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KTA Trail Care Academy 2026
March 27-29, 2026 | Petersburg, PA Are you passionate about trail care and looking to enhance your outdoor skills? Are you brand new to trail work and want to get an idea of what's involved? Join us next month for an engaging training event hosted by Jenn and Al from the Keystone Trails Association Trail Care team, plus Lauren Kennedy-Little from North Country Trail Association. Sessions will include topics like trail blazing and marking, tool maintenance and care, and risk management for trail workers. The major topic this year will be building with rocks. Register here! KTA Webinar: Vernal Pools April 7, 2026 - 6:00 pm | Virtual What's so Cool About a Vernal Pool? Vernal pools are isolated, small wetlands that only contain water for part of the year. They are often found in the forest and are easy to overlook while hiking, yet they are vitally important to the survival of several wildlife species. Join Miranda Smith, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Southwest Region Education Specialist, to learn about vernal pools and how they serve as a vital habitat. Registration is free, but required. Register here! Wild & Scenic Film Festival on IMAX & Accessible Hike April 14, 2026 | Lancaster County Join us for a hike, dinner, and a showing of award-winning films in this year's Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The festival is hosted by one of KTA's partners, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Come for any portion of the evening; all events are accessible. Last year's films were awe-inspiring; don't miss this event. Register here! Spring Hiking Weekend 2026- Discounted Lodging Ends March 19 May 1-3, 2026 | Laurel Highlands Join KTA in the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape for a weekend of guided hikes, rafting, tours of battlefields & Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, workshops, book discussions, birding, biking, and even an overnight backpack. It's a celebration of trails and how landscapes connect us to one another and to place. Lodging is at the historic Summit Inn. Come for one day or the whole weekend. Register here! KTA Webinar: Introducing the South Central Pennsylvania Accessible Adventure Guidebook May 19, 2026 - 6:00 pm | Virtual Join us on May 19th at 6:00 PM for a special webinar celebrating the release of the South Central Accessible Adventure Guidebook, a brand-new resource designed to excite and inspire outdoor adventurers of all abilities. Hear directly from the authors — Brook Lenker of Keystone Trails Association, Janetta Green of JW Consulting, and John Naylor. The guidebook highlights 12 outstanding trails across Pennsylvania's south central region, offering detailed information to help individuals who use mobility aids or have limited mobility plan safe, enjoyable outings. Registration is free, but required. Register here! America250 PA Cumberland County Appalachian Trail Hikes June 6 & 27, 2026 | Cumberland County Lace up your boots and step foot on the most iconic trail in the United States, the Appalachian Trail. Learn about the history of the trail and what it's like to walk all the way from George to Maine. Hikes differ in distance, and both are led by KTA members who have thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail. Learn more and register here! North Country Trail Slackpack - Clarion June 12-14, 2026 | Clarion County Join KTA and the Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail for three days of hiking and a half day of kayaking the Clarion River. Learn more and register here! Wilderness First Aid Certification July 27-28, 2026 | Stone Valley Recreation Area, Centre County Learn general medical concepts and basic life support skills so you're ready for a mishap in the outdoors. This training is targeted to the outdoor enthusiast on day trips or short adventures. This training can be paired with Leave No Trace on July 29-30. Learn more and register here! Leave No Trace Level One Instructor Certification July 29-30, 2026 | Stone Valley Recreation Area, Centre County Delve into low-impact skills for outdoor recreation and explore your outdoor ethics. This training is