Annual Events…
Throughout the year, the Friends Group provides many activities at the park.
Hard-working volunteers donate many hours to organize these events for
The enjoyment of park visitors. We can do this because of your generous donations.
Links to upcoming and past events below.
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First Day Hike (THE TRAILS ARE CALLING!)
Join Friends of Cook Forest and celebrate the new year with a hike on New Year's Day! The January 2020 hike explored the picturesque Tom’s Run Valley. 65 people (and a handful of pups!) walked Liggett Trail, including Secretary of the DCNR Cindy Adams Dunn (photo at right with Carl Harting, Chair) and State Representative Donna Oberlander. The clouds parted just about the time the hike began, with the sun shining on the snow-covered trees - breathtaking! Garlic Mustard Pull (Alliaria petiolata)
The Friends hold their annual Garlic Mustard Pull and educational seminar every Spring. This helps clear the forest of the invasive garlic mustard that crowds out and kills native plants. It is also a great time to become educated about the forest and to help remove these plants for the betterment of our park. Next year we may add a second date to the pull. This years rain produced an extreme excess of the weed. "Now when you say 'pull'..." Yes, pull it by hand. It's best initially to pull during flowering, before the plants produce seed. Pull at the base of the plant and try to remove the entire root. Pulled garlic mustard material will still complete flowering and set seed – We do not leave it on the ground! We bag it and dispose of the pulled plants as garbage. Forest Fest Fundraiser Every June the Friends help plan and host an annual basket raffle and educational walk or presentation that raise fund to help further the mission of the Friends Group. These funds are invaluable to the Friends Group because it helps provide many of our projects, the publication of materials and supplies for our fight against the Hemlock Wooley Adelgid. A Walk in Penn's Woods The first Sunday in October is the state-wide annual event: A Walk in Penn's Woods sponsored by the Center for Private Forests at Penn State/Penn State Extension. The Friends choose a different trail each year at the Park and plan a 2-mile hike (approximately). Both members and the community are invited to come join this annual hike. People/pet friendly leashed dogs are permitted. You must clean up after you pet. Adopt-A-Highway It's a....ROAD! The Friends adopted a 2-mile section Forest Road in 2019, committing to hosting a litter-up twice a year (spring & fall). Safety vests, gloves and garbage bags are provided. |
Carl Harting, Chair & Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR Secretary
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Dale Luthringer, CFSP Environmental Education Specialist
A Walk in Penn's Woods 2019 - Birch Trail
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Forest Fest 2019
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Forest Fest 2019
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