Are you a day hiker looking to try backpacking? Have you ever wondered what things to carry on an overnight trip into the woods? Have you backpacked before but want to refresh your skills? Come build your outdoor knowledge and confidence with a two-weekend in-person workshop and two optional online sessions.
Session 1: September 13, 10am-4pm in the Quehanna Wild Area
Lost Run Road Parking Area, Reactor Rd, Driftwood, PA 15832
Learn the basics of backpacking at a variety of different learning stations on the trails in the beautiful and scenic 50,000 acres Quehanna Wild Area. While hiking 4 miles of trail, participants will learn:
Session 1: September 13, 10am-4pm in the Quehanna Wild Area
Lost Run Road Parking Area, Reactor Rd, Driftwood, PA 15832
Learn the basics of backpacking at a variety of different learning stations on the trails in the beautiful and scenic 50,000 acres Quehanna Wild Area. While hiking 4 miles of trail, participants will learn:
- How to stash food so it's safe from animals
- How to go to the bathroom in the woods
- Safety in the woods & risk mitigation
- How to purify water
- How to set up a sleeping system (sleeping bag, ground pads, & tents)
- Tips for good camping locations & setting up your campsite
- Map reading & other navigational tools
Quehanna Wild Area
Session Two: September 16, 6-7pm Pre-Trip Online Check-In (Optional)
A successful trip is more likely with ample preparation. Meet online to review the upcoming weekend's weather, hiking route, terrain, and discuss your last minute questions.
A successful trip is more likely with ample preparation. Meet online to review the upcoming weekend's weather, hiking route, terrain, and discuss your last minute questions.
Session Three: September 20, 9 am- September 21, 3 pm
JP Saylor Trail
Babcock Picnic Area, Lasky Rd, Windber, PA 15963
We embark on our overnight trip covering 12 miles through gentle, rolling deciduous forest over two days on the JP Saylor Trail, one of Pennsylvania’s state forest hiking trails. On the first day, we will hike 7 miles to our campsite near Clear Shade Creek. In the morning on the second day, there is the option to hike a 5-mile loop even deeper into the Clear Shade Wild Area or to stay at camp for a leisurely breakfast, after which the entire group will hike the final 5 miles back to the trailhead together.
Participants are responsible for bringing all backpacking gear needed for an overnight trip, including food. Wear hiking footwear and bring extra socks.
JP Saylor Trail
Babcock Picnic Area, Lasky Rd, Windber, PA 15963
We embark on our overnight trip covering 12 miles through gentle, rolling deciduous forest over two days on the JP Saylor Trail, one of Pennsylvania’s state forest hiking trails. On the first day, we will hike 7 miles to our campsite near Clear Shade Creek. In the morning on the second day, there is the option to hike a 5-mile loop even deeper into the Clear Shade Wild Area or to stay at camp for a leisurely breakfast, after which the entire group will hike the final 5 miles back to the trailhead together.
Participants are responsible for bringing all backpacking gear needed for an overnight trip, including food. Wear hiking footwear and bring extra socks.
JP Saylor Trail
Session Four: September 30, 6-7 pm
Planning Your Next Adventure Online Celebration (Optional)
Now that you have a night in the woods, what's next for you? We'll share photos from our trip, hear what else you want to learn, and help you develop next steps for planning your trip into the woods.
Planning Your Next Adventure Online Celebration (Optional)
Now that you have a night in the woods, what's next for you? We'll share photos from our trip, hear what else you want to learn, and help you develop next steps for planning your trip into the woods.
Registration Information:
Registration closes August 23, 2025. Two scholarships are available upon request by emailing Kate Prisby, Manager of Events & Programs at [email protected]
KTA Member & Volunteer Rate: $80
General Public Rate: $100
Registration closes August 23, 2025. Two scholarships are available upon request by emailing Kate Prisby, Manager of Events & Programs at [email protected]
KTA Member & Volunteer Rate: $80
General Public Rate: $100
Program Leaders
Kristin Joivell
Growing up, you could find Kristin outdoors more often than indoors, especially if it meant wandering outside for hours trying to find interesting plants and animals. However, she didn't realize that hiking trails existed until she was much older! Now an avid backpacker, she has thru-hiked most long-distance backpacking trails in Pennsylvania, including the Mid State Trail and Jeff Mitchell’s PA Wilds Route. In addition to backpacking together, Kristin and her husband, Kevin Busko, enjoy going on other long-distance outdoor journeys like biking the C and O Towpath-Great Allegheny Passage and canoeing in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park.
As a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist and elementary teacher, she promotes the value of learning about nature with people of all ages. Taking the time to lead day hikes and backpacking trips on the local trails for organizations such as KTA, DCNR, the Standing Stone Trail Club, Juniata Valley Audubon Society, and Friends of Huntingdon Borough Trails is another way that she shares her interest in spending time outdoors with others.
Growing up, you could find Kristin outdoors more often than indoors, especially if it meant wandering outside for hours trying to find interesting plants and animals. However, she didn't realize that hiking trails existed until she was much older! Now an avid backpacker, she has thru-hiked most long-distance backpacking trails in Pennsylvania, including the Mid State Trail and Jeff Mitchell’s PA Wilds Route. In addition to backpacking together, Kristin and her husband, Kevin Busko, enjoy going on other long-distance outdoor journeys like biking the C and O Towpath-Great Allegheny Passage and canoeing in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park.