geared toward hiking enthusiasts, trail maintainers, outdoor educators, and those working to preserve public and private lands for recreational use. This training can be paired with Wilderness First Aid on July 27-28. Learn more and register here! Keystone Trails Association International Hiking Trip Fundraiser: Trekking on the International Appalachian Trail Ulster-Ireland August 9-20, 2026 | International Appalachian Trail Explore the northern reaches of the Republic of Ireland as well as the Causeway Coast section of Northern Ireland on this KTA international hiking trip fundraiser. The International Appalachian Trail Ulster-Ireland begins in the west in West Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and stretches for 279 miles into Northern Ireland, finishing in Larne in County Antrim. We will explore several sections of trail in the Republic of Ireland near Donegal before transitioning to Northern Ireland to hike several days on the Causeway Coast section of trail, which includes the Giant's Causeway. Enter the lottery and learn more here! Keystone Trails Association Pinchot Trail Slackpack October 2-4, 2026 |Pinchot State Forest Save the date for a primitive slackpack! Keystone Hiking & Outdoor Weekend 2026 October 23-25, 2026 | Susquehanna Riverlands Join KTA in the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape for a weekend of guided hikes, water activities, ecological restoration events, biking, and more! Activity and lodging registration will open in July. |
KTA Trail Care Program Events
Registration and detailed information for all these events will be available soon! Learn more about our Trail Care Program. 2026 Trail Care Events: 🥾 March 27-29: Trail Care Academy training, Stone Valley Recreation Area; Link 🧹 April 9-12: Cabin Care: spring cleaning/ remodeling Panther Run Cabin (PRC); Link 🥾 April 23-26: TRAIL CARE: Reeds Gap/White Mtn Ridge; Camp K- Harris Cabin; Link 🧹 May 7-8: Cabin Care: spring cleaning/ remodeling Panther Run Cabin (PRC); Link 🥾 May 9-10: Eagleton 86 Trail Race, KTA Trail Care Aid Station, camp at PRC; Link 🥾 May 13: Weekday Trail Care w/CPC @ Diakon, Link 🥾May 14-17: Mid State Trail- Woolrich Region, Ravensburg State Park 🥾 May 22-23: TRAIL CARE Code Orange: Chuck Keiper Trail, PRC 🥾 May 28-31: TRAIL CARE: Tiadaghton State Forest Trails, Pump Station Cabin 🥾 May 30: ALL WOMEN'S TRAIL CARE: Susquehanna Riverlands State Park 🥾 June 5-6: TRAIL LOVE: Kittatinny Edition 🥾 June 10: Weekday Trail Care w/CPC @ Tuckahoe 🥾 June 11-14: TRAIL CARE: Mid State Trail-Everett Region, Tenley Park 🥾 June 18-21: TRAIL CARE: Mid State Trail-Tioga Region, Hills Creek Group Tenting Area 🥾 June 25-28: TRAIL CARE: Mid State Trail-State College Region, Camp Mount Luther 🥾 July 8: Weekday Trail Care w/CPC @ Port Royal Wetlands/Greg's Woods 🥾 July 9-12: PSU Adventure Club TRAIL CARE: Sproul Trails, PRC 🥾 July 16-19: TRAIL CARE: Tioga State Forest Trails, Lexington Camp 🥾 July 24-26: ALL WOMEN'S TRAIL CARE: Sproul Trails, PRC 🥾 Aug. 6-9: TRAIL CARE: Donut Hole Trail, Hyner Run State Park 🥾 Aug. 12: Weekday Trail Care w/CPC @ Bryner Brady 🥾 Aug. 20-23: TRAIL CARE: Allegheny Front Trail, Black Moshannon State Park 🥾 Aug. 27-30: TRAIL CARE: Hickory Run State Park Trails, HRSP 🥾 Sept. 9: Weekday Trail Care w/CPC @ LeTort Spring Garden/Pine Hill 🥾 Sept. 10-13: TRAIL CARE: Pinchot Trail, Tobyhanna State Park 🥾 Sept. 10-13: TRAIL CARE: Bucktail Path, Sinnemahoning State Park 🥾 Sept. 24-27: TRAIL CARE: Chapman State Park Trails, CSP 🥾 Sept. 27: ALL WOMEN'S TRAIL CARE: Pine Grove Furnace/Michaux 🥾 Oct. 1-4: TRAIL CARE: Quehanna Trail, Parker Dam State Park 🥾 Oct. 3: TRAIL CARE Code Orange: Gifford Pinchot State Park 🥾 Oct. 8-11: TRAIL CARE: North Country Trail (Butler), camping TBD 🥾 Oct. 15-18: TRAIL CARE: Donut Hole Trail, Hyner Run State Park 🥾 Oct. 29-Nov. 1: TRAIL CARE: Chuck Keiper Trail, PRC 🥾 Oct. 31: TRAIL CARE Code Orange: KTA’s A.T. Section @ Lehigh Gap 🥾 Nov. 5-8: TRAIL CARE: T Squared Trail, Jersey Mills Ranger Station |
KTA provides program registration scholarships for those who can put newly acquired skills or experiences to good use - to teach others about the environment and/or facilitate more people exploring or caring for trails. Click here to apply.
