Public event will celebrate shop, colorblind viewfinders

WELLSBORO – Haven’t been to Leonard Harrison State Park in a while? An upcoming event on Oct. 10 is the perfect chance for a “Second Look” (or first look!) at the exciting new developments there before the PA Wilds Conservation Shop at that location closes for the season on Nov. 2!

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently completed renovations at the popular state park’s visitor center. The PA Wilds Conservation Shop, which has operated as a seasonal mobile unit the last few years, has now relocated inside the building.

Operated by the nonprofit PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship (PA Wilds Center), the PA Wilds Conservation Shops are mission-driven gift shops that help improve market access for rural entrepreneurs by sourcing 90 percent of their inventory from rural makers and businesses in the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds region.

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop “Second Look” event will take place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will celebrate the opening of the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, as well as give attendees the opportunity to tour the renovated visitor center and Conservation Shop, meet the employees, and chat with some of the artisans whose wares are sold there.

The event will also celebrate the newly installed colorblindness viewfinders, which were made possible in part thanks to donations made to the Charity Checkout for Conservation at the PA Wilds Conservation Shops. The donations were given to the PA Parks and Forest Foundation, which then handled the installation of the new viewfinders in early 2024. The changing fall leaves are sure to give everyone a spectacular view, and now colorblind visitors can enjoy the fall foliage as well!

“Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests are the crown jewels of