The 20+ acre prairie at the Jennings Center is one of the few remaining pockets of a once greater extension of the true Midwestern prairie.
A combination of the glacial history of the area and climatic changes that took place over the last million years allowed the Midwestern prairie plant community to extend into Pennsylvania about 2000 BC.
The Jennings area was established in the late 1950’s to protect and conserve a beautiful prairie flower, the blazing star.
It was the first reserve established in Pennsylvania to protect an individual plant species and remains the only public and protected prairie in the Commonwealth.
The hot midsummer weather will bring the spectacular blazing star and other prairie flowers to peak bloom during late July and early August.
Evening Prairie Bloom Walks Starting July 16
Walks will be held on Thursday, July 16, Thursday, August 20, and Thursday, September 17 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. These guided 90-minute casual walks will focus on the plants currently blooming but will also highlight some of the animals, history and geology of the prairie.
The walks are free and no registration is required.
Self-Guided Prairie Walks Starting July 18
From Saturday, July 18 through Sunday, August 2 during peak prairie bloom, visitors can pick up free guide and follow a designated route to discover the tales these flowers have to tell.
With incredible adaptations in a harsh environment, to intricate connections between the plants, bugs, birds, and more, the prairie’s blooms on view are sure to impress in both their beauty and importance.
No registration is required, but visitors wishing to receive the guide electronically may contact jenningssp@pa.gov or call 724-794-6011.
The printed guide and experience are available from sunrise to sunset.
Celebrate The Bloom July 25
Celebrate the Bloom! Will be held on July 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. which features the blooming of the most noteworthy and spectacular prairie flower is the blazing star.
This annual festival at Jennings includes nature explorations (i.e. bird, butterfly and wildflower walks), engaging demonstrations, local artisans and food, and musical guests.
The event is produced in cooperation with 3MJC (the friends group and funding partner of Jennings). Music is presented by Lonesome No More Productions/Dennis McCurdy.
Summer Camp!
This year’s summer camp, Creepy, Crawly, Cool!, is a summer nature day camp for students ages 4 – 7 and ages 8 – 12.
This camp will allow young explorers to witness the curiosities of nature’s nasties throughout the summer, with two sessions each in June, July, and August.
With hands-on activities, up-close nature discoveries, and thematic games, this camp is the perfect way for kids to connect with the natural world.
Join us for one session or follow along all summer to learn about these various creatures and their fascinating features!
What’s Blooming?
Click Here for a written guide to what’s blooming at Jennings.
Click Here for photos of what’s blooming.
Visit DCNR’s Jennings Environmental Education Center webpage for much more information about the prairie and events happening at the Center year round. Send an email to: jenningssp@pa.gov to sign up for regular updates from Jennings.
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 Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council Meets July 22 To Hear About Glamping In State Parks, Other Updates [PaEN]
-- DCNR Seeks Applicants For NextGen Advisory Council [PaEN]
-- DCNR Resource Highlights Statewide Outdoors For All Events; Wildlife Corridors; Trail Of The Year Nominations; Making State Parks, Forests More Accessible [PaEN]
-- Outdoor Business Alliance Of PA Now Accepting Applications For Trout Tank Grants To Support PA Outdoor Businesses; July 15 Applicant Webinar [PaEN]
-- Outdoor Business Alliance Of PA Hosts July 27 Webinar On Outdoor Participation Trends And What They Mean For Your Business [PaEN]
-- Landforce Now Accepting Applications For Fall Crew Member Training; Hire A Landforce Crew; 2025 Impact Report Released [PaEN]
-- Pennsylvania Wilds/Purple Lizard Maps: New Dark Skies Map Highlights One Of Pennsylvania’s Most Remote Landscapes [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo Aug. 1 At Shikellamy State Park Marina Sunbury, Northumberland County
-- Penn State Extension To Host Inaugural Keystone Invasive Species Forum Sept. 16 In Boalsburg, Centre County [PaEN]
-- Hartwood Acres Park In Allegheny County Inducted Into The Old-Growth Forest Network [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Erie Times: Presque Isle Beach Ranked No. 1 In US For Etiquette; No. 71 Overall
-- Altoona Mirror: PA Outdoor Corps Members Cleanup Holy Trinity Rain Garden In Altoona
-- The News-Item: Northumberland County Gets ‘Whaleback’ Coal Education Site In Land Swap With Reading Anthracite Co.
-- TribLive: West Mifflin Segment Of Great Allegheny Passage Trail To Close Temporarily For Maintenance In Westmoreland County
-- York Daily Record: Police Seek Identity Of Dirt Bike Rider Accused Of Shooting At Vehicle
-- PennLive: Which PA Roads Are Most Dangerous For Wildlife Crossings? State Work Group Seeks To Find Out
-- PA Capital-Star: Wildlife Road Crossings And Habitat Will Be Focus Of State Working Group
-- WPSU: PA’s Elk Herd Featured On Season Premiere Of Discovery Channel Travel Show
-- Tribune-Democrat: Southmount Takes Tree Inventory, Looking For Volunteers To Keep Eye On Street Tree Health In Cambria County
-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Fireflies: Tiny Lanterns Of The Summer Night
-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Summer Is Here: Find Healing Through Nature And Creation Care
-- KDKA: Allegheny County DA Investigating 35 Cases Of Deed Fraud, Deeds Transferred To An LLC Without Homeowners’ Knowledge [Also Happens With Oil & Gas Property Rights]
-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA Lawmakers Shouldn’t Overturn PA Supreme Court Decision Restoring Oil & Gas Property Rights To Their Rightful Owners - By Sherman Powell, Member Of Proctor Family Who Regained Their Property Unlawfully Taken
[Posted: July 11, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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