This article first appeared in the Spring 2025 newsletter of the Foundation for Sustainable Forests--
Blaine and Terry Aikin live near Cooperstown, Venango County. Blaine is a Pennsylvania Forest Steward and serves on the volunteer Council of the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests. In 2024, the Aikins partnered with the Foundation for Sustainable Forests to conserve Gentle Bear Run, the 100-acre forest featured below.
Sometimes things just fall into place. That's how Blaine and Terry Aikin put it when describing their property and relationship with FSF.
Nearly twenty years ago, the couple was living and working in Pittsburgh, PA and looking for an escape to a quieter place.
They found a property near Cooperstown, PA with a mix of forest and fields. The property wasn't perfect - it had a history of damaging, high grade-style harvests - but the Aikins believed it could someday be more than what it was.
Blaine and Terry purchased the property and used it as a weekend retreat and place for their family to camp.
Eventually, they bought a camper, enabling longer stays. A few years later, a neighboring property with a cozy house came up for sale.
With both indoor plumbing and a beautiful stretch of frontage on Lake Creek, a tributary to Sugar Creek in the French Creek watershed, the temptation of two kinds of running water was too good to pass up.
In 2015, another piece fell into place when the Aikins were able to purchase an adjacent forest that would eventually become Gentle Bear Run. More on that later.
As retirement approached, Blaine and Terry built a new house on the footprint of the old, with guest rooms for their children's families.
After a few years of "having one foot in Pittsburgh and one up here," they moved full-time to Cooperstown.
Though they describe the property as relaxing, you don't have to look far to see the sweat equity the Aikins have invested.
Their goal is to sustainably manage the forests, with an emphasis on creating wildlife habitat.
They have planted hundreds of trees in the former agricultural fields, promoted early successional habitat for woodcock and grouse in the property's aspen stand and former goldenrod meadow, created brush piles, built a pond, and reduced invasive plant populations.
Terry is most appreciative of the trails and footbridges they built, saying, "I'm always happy when I'm out walking somewhere."
Several years ago, Blaine invited Ty Ryen, the Pennsylvania DCNR's Service Forester for Venango County, out to the property to provide guidance on stewardship projects.
Seeing all that Blaine had done and his eagerness to care for the land, Ty recommended to Blaine that he join the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards (PAFS) volunteer program.
Through this program, Blaine received 40 hours of training on a variety of sustainable forest management and stewardship topics to become a Forest Steward in 2010, and now volunteers his time for peer-to-peer education with other private forest landowners in the region.
Blaine and Terry wondered what would happen to their property after they are gone, wanting to see it protected forever and their legacy of stewardship carried forward.
Mutual connections in PAFS introduced the Aikins to the Foundation for Sustainable Forests and they have been engaged supporters ever since.
Recognizing an alignment of values and vision, Blaine and Terry approached the Foundation about partnering to conserve a portion of their Cooperstown property.
In 2024, FSF officially fell into place as a conservation partner, with the purchase of 100 acres via charitable sale to establish Gentle Bear Run.
"We appreciate their thoughtful approach to forestry and can trust that the Foundation will do what it commits to," says Blaine. "They are doing the work - actually performing forestry the way it should be done and let us see what our woods can become."
As with all FSF properties, Gentle Bear Run is a working forest, managed using sustainable forestry practices that improve woodland diversity, health, and habitat while supporting the local community with economic, recreational, and educational opportunities.
"Having Gentle Bear Run next door is like having a classroom we can visit anytime." adds Terry.
Gentle Bear Run is named after one of Blaine and Terry's beloved dogs that enjoyed playing in the waters of a small, wooded creek.
Bear was an exceptionally large and loveable white Labrador who regularly visited the woods on long walks with Blaine, but the forest provides habitat for actual bears, bobcats, fishers, ruffed grouse, and many other species toо.
To learn more about how you can access and enjoy Gentle Bear Run, visit the Foundation’s Conserved Lands webpage.
If you are interested in learning more about joining the northwest PA Forest Stewards community, FSF is соhosting a gathering in July.
To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards webpage. Questions should be directed to PrivateForests@psu.edu or 1-800-235-9473.
Click Here to read the entire Spring newsletter.
Upcoming Events
-- September 19: Annual Foundation Dinner
-- September 20: Loving The Land Through Working Forests Conference
For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Foundation For Sustainable Forests website. Click Here to sign up for updates (top of page). Click Here to support their work.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Foundation For Sustainable Forests: Loving The Land - Landowners Blaine & Terry Aikin Tell Their Story About Gentle Bear Run, Venango County [PaEN]
-- Western PA Conservancy Adds 203 Acres To State Game Lands In Mercer County [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension To Host Forest And Deer Herd Management Webinar Series July 22 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Post-Gazette: Penn State DuBois, Mont Alto Wildlife And Forestry Programs Will Live On After Campus Closures
-- TribLive/AP: How To Protect Yourself From Ticks Year-Round
[Posted: July 2, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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