DCNR: Wild Resource Festival at Presque Isle State Park to Connect Visitors With Outdoor Wonders

May 1 Event to Offer Educational, Recreational Opportunities

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With its expansive backdrop of unique and abundant natural resources and its distinction as a National Natural Landmark, Presque Isle State Park in Erie County will host a salute to nature during the Wild Resource Festival on Saturday, May 1, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The festival will be held at the Tom Ridge Environmental Education Center and will feature a variety of hands-on, educational displays and exhibits, as well as hiking, fishing and other group activities.

"Presque Isle is a natural choice for an event like this," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley. "With its 3,200 acres arching into Lake Erie, the state park is a haven for migrating birds and home to many of the state's endangered, threatened, and rare plant and animal species.

"Education is our goal, but this festival's emphasis is on fun as park visitors are invited to sample a broad spectrum of the outdoors world around them," added Quigley. "Children, families and wildlife enthusiasts of all ages will have a chance to talk to the state's leading scientists and enjoy a front-row seat to view Pennsylvania's non-game animals and plants."

Organized by DCNR's Wild Resource Conservation Program in cooperation with Pennsylvania's Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission, festivals have been held since 2008 at Presque Isle. Earlier events were held at Bald Eagle State Park, Centre County; French Creek State Park, Berks County; and Moraine State Park, Butler County.

"Once again we are very proud of the many prominent naturalists, botanists, biologists and other exhibitors who will be introducing park visitors to our wealth of outdoors riches," said Wild Resource Conservation Program Executive Director Greg Czarnecki. "We'll be offering many demonstrations and activities unique to Presque Isle that are geared to the entire family. One of the more popular activities is for people to bring in insects for the entomologists from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to identify."

Many of the festival participants have been involved in Wild Resource Conservation Program-supported projects in recent years, such as studying mammals, taking inventory of plants, and banding birds. Activities are offered without charge and registration is not required.

The American Chestnut Foundation, Save Our Native Species of Lake Erie, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Erie Zoo, National Aviary, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Asbury Woods Nature Center, and other agencies and organizations will also offer educational programs throughout the day.

The Wild Resource Conservation Program works to conserve Pennsylvania's non-game wildlife and native wild plants through research, conservation projects and public education. It has reintroduced river otters to Pennsylvania's waterways and ospreys to its skies, while awarding grants to projects studying and protecting plants, birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and other species. The program is part of DCNR's Office of Conservation Science.

A full list of festivals activities and exhibitors can be found at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp/festival10.

For more information, contact Deb Miller at [email protected].

Media contact: Terry Brady, (717) 772-9101

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources