. The 961-acre Canoe Creek State Park features a 155-acre lake, wetlands, old fields and mature forests, which provide critical habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife. The lake is popular for fishing year-round. Hikers enjoy the trails that wind through the many habitats. Picnicking, swimming at the beach, enjoying educational programs, and staying the night in a modern cabin also are popular activities.

Cambria County

• Prince Gallitzin State Park, 966 Marina Road, Patton; 814-674-1000. A 6,249-acre park known for Glendale Lake, a 1,635-acre body of water used for boating, fishing and swimming. The park also offers camping, hiking, horseback riding, and other recreational activities.

Centre County

• Black Moshannon State Park, 4216 Beaver Road, Philipsburg; 814-342-5960. This park features a 250-acre lake with unique tea-colored waters due to the surrounding bogs. It offers hiking trails, including the Bog Trail and Moss-Hanne Trail, and opportunities for camping.

• Poe Valley State Park, 136 Poe Valley Road, Penn Township; 814-349-2460. Situated in a valley between Big Poe and Little Poe Mountains, this park is known for its 25-acre lake, Poe Lake, and opportunities for camping and picnicking.

• Penn-Roosevelt State Park, Penn-Roosevelt Park Road, Huntingdon; 814-667-1800. Located within Rothrock State Forest, this 41-acre park is surrounded by 80,000 acres of forest, offering hiking, gravel-riding, and other activities.

• Bald Eagle State Park, 149 Main Park Road, Howard; 814-625-2775. This park, located along PA 150 between Milesburg and Lock Haven, provides access to the 1,730-acre Bald Eagle Lake and various recreational opportunities.

Clearfield County

• Parker Dam State Park, 28 Fairview Road, PenField; 814-765-0630. This 968-acre park features a scenic lake, rustic cabins, campground and hiking trails.

• Simon B. Elliott State Park, 2112 Old Route 153, Penfield; 814-765-0630. While smaller than Parker Dam, this entirely wooded areas of swamp meadows and a forest of mixed hardwood and oak timber. The park offers camping, historic Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, and is a gateway to the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Huntingdon County

• Greenwood Furnace State Park, 15795 Greenwood Road, Huntingdon; 814-667-1800. This park features a 6-acre lake, campground, hiking trails and a historic district. It’s located on the western edge of the Seven Mountains, offering rugged beauty and solitude and provides access to the surrounding Rothrock State Forest for hiking, biking, hunting and fishing.

• Trough Creek State Park, 16362 Little Valley Road, James Creek; 814-658-3847. Located in Cass, Penn and Todd townships, this park borders Rothrock State Forest and Raystown Lake. It’s known for waterfalls, rock formations and bridges, and offers about six miles of hiking trails.

• Whipple Dam State Park, 3746 Laurel Run Road, Petersburg; 814-667-1800. This 256-acre park features a 22-acre lake for boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and wildlife watching. Hunting and picnicking are also popular.