PEC Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards Recognize Pittsburgh International Airport; Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail; David & Lillian Cale For Their Gift Of Laurel Caverns

On May 6, the PA Environmental Council Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards recognized the Pittsburgh International Airport, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and David & Lillian Cale For Gift Of Laurel Caverns to the State Park system.

Pittsburgh International Airport

The Pittsburgh International Airport received PEC’s 2026 Sustainability Leadership Award for its industry-leading emphasis on decarbonization and environmental impact. 

From onsite microgrid and renewable energy installations to the recently completed terminal modernization project, PIT has set the regional standard for efficiency, resiliency, and responsible development. 

Future plans for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and clean hydrogen production will take the airport — and the region — to new heights.

In addition to PIT’s focus on energy innovation and sustainable operations, the award celebrates aesthetic and design features that situate the airport within the natural landscape of western Pennsylvania, including native plantings, locally sourced natural building materials, a bike-pedestrian connection to Pittsburgh via the nearby Montour Trail, and green terraces that will provide travelers with access to the outdoors.

Click Here for a video profile.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail was recognized with PEC’s 2026 Trailblazer Award. 

Through the contributions of dedicated partners including DCNR, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Ridge Runners, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and others, the LHHT embodies the spirit of collaboration that PEC values in its work. 

Presented in celebration of its 50th anniversary, this recognition will highlight the 70-mile trail’s role in the regional landscape, honor the people and organizations that brought it to life, and acknowledge those responsible for ensuring its lasting legacy for generations to come.

Click Here for a video profile.

David & Lillian Cale

PEC's 2026 Conservation Leadership Award, recognized David and Lillian Cale for their gift of the 435-acre Laurel Caverns property in Fayette County. 

An important geological site and wildlife habitat, Laurel Caverns is believed to be the largest cave system in the northeastern U.S. 

The property has been in the Cale family since the 1930s and has welcomed visitors from all over the world since 1969. 

With the transfer of ownership this year, it becomes Pennsylvania’s first underground state park.

Click Here for a video profile.

“These awardees exemplify the values of stewardship, community, and investment in our future that make western Pennsylvania an extraordinary place to live, work, and play,” PEC President Tom Gilbert said.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Environmental Council website, visit the PEC Blog, PEC Bill/Regulation Tracker, follow PEC on Twitter or Like PEC on Facebook.  Visit PEC’s Audio Room for the latest podcasts.  Click Here to receive regular updates from PEC.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Expands Moshannon State Forest With Addition Of 173-Acre Bilgers Rocks Sandstone 'Rock City' In Clearfield County  [PaEN] 

-- Keystone Trails Association Laurel Highlands Spring Hikes Attract 200 Participants [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Grants News: Ghost Town Trail Completes 32-Mile Loop; South Mountain Partnership Meets; Funding Opportunity; 2026 River Sojourns 

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Accepting Entries To 2026 Freedom To Explore Photo Contest [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Resolution Directing State Officials To Do An Assessment On How To Better Protect Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies And Other Native Pennsylvania Insects  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy May 12 Conservation Conversation Webinar On How To Protect Your Land With A Conservation Easement 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Editorial: Parks Offer Crucial Hands-On Learning Opportunities 

-- Inquirer:  Brandywine Conservancy & Museum Of Art Unveils $100 Million Campus Expansion Plan To Add 2nd Building, Nature Preserve In Delaware County

-- Singletracks.com: New 37.5 Mile Mountain Bike Trail Expansion Coming To Ohiopyle State Park In Fayette County 

-- Observer- Reporter: $2.8 Million Needed To Reopen Montour Trail Tunnel

-- LancasterOnline: Bird Flu Discovery At Conowingo Dam Closes Parts Of 2 Trails

-- The Nature Conservancy- PA News: Tannersville Bog Bursting With Life! Healthy Forest Stewardship; World Migratory Bird Day 

-- York Daily Record: How DEP Controls PA’s Biting Black Flies: ‘It’s An Ongoing Thing’

[Posted: May 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Penn State Extension June 9 Webinar On Creating Connections Through Citizen - Community Science

Join Penn State Extension June 9 for a webinar on Creating Connections Through Citizen - Community Science from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Discover how individuals of all backgrounds and experience levels can contribute to real scientific research during this engaging webinar led by Penn State Extension educators.

This introduction to community science-- also known as citizen or participatory science-- explores how volunteers, researchers, and communities work together to advance scientific knowledge, monitor environmental change, and inform management efforts. 

Participants will learn what community science is, explore a range of projects from across the region that align with different interests and time commitments, and gain practical guidance for getting involved locally. 

Ideal for those curious about science, interested in environmental stewardship, or seeking meaningful ways to contribute, this session offers both inspiration and clear next steps for making an impact.

Who is this for?

-- Individuals interested in the environment or their local surroundings 

-- Those seeking community stewardship opportunities 

-- Volunteers looking for new ways to get involved 

-- Individuals interested in science

What will you learn?

-- An overview of community science 

-- How community science advances scientific research 

-- Examples of community science projects 

-- Options for getting involved

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn more about many other educational opportunities.

