Parks and Recreation Events

Meet Rick and Peggy Price at the Nature Center Parking Lot to search for spring migrants. This can be the best walk of the year when it comes to the variety of species seen. Warblers, phoebes, wrens, orioles, other songbirds and raptors are all a possibility. Spring migration will be in full swing! This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

During our Homeschool Days, students will discover the rich history of Fort Hunter in a series of 40-minute programs about the people that once called this park home. Registration for Spring 2025 Homeschool Days will go live on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Create your own wind chime using a glass bottle and dozens of beads and embellishments along with clappers and sails to create your own beautiful and functional work of art! You’ll be able to enjoy the calming and gentle sounds of your windchime all summer long. The class will be held outdoors if weather permits. Pre-registration is required, and class size is limited. This is a Park Rx program sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield.

Join Brian Scott of Deep Hollow Forest Farms for an evening workshop. Brian will provide background on mushroom logs and the process of their creation. Participants will then use an oak long harvested from the Parks system to create their own take-home mushroom log. This program is for participants 18 years or older. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. For more information about the farm visit https://deep-hollow-forest-farm.square.site/

Join us at Garden Faire as we kick off the museum and festival season at Fort Hunter Mansion and Park. Families can participate in a variety of activities, view exhibits in the Centennial Barn, tour the Fort Hunter Mansion, enjoy lunch in the Tavern House, among many other fun activities. Admission to the festival is free and mansion tours are available at a reduced price during the event. Event sponsored by: Dig My Earth | Media Sponsor: Macaroni Kid Harrisburg & West Shore. Please visit our website www.forthunter.org to reserve your tour time.

Join Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Nicole Cassel, for a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program that has been scientifically proven to help increase endurance and performance for your aerobic (cardiovascular) and anaerobic (muscular) systems. Tabata is a highly efficient method to achieve maximum results by helping you burn fat and build muscles. Tabata training works in 20 second intervals of high intensity exercise, followed by 10 seconds of rest, and repeated eight times for a total of four minutes. Are you looking for new and effective ways to switch up your workout routine? Tabata training might be exactly what you need! The workout will be solely bodyweight-focused, so you only need to bring a mat and water. A Park Rx wellness program sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Pre-registration is required for this program.

Join a Naturalist at Detweiler Park for a bird walk, in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day! Spring migration will be near or at its peak, meaning a wide variety of birds can be seen as they move into or through the area. Come explore the trails while listening and looking for warblers, orioles, wrens, raptors and more. After the walk, stop by the first annual Discover Detweiler Park BioBlitz 2025, hosted by the Friends of Detweiler Park, from 10am – 3pm. Learn about plants and animals that call Detweiler Park home, enjoy exhibits from various environmental organizations, and participate in interpretive walks throughout the day. This program is part of the Park Rx series of programs sponsored by Highmark Blue Shield. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Join the Friends of Wildwood for their fourth annual dog event! This will be a unique opportunity to honor your favorite furry friends and celebrate the wonders of Wildwood Park. Complete a fun scavenger hunt with your best friend, engage with local pet-centered vendors, buy some homemade tasty dog and human treats and more! Friends of Wildwood Dog Memberships will be available for purchase throughout the day for a small $10 annual fee. You won’t want to miss this event!

Curious about edible plants and how to utilize them to create yummy spring recipes? Join Naturalists at Wildwood Park to learn how to cook a light lunch using a few spring ephemerals. Space is limited. Pre-registration required.

Join volunteer Jane Earle to search for Jack in the Pulpits along the North Boardwalk. Learn interesting facts about the Jack in the Pulpit and why it could also be known as “Jill in the Pulpit.” Meet in front of the Nature Center. 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.