Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week 2026: Turn Your Passion Into Action

Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week is both a celebration and a call to action. Pennsylvania holds a wealth of natural, cultural and historic treasures, but these landscapes endure only when people step forward to care for them. This year Bedford County will take center stage. All week (September 26 – October 4, 2026) there will be opportunities to get involved and showcase how stewardship and volunteerism protect the environment, improve our well-being, and strengthen both community pride and the local economy.

Why Bedford County?

Outdoor recreation is one of Pennsylvania’s greatest attractions. It is an economic engine for communities that attract trail users, anglers, paddlers, and heritage tourists. It is also a gateway to a better appreciation for conservation. Bedford County has embraced this momentum, investing in new trail connections, expanding access to parks and historic sites, and elevating outdoor recreation as a driver of economic vitality. But these assets thrive only when volunteers help to maintain them.

During Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week, residents and visitors alike will have the chance to turn their passion into action by restoring trails, cleaning up litter, improving habitats, caring for historic landmarks, and advocating for healthy lands. Every hour of volunteer work protects the natural and cultural resources that fuel tourism, attract new families, and improve Bedford County’s healthy lands.

Stewardship is more than service

Stewardship is a personal investment in the landscapes that make our community healthy and beautiful, sustain local businesses, inspire adventure, and connect people to one another.

One of the goals of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is to build and maintain safe, accessible, and reliable outdoor recreation infrastructure for all. Volunteerism and stewardship are critical elements in maintaining the recreation infrastructure we’ve come to depend on. Pennsylvania Healthy Lands Week promotes and celebrates stewardship and community engagement in making landscapes more accessible and beautiful.