Related Articles This Week:

-- Register Now! Choose Clean Water Coalition 2026 Choose Clean Water Conference Set For May 18-20 In Lancaster  [PaEN]

-- Native Garden At Wissahickon High School, Montgomery County Thrives Thanks To Work Of Master Watershed Steward Erin Crump  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $6.4 Million In Grants For 19 Local Drought Resiliency Projects Saving 1.5 Billion Gallons Of Water Annually  [PaEN]  

-- Stroud Water Research Center UpStream News: Boots-In-The-Water; Whose Mud Is It? From Stream Sensors To Bee Hives

NewsClips:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Field Project Examines What ‘Thriving Ag’ Could Look Like In The Future  

-- NRCS-PA Emergency Watershed Protection Program Disaster Recovery After Hurricane Debby In Pennsylvania

-- PennLive: PA Supreme Court Deals Blow To Effort To Get State Govt. To Pay Stormwater Fees For Harrisburg Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrades 

-- KDKA: Allegheny County Sanitary Authority $3 Billion Wastewater Project Already Hundreds Of Millions Over Budget, Officials Say 

-- Inquirer - Andrew Seidman: Inside Merck’s Lobbying Of Gov. Shapiro’s Office To Ease Water Pollution Reporting Regulation [DEP Abandoned Revisions]

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Names Katie Cassidy New Deputy Director

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Turnpike Plan To Cut An Open Gash In The Allegheny Mountain To Bypass Tunnel Draws Opposition In Somerset County

-- Tribune-Democrat: Group Takes Fight Against PA Turnpike Proposal To Make A Massive Cut Thru The Allegheny Mountain To Harrisburg: ‘We Won’t Be Ignored’ 

-- Post-Gazette: Group Fighting PA Turnpike Plan To Cut Massive Slash Thru Allegheny Mountain

-- PennLive: Group Fights PA Turnpike Plan To Cut Massive Slash Thru Allegheny Mountain: ‘Scar On The Landscape’

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Others Challenge EPA Repeal Of Climate Endangerment Finding

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Adams County Facility To Burn Chicken Manure To Generate Energy, Reduce Nitrogen Sits Idle For Nearly A Decade

[Posted: May 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

DCNR Expands Moshannon State Forest With Addition Of 173-Acre Bilgers Rocks Sandstone 'Rock City' In Clearfield County

On May 7, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the addition of Bilgers Rocks in Clearfield County to the Moshannon State Forest — expanding Pennsylvania’s 2.2 million acres of state forestland and protecting a unique natural landmark for public access and conservation.

The 173-acre property includes a 20-acre sandstone “rock city,” formed more than 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian Period. 

The rooms and passageways are believed to have been used for shelter by Native Americans who traveled west along the nearby Great Shamokin path. 

There are numerous century old carvings from early visitors and explorers along the passageways.

The site was transferred to the Commonwealth as a gift by the Bilgers Rocks Association and will now be managed for recreation, conservation, and public enjoyment for generations to come. 

DCNR plans to enhance the site by developing a full interpretive plan, staffing with an environmental education specialist, and improving signage and facilities for educational outreach.

“We are excited to welcome Bilgers Rocks into our state forestlands and are thrilled to have the opportunity to share this special place with the public more broadly,” said Secretary Dunn. “Thank you to the Bilgers Rocks Association for the many years of stewardship and continued dedication to supporting this special place. I am confident that this land and the natural beauty it possesses will be an increasingly valuable natural asset to Clearfield County and the region at large moving forward.”

The Bilgers Rocks Association managed the property from 1988 to 2025 prior to transferring the property to the Commonwealth. 

The Association will continue to coordinate educational programming alongside Moshannon Forest District staff, which will include a new environmental education position for the area.

“We knew when we approached the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to consider long-term conservation of Bilgers Rocks that we had made the right decision to trust the Commonwealth with this wonderful geological and environmental site,” said Barbara McCracken, president of the Bilgers Rocks Association. “Our association will continue to support this special place, and we are hopeful to help enhance the learning experiences for the thousands of visitors who come from all over the world to experience this beautiful place.”

An estimated 20,000 visitors come to Clearfield County each year to see Bilgers Rocks, making it one of the most visited state forest sites in the system. 

Recreational offerings at Bilgers Rocks include hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, camping and hunting as well as passive recreation and enjoyment of the natural setting  Bilgers Rocks also sits within the spectacular 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds Conservation Landscape. 

“Clearfield County is grateful to the Commonwealth for taking over stewardship of this natural area and we welcome visitors to this geological destination,” said Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel, who is also a member of the Bilgers Rocks Association. “As a founding member of the Association, I am proud of our work to be stewards of this place and I am confident in DCNR’s ability to maintain this site for future generations’ use.”

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.  Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter.

