While a majority of Pennsylvania is covered by trees (nearly 60 percent), many parts of the commonwealth lack significant tree cover and those that do face tree pests and diseases that can negatively impact the overall health of the trees. This is concerning because trees benefit our health and well-being in many ways.

 

Penn State Extension notes that trees absorb and store carbon dioxide, which reduces the overall greenhouse gas effect. They also clean the air we breathe by trapping and holding dust particles and other airborne pollutants, and clean our water by absorbing and filtering rain and stormwater with their roots and leaves like a sponge.

 

Trees also reduce noise pollution by absorbing, reflecting, and masking unpleasant sounds. As was written in a previous article on the benefits of quiet on our health [link to quiet article], excessive noise can lead to a host of maladies, including heart attacks, strokes, higher systolic blood pressure, loss of sleep, and cognitive issues.

 

Trees do so much for us, so why not do something for the trees?!

One thing you can do to support trees in Pennsylvania while enjoying outdoor exercise is to participate in the virtual “Happy Little Trees” 5K this April. The event, inspired by Bob Ross and his long-running PBS show, “The Joy of Painting,” began in 2004 as a collaborative effort to combat invasive pests and tree diseases between Bob Ross Inc. and volunteers in Michigan. The original event organizers realized that with “The Joy of Painting” now available online and through streaming platforms, new generations were and are finding and admiring Ross’ signature painting style and calming demeanor.

 

Ross discovered a love for the natural world while stationed in Alaska for the U.S. Air Force. The beautiful lakes and waterfalls he saw there provided a calming influence on his mental health, and he decided to find a way to share nature’s therapeutic benefits with the world. While “The Joy of Painting” wasn’t an immediate success, after several years on the air, even non-painters were drawn to Ross’ soothing voice and gentle demeanor. The show was so successful as a therapeutic tool, in fact, that mental health professionals began prescribing it to their patients!

 

The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) heard about the Bob Ross 5k in 2023 and had to get involved.

 

“Tree planting in Pennsylvania state parks and forests is a focus of our organization because of the many benefits forests provide to us,” said Marci Mowery, President of PPFF. “Ensuring a healthy and abundant tree canopy can protect and improve human health as well as reduce stress. We are extremely excited to join our colleagues from other states in this fun opportunity to connect healthy outdoor recreation with the planting of trees. When we plant trees, we invest in future generations.”

 

The Happy Little 5K is considered a virtual walk/run/roll, meaning there is no specific day, time, or location where it must take place. The only requirements are that the virtual 5k takes place outdoors between April 19-27, 2025, and that you preregister online at RunSignup.com/HappyLittleTrees and select ‘Pennsylvania’ from the dropdown menu at the bottom of the registration page. Anyone who registers by April 1 will receive a Happy Little t-shirt, a commemorative bib number, a sticker, and a finisher’s medal. Proceeds from the registration will go toward planting trees, ensuring benefits for today and for future generations across Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks and 20 forest districts.

 

We hope you will join the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and countless others in this healthy outdoor recreation while celebrating the many health and environmental benefits of happy little trees. And be sure to keep an eye on PaParksAndForests.org for any related pop-up events being scheduled for registered participants.

 

Jessica Aiello is a freelance communications professional working on a contractual basis for the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, along with other clients. In this role, she researches and writes grants, social media content, press releases, and articles. Aiello spent nearly 10 years working for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, managing sustainability, invasive species, and other environmental projects. https://paparksandforests.org/