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EVENT #11: July 24-26, 2026
ALL WOMEN'S Trail Care/Campout/Hiking Weekend |
Join KTA and Trish Turo (@CoachTrish) on July 24-26 for Trail Work / Hiking, and Camping!
Are you new to camping or trail maintenance or want to meet like-minded people?! Try out a day or two of giving back to trails. No experience necessary--we offer "on the trail" training, and provide all tools and gloves, etc. This event is intended to provide a safe, inclusive space for new or veteran trail volunteers who are female-identifying. You can come for a day or the whole weekend!
What to expect:
Camping will be available starting Friday >3pm. We're thinking of doing a morning of trail work on Saturday , then head back to the cabin. Then, attendees can hang out at the cabin, go on a led hike, hike on their own, etc. Sunday morning will be determined by participants- hiking, trail work, or whatever. We usually wrap up around noon.
The day will begin with a welcome, introductions, and safety talk, etc. Then we'll carpool to nearby trail work sites. We will have tools available but please feel free to bring your favorite trail tools.
What to expect:
Camping will be available starting Friday >3pm. We're thinking of doing a morning of trail work on Saturday , then head back to the cabin. Then, attendees can hang out at the cabin, go on a led hike, hike on their own, etc. Sunday morning will be determined by participants- hiking, trail work, or whatever. We usually wrap up around noon.
The day will begin with a welcome, introductions, and safety talk, etc. Then we'll carpool to nearby trail work sites. We will have tools available but please feel free to bring your favorite trail tools.
Fun crew from last fall's all women's event at Pine Grove Furnace State Park/Michaux State Forest.
--LOGISTICS--
IF YOU'RE COMING JUST FOR THE DAY / ARRIVING IN THE MORNING:
>Meet us at: The NEW "KTA PA Wilds HQ": Panther Run Cabin, 7:30am
>The driveway sneaks up on you; watch for KTA signs. It is directly off PA-144.
>Map/directions to cabin (see general area map above):
coordinates: 41.15776, -77.89282
street address: 3101 Ridge Rd, Karthaus, PA 16845
goo.gl/maps/eoAvztfZFe2PRYWm8
>Located in the mountains of Sproul State Forest in Centre County, about 30 minutes southwest of Renovo; 20 minutes north of the Snowshoe (exit 147) exit, or 30 minutes north of the Kylertown (exit 133) exit off I-80. The cabin is ideally situated just west of the CKT, and near many other PA Wilds trails.
>Meet us at: The NEW "KTA PA Wilds HQ": Panther Run Cabin, 7:30am
>The driveway sneaks up on you; watch for KTA signs. It is directly off PA-144.
>Map/directions to cabin (see general area map above):
coordinates: 41.15776, -77.89282
street address: 3101 Ridge Rd, Karthaus, PA 16845
goo.gl/maps/eoAvztfZFe2PRYWm8
>Located in the mountains of Sproul State Forest in Centre County, about 30 minutes southwest of Renovo; 20 minutes north of the Snowshoe (exit 147) exit, or 30 minutes north of the Kylertown (exit 133) exit off I-80. The cabin is ideally situated just west of the CKT, and near many other PA Wilds trails.
IF YOU'RE STAYING OVERNIGHT:
The Panther Run Fire Tower Cabin (KTA's PA Wilds Headquarters!)
(Be among the very first volunteers to stay at KTA's exciting new venture! We were offered the opportunity to lease this cabin from Sproul State Forest, and we leapt at the chance.)
(Be among the very first volunteers to stay at KTA's exciting new venture! We were offered the opportunity to lease this cabin from Sproul State Forest, and we leapt at the chance.)
AMENITIES:
• shelter from the elements while cooking, etc.
• tent/hammock/car camp outside, or
• upstairs: bed platforms; bring your own air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, etc.
• living room: couch/chairs
• huge kitchen table, utensils, cookware
• Coleman 2-burner stoves, fuel
• outhouse/vault toilet
• outdoor fire pit
DOES NOT YET HAVE:
• Electricity. Bring a cooler/ice, and headlamp/lantern.
