Studies on the impacts of volunteerism show that people who give their time to worthwhile causes reap many benefits, including reduced stress hormone levels, a healthier weight, and more resilient mental health. One reason is that when people share an interest in the same cause, they build social connections that help to lower levels of anxiety and depression. Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week provides an opportunity for people in our region and across the commonwealth to improve their part of the world as well as their health.

 

What is PA Healthy Lands Week?

 

PA Healthy Lands Week launched in 2022 with 24 events across Pennsylvania. Originally conceived as a time to focus on volunteerism to grow the number of stewards of Pennsylvania’s cultural and natural assets, the week has expanded in recent years to include educational and recreational programming too. The 2024 Healthy Lands Week, which runs from National Public Lands Day on September 28 to A Walk in Penn’s Woods Day on October 6, features opportunities for education, appreciation, and conservation across the state, including volunteerism.

 

“The physical, mental, and emotional health benefits of being outdoors and donating your time in service cannot be understated,” said Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. “Plenty of research shows that outdoor physical activity helps control your heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and lower stress. That is one reason Healthy Lands Week was created. This week provides a platform through which parks and recreation departments, forestry professionals, cultural asset managers, and other greenspace and points-of-interest managers can organize events and volunteer opportunities to benefit the spaces that make Pennsylvania a wonderful place in which to live, work, and play.”

 

The PennsylvaniaParks and Forests Foundation developed this infographic to highlight those and other benefits of volunteerism.

 

How to Participate in PA Healthy Lands Week

 

“I think it’s important we all chip in to make parks and rec bigger and better across the state,” said Jason Lang, CPRE, Director of Parks and Recreation for East Goshen Township. “Personally, I think there are a ton of really cool and creative people that volunteer, and I like interacting and being a part of that experience.“

 

So, how can you become a better steward during PA Healthy Lands Week, helping to improve Pennsylvania’s parks, forests, and museums?

 

If you are an entity with an event to promote, include it at: INSERT DIREcT URL

 

The organizers of PA Healthy Lands Week – which include the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, the PA Recreation and Parks Society, WeConservePA, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Pa Museums Association, and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, among others – encourage everyone to check out the list of planned events at https://pahealthylandsweek.org/events. Last year’s activities included tree plantings, trash clean-ups, educational festivals, bike rides, hikes, and more. New events will be added to the site as organizations register them, so check back regularly to find new opportunities to get involved. If you are part of an organization with a related event to promote, include in the listings at https://pahealthylandsweek.org/submit-event.

 

“We hope you will get involved in this third annual event that celebrates Pennsylvania’s lands, waterways, trails, museum spaces, educational venues, and greenspaces,” added Mowery. “Your participation will not only foster a sense of stewardship, but it may also improve your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.”

 

In addition to visiting the website (https://healthylandsweek.org), be sure to follow PA Healthy Lands Week on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram and post photos and videos of your stewardship in action. Together, we can develop an understanding of the impacts of our individual actions, have fun, and feel better!