Parks and Recreation Events

Spend time outdoors this spring and summer at beautiful Detweiler Park and Lykens Glen Park enjoying "Doe's Dandelions" by Laura Renauld and illustrated by Jennie Poh. Dauphin County Parks and Recreation and Penn State Health are excited to provide a new interactive Storywalk® book selection for the spring and summer seasons.

Visit naturally inspired trailside creations along Wildwood Park’s wandering trails and wetlands. Using mostly natural materials, artists have constructed large and small installations. This year’s theme is “Pathways.” A map-brochure about the exhibit is available online, at the kiosks or inside the Nature Center. Art In the Wild is Presented by the Mooney family foundation.

Enjoy a moderately-paced walk around Wildwood Lake while enjoying the trees and animals at the park. This will be a walk on paved, gravel, and dirt surfaces. You can choose to walk only a portion, then turn around at any point if you would like to customize the length of your walk to your individual fitness goals.

Stop by the Nature Center Bird Viewing Area for a warm cup of bird- friendly coffee, tea or hot cocoa with Appalachian Audubon Society. Discover what birds visit our feeders most often and learn how to identify each one. On the second Saturday from November - April, join us in observing and counting common feeder birds as part of Project FeederWatch. Pre-registration is not required.

Take this opportunity to work outside and help Wildwood’s continued park and habitat enhancement projects. This month’s focus will be on planting new native trees and/or shrubs in various locations throughout the Park. Tools and work gloves provided. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.

It's beginning to look a lot like...Springtime! We love Spring in PA and so do the birds. Some are returning to the state after spending the winter away, and some have stayed here through the cold months and you may have seen them around town Join a Naturalist to learn about bird adaptations, take a hike and do a bird-related craft. Registrants must be accompanied by a chaperone for the duration of the program. A maximum of one chaperone per child is permitted. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Spring is a great time to do improve your backyard landscape, and the Friends of Wildwood have just the thing for you! Stop by the Nature Center from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and purchase an Eastern Redbud Tree Seedling. All proceeds benefit the Friends of Wildwood. Sales are cash or check only, so please plan accordingly. See you there!

Join volunteer Jane Earle to search for the infamous spring ephemerals along the Towpath Trail. Meet at the South Lot Parking area. Learn interesting facts and how to identify these common species. Participants in attendance for any flower walk in 2025 will be entered into a raffle with the chance to win a wildflower-themed gift basket from the Nature Shop courtesy of the Friends of Wildwood. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Join a Naturalist for a leisurely walk around Fort Hunter Park & Mansion. Learn one method for aging a live tree and some historical facts about these large giants. Participants will also view the Liberty Tree that was planted as a part of our nations 250th birthday. Space is limited. Meet on the lawn in front of the Mansion. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.

Join a Naturalist for a hike on some of Wildwood’s less traveled trails. Look for spring blooms on this evening walk. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy close toed shoes. Hike will be around 3 miles. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration required.