• Running water. KTA will fill jugs with potable water.
• Showers can be had at Hyner Run State Park (40 minutes east), or a truck stop shower (a little rough around the edges) at the Snow Shoe exit (20 minutes west), OR, you can use KTA's outdoor propane shower on the grounds near the cabin. It's pretty nifty!
• shelter from the elements while cooking, etc.
• tent/hammock/car camp outside, or
• upstairs: bed platforms; bring your own air mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, etc.
• living room: couch/chairs
• huge kitchen table, utensils, cookware
• Coleman 2-burner stoves, fuel
• outhouse/vault toilet
• outdoor fire pit
DOES NOT YET HAVE:
• Electricity. Bring a cooler/ice, and headlamp/lantern.
• Running water. KTA will fill jugs with potable water.
• Showers can be had at Hyner Run State Park (40 minutes east), or a truck stop shower (a little rough around the edges) at the Snow Shoe exit (20 minutes west), OR, you can use KTA's outdoor propane shower on the grounds near the cabin. It's pretty nifty!
OR:
Car camp (sleep in vehicle)
Car camp (sleep in vehicle)
- Can use all amenities listed
OR:
Make your own arrangements
Make your own arrangements
- You're welcome to procure your own campsite in Hyner Run State Park or lodging nearby. Small RVs might be allowed in the cabin area. Check with Jenn to be sure there will be adequate space, and the ground is dry enough -- it gets a little soupy in the yard in the spring!
- There are also a couple Sproul State Forest motorized/roadside campsites nearby (example: SS06, SS13, SS16). These can be reserved here.
Important notes:
Cell phone coverage: There is minimal coverage- about one bar/4G - enough to send/receive texts and emails, but not pictures. Coverage on the trail and roads getting there can be VERY spotty.
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
Camping Gear: If you're missing a piece of camping gear, or all of it, check out KTA's Gear loaner Program here. With enough notice, KTA can bring whatever you need for a fun, comfortable weekend!
Age Requirements:
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
Cell phone coverage: There is minimal coverage- about one bar/4G - enough to send/receive texts and emails, but not pictures. Coverage on the trail and roads getting there can be VERY spotty.
Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own food, drink, and cooking supplies. See FAQ (link) for recommendations. Please list any allergies or dietary restrictions on sign-up.
What else to bring: For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here.
Camping Gear: If you're missing a piece of camping gear, or all of it, check out KTA's Gear loaner Program here. With enough notice, KTA can bring whatever you need for a fun, comfortable weekend!
Age Requirements:
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
--Trail Work Details--
Work days:
Saturday, approximately 8-noon/1pm. Camping available starting Friday >3pm.
Description of work:
This three-mile, yellow-blazed loop uses the Little Beaver Trail and the East Branch Trail, part of the Chuck Keiper Trail System, to take visitors through the heart of the East Branch Swamp Natural Area. Old-growth eastern hemlocks shade the headwaters of the East Branch of Big Run in a 186-acre mix of plant communities resulting from turn-of-the-century logging, fires, and tornadoes as recent as the 1980s (text from Sproul State Forest brochure--download your own PDF here).
Chuck Keiper Trail:
The Chuck Keiper Trail (PDF maps here) is named after Charles F. Keiper who was a dedicated conservationist and wildlife law enforcement officer. The trail, located in the Sproul State Forest, is a little over 47 miles in length and is organized into an eastern and western loop. The western loop (about 30 miles) is slightly longer than the eastern loop (approximately 22 miles), and they share a common cross-connector. The CKT is lightly used and goes through some of the wildest and most visually arresting public lands in Pennsylvania, offering remarkable solitude. It is one of the 18 state forest designated hiking trails and is blazed orange. Former KTA Board member wrote an authoritative guide which is out of print. (Maps included in picture slideshow below.) Check out Al's webinar on the trail in the Youtube link below.
