First Code Orange to Support Environmental Education at Nolde Forest

by Ed Lawrence, KTA Trail Care Chair

​A 1-day Code Orange Trail Care Event will take place at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, Berks County, on Saturday, May 6. Established in the 1970s, Nolde Forest was the first environmental education center operated by the Bureau of State Parks. Hundreds of school and youth groups visit the center each year to experience and learn from its environmental programs. Nolde Forest has a 10-mile network of walking trails that lead visitors to streams, ponds, and other diverse habitats.
 
Trail Care volunteers will meet at 9:00 AM at the center’s office in the Nolde Forest Mansion. There, Manager Lisa Miller will organize work crews. The work will address drainage issues on the Beech and Kohout Trails and building steps on the Watershed Trail. The steps will make it safer for school groups to negotiate 2 short, steep trail sections.
 
Volunteers are key to having a successful Trail Care Event that will make the center’s trail system more hiker-friendly and sustainable. Nolde Forest is located south of Reading along Route 625—2 miles south of Route 724 and 3 miles north of Route 568. Start your spring off with a Trail Care workday that will have a positive impact year-round.
 
In addition, on May 19-21, volunteers can work on the West Rim Trail running along Pine Creek Gorge (also called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania) in Tioga County. This Trail Care Weekend will be based out of Colton Point State Park. This will be our third year of work to improve one of the state’s great hiking trails.

​Click HERE for contact information.