As a Pennsylvania Master Naturalist and elementary teacher, she promotes the value of learning about nature with people of all ages. Taking the time to lead day hikes and backpacking trips on the local trails for organizations such as KTA, DCNR, the Standing Stone Trail Club, Juniata Valley Audubon Society, and Friends of Huntingdon Borough Trails is another way that she shares her interest in spending time outdoors with others.
Kevin Busko
Kevin has been backpacking year-round in Pennsylvania’s forests for over 20 years, logging over 200 nights of backcountry camping along Pennsylvania’s trails, including Jeff Mitchell’s 200+ mile PA Wilds Route. He has also backpacked in West Virginia’s Dolly Sods Wilderness and New York’s Adirondack Park. Kevin and his wife, Kristin Joivell, enjoy backpacking and traveling together to many locations, including biking the C&O Towpath-Great Allegheny Passage and canoe trips into Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park.
Kevin has volunteered with KTA’s Trail Care Program for the past 18 years and spent 15 years as the Mid State Trail—State College Region Manager. He still maintains the region’s stock of trail tools and makes many of the signs placed along the Mid State Trail.
Kevin has been backpacking year-round in Pennsylvania’s forests for over 20 years, logging over 200 nights of backcountry camping along Pennsylvania’s trails, including Jeff Mitchell’s 200+ mile PA Wilds Route. He has also backpacked in West Virginia’s Dolly Sods Wilderness and New York’s Adirondack Park. Kevin and his wife, Kristin Joivell, enjoy backpacking and traveling together to many locations, including biking the C&O Towpath-Great Allegheny Passage and canoe trips into Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park.
Kevin has volunteered with KTA’s Trail Care Program for the past 18 years and spent 15 years as the Mid State Trail—State College Region Manager. He still maintains the region’s stock of trail tools and makes many of the signs placed along the Mid State Trail.
Rebecca ConnerMiller
Rebecca is a Technology Education teacher in Mifflin County, PA. She volunteers as Vice President, Webmaster and Trail Maintainer for the Standing Stone Trail Club. Rebecca developed a love for the outdoors when she first started hiking on Sundays with her father. She fondly recalls driving out on back mountain roads, parking at the bottom of a random mountain, and "hiking" to the top. Favorite Backpacking Trips: North Fork Trail, WV - Standing Stone Trail, PA - Black Forest Trail, PA - Loyalsock Trail, PA. Favorite Hikes of all time: Grandfather Mountain, NC - Old Rag, VA - Ricketts Glen Ice Hike, PA - Trail of Ten Falls, OR - Peralta Trail, AZ.
Rebecca is a Technology Education teacher in Mifflin County, PA. She volunteers as Vice President, Webmaster and Trail Maintainer for the Standing Stone Trail Club. Rebecca developed a love for the outdoors when she first started hiking on Sundays with her father. She fondly recalls driving out on back mountain roads, parking at the bottom of a random mountain, and "hiking" to the top. Favorite Backpacking Trips: North Fork Trail, WV - Standing Stone Trail, PA - Black Forest Trail, PA - Loyalsock Trail, PA. Favorite Hikes of all time: Grandfather Mountain, NC - Old Rag, VA - Ricketts Glen Ice Hike, PA - Trail of Ten Falls, OR - Peralta Trail, AZ.
Bob Stewart
Bob went on his first backpacking trip in 2012, introduced to it by his wife, Lara, in Shenandoah National Park. He carried a Coleman car camping tent, a duvet from their bed at home, and a queen-sized air mattress—not exactly lightweight—but it was the start of an obsession.
Since then, backpacking has become a serious passion. Bob is currently working to hike every major trail in Pennsylvania, with only the Baker Trail left to go. He’s also on a quest to primitive camp in all 20 of the state’s Forest Districts—just Forbes and Cornplanter remain. Along the way, he discovered the Fastest Known Time (FKT) community and now holds unsupported speed records on the Mid State Trail, Donut Hole Trail, Chuck Keiper Trail, Tuscarora Trail, Mason-Dixon Trail, Lost Turkey Trail, and the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail.
When he’s not on the trail, Bob travels, hikes, and camps with Lara and their two daughters, Caroline (6) and Addie (2). He lives in Philadelphia but spends 30 nights a year or more backpacking and exploring the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Bob went on his first backpacking trip in 2012, introduced to it by his wife, Lara, in Shenandoah National Park. He carried a Coleman car camping tent, a duvet from their bed at home, and a queen-sized air mattress—not exactly lightweight—but it was the start of an obsession.
Since then, backpacking has become a serious passion. Bob is currently working to hike every major trail in Pennsylvania, with only the Baker Trail left to go. He’s also on a quest to primitive camp in all 20 of the state’s Forest Districts—just Forbes and Cornplanter remain. Along the way, he discovered the Fastest Known Time (FKT) community and now holds unsupported speed records on the Mid State Trail, Donut Hole Trail, Chuck Keiper Trail, Tuscarora Trail, Mason-Dixon Trail, Lost Turkey Trail, and the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail.
When he’s not on the trail, Bob travels, hikes, and camps with Lara and their two daughters, Caroline (6) and Addie (2). He lives in Philadelphia but spends 30 nights a year or more backpacking and exploring the Pennsylvania Wilds.