Notes:
Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
Saturday, approximately 8-noon/1pm. Camping available starting Friday >3pm.
Description of work:
- We'll be working on the Little Beaver Loop, which is a great 3-mile loop that partly uses the Chuck Keiper Trail Cross connector. Trail work to include: lopping, tread work, and brushcutting
- Other possible work would be lopping hemlocks and rhododendrons on a section of the CKT
- We carpool to trail locations; please let me know if you are not comfortable riding with others or driving on gravel forestry roads. From the cabin, drive times should be in the 15-30 minute range.
This three-mile, yellow-blazed loop uses the Little Beaver Trail and the East Branch Trail, part of the Chuck Keiper Trail System, to take visitors through the heart of the East Branch Swamp Natural Area. Old-growth eastern hemlocks shade the headwaters of the East Branch of Big Run in a 186-acre mix of plant communities resulting from turn-of-the-century logging, fires, and tornadoes as recent as the 1980s (text from Sproul State Forest brochure--download your own PDF here).
Chuck Keiper Trail:
The Chuck Keiper Trail (PDF maps here) is named after Charles F. Keiper who was a dedicated conservationist and wildlife law enforcement officer. The trail, located in the Sproul State Forest, is a little over 47 miles in length and is organized into an eastern and western loop. The western loop (about 30 miles) is slightly longer than the eastern loop (approximately 22 miles), and they share a common cross-connector. The CKT is lightly used and goes through some of the wildest and most visually arresting public lands in Pennsylvania, offering remarkable solitude. It is one of the 18 state forest designated hiking trails and is blazed orange. Former KTA Board member wrote an authoritative guide which is out of print. (Maps included in picture slideshow below.) Check out Al's webinar on the trail in the Youtube link below.
Notes:
Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at [email protected] or 570-854-8316 with any questions.
Check out the webinar recording below with lots of history and tidbits about the CKT. We'll be working on part of the official CKT cross connector trail, which joins the east and west loops.
SIGN UP FOR 2026 TRAIL CARE #11- All Women's Trail Care-Sproul, July 24-26, 2026, BELOW!
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through. Try going to the Google Form here, or Contact Jenn directly: [email protected])
**NEW FOR 2026: Please also sign-up for an account with DCNR on the new Conservation Volunteer website here. Once you do that, you are covered under DCNR’s workmen’s compensation umbrella when working on state forest or park land. Also, you can now earn points towards free camping! Check out their FAQs page.
•Once you submit your sign-up on KTA’s Trail Care Event website (here), Jenn will add you to the “Trail Care Team” for that private event in DCNR’s new CV system (and you’ll receive an email from DCNR confirming you’ve been added to the team/event). Then, after the event, Jenn will be inputting all your Trail Care volunteer hours; you won’t have to worry about that. Thanks in advance!
•You don't have to look for/won't be able to find the Trail Care as an "Opportunity" on DCNR's site (they're all set to "private").
•No need to fill out anything for child, etc., clearances. You can add chainsaw and first aid certifications, but not required.
(If you do not receive an email confirmation, your sign-up did not go through. Try going to the Google Form here, or Contact Jenn directly: [email protected])
**NEW FOR 2026: Please also sign-up for an account with DCNR on the new Conservation Volunteer website here. Once you do that, you are covered under DCNR’s workmen’s compensation umbrella when working on state forest or park land. Also, you can now earn points towards free camping! Check out their FAQs page.
•Once you submit your sign-up on KTA’s Trail Care Event website (here), Jenn will add you to the “Trail Care Team” for that private event in DCNR’s new CV system (and you’ll receive an email from DCNR confirming you’ve been added to the team/event). Then, after the event, Jenn will be inputting all your Trail Care volunteer hours; you won’t have to worry about that. Thanks in advance!
•You don't have to look for/won't be able to find the Trail Care as an "Opportunity" on DCNR's site (they're all set to "private").
•No need to fill out anything for child, etc., clearances. You can add chainsaw and first aid certifications, but not required.
--PHOTO GALLERY--