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Grants News: Ghost Town Trail Completes 32-Mile Loop; South Mountain Partnership Meets; Funding Opportunity; 2026 River Sojourns 

-- Keystone Trails Association Laurel Highlands Spring Hikes Attract 200 Participants [PaEN]  

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Accepting Entries To 2026 Freedom To Explore Photo Contest [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Resolution Directing State Officials To Do An Assessment On How To Better Protect Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies And Other Native Pennsylvania Insects  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy May 12 Conservation Conversation Webinar On How To Protect Your Land With A Conservation Easement 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Editorial: Parks Offer Crucial Hands-On Learning Opportunities 

-- Inquirer:  Brandywine Conservancy & Museum Of Art Unveils $100 Million Campus Expansion Plan To Add 2nd Building, Nature Preserve In Delaware County

-- Singletracks.com: New 37.5 Mile Mountain Bike Trail Expansion Coming To Ohiopyle State Park In Fayette County 

-- Observer- Reporter: $2.8 Million Needed To Reopen Montour Trail Tunnel

-- LancasterOnline: Bird Flu Discovery At Conowingo Dam Closes Parts Of 2 Trails

-- The Nature Conservancy- PA News: Tannersville Bog Bursting With Life! Healthy Forest Stewardship; World Migratory Bird Day 

-- York Daily Record: How DEP Controls PA’s Biting Black Flies: ‘It’s An Ongoing Thing’

[Posted: May 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Keystone Trails Association Laurel Highlands Spring Hikes Attract 200 Participants

The Keystone Trails Association wrapped up its 2026 Spring Hiking Weekend on May 3 after four days of adventure, stewardship, and community in the Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape. 

Held April 30–May 3, and based out of the historic Summit Inn Resort in Fayette County, the event welcomed 200 participants across 41 programs, making it one of KTA’s largest Spring Hiking Weekends in recent decades. 

The weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.

The “Give Back to the Outdoors Extended Weekend,” new for 2026, allowed for early arrivals to participate in stewardship projects on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning before the main programming began.

“The Summit Inn, combined with the partners in the Laurel Highlands region, the talented staff, and the enthusiastic attendees, made this one of KTA’s most successful spring hiking weekends,” said Holly Smith, Executive Director, Keystone Trails Association. 

“This was such a fantastic introduction to KTA’s hiking community, and I loved meeting  hikers from all over Pennsylvania and beyond. This event truly highlighted the outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities, businesses, and partnerships throughout the Laurel Highlands region.”

“Keystone Trails Association’s 2026 Spring Hiking Weekend in the Laurel Highlands was one of the organization’s largest events in recent decades,” said Kate Prisby, Manager of Events & Programs, Keystone Trails Association.  

“From April 30–May 3, 200 people explored this Conservation Landscape under sunny skies, rainy weather, and even some brief snow. 

“‘It was awesome; I can’t wait to come back; this weekend was top-notch,’ were all passing comments as participants came in and out of the Summit Inn!” 

The weekend’s success reflected a true community collaboration. 

Local outfitters, volunteer trip leaders, nonprofit partners, and the team at Go Laurel Highlands all contributed to delivering a seamless, high-quality experience for attendees from across Pennsylvania. 

Spring Hiking Weekend was made possible, in part, thanks to the generous support of the Robert Waters Economic Development Fund of the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies and the Fayette County Tourism Grant Program through Go Laurel Highlands. 

Funding was also provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources through the Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant program (C2P2). 

Looking Ahead

KTA’s next event, the Keystone Hiking and Outdoor Weekend, will be held October 22–25, 2026, in the Susquehanna Riverlands.

Spring Hiking Weekend 2027 will take place April 29–May 2, 2027, in Erie, Pennsylvania. 

Lodging reservations can be made today on the KTA website. 

Registration details will be announced online.

The Keystone Trails Association offers a robust trail care program with volunteer opportunities available on PA trails, serves as the statewide voice of the hiking trail community and trail advocate in PA’s capital, and offers a wealth of hiking opportunities throughout the year that both long-time hikers and the next generation of hikers can enjoy together. 

Related Articles This Week:

-- DCNR Grants News: Ghost Town Trail Completes 32-Mile Loop; South Mountain Partnership Meets; Funding Opportunity; 2026 River Sojourns 

-- PA Parks & Forests Foundation Now Accepting Entries To 2026 Freedom To Explore Photo Contest [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Resolution Directing State Officials To Do An Assessment On How To Better Protect Bees, Butterflies, Fireflies And Other Native Pennsylvania Insects  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy May 12 Conservation Conversation Webinar On How To Protect Your Land With A Conservation Easement 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Editorial: Parks Offer Crucial Hands-On Learning Opportunities 

-- Inquirer:  Brandywine Conservancy & Museum Of Art Unveils $100 Million Campus Expansion Plan To Add 2nd Building, Nature Preserve In Delaware County

-- Singletracks.com: New 37.5 Mile Mountain Bike Trail Expansion Coming To Ohiopyle State Park In Fayette County 

-- Observer- Reporter: $2.8 Million Needed To Reopen Montour Trail Tunnel

-- LancasterOnline: Bird Flu Discovery At Conowingo Dam Closes Parts Of 2 Trails

-- The Nature Conservancy- PA News: Tannersville Bog Bursting With Life! Healthy Forest Stewardship; World Migratory Bird Day 

-- York Daily Record: How DEP Controls PA’s Biting Black Flies: ‘It’s An Ongoing Thing’

[Posted: May 7, 2026]  PA Environment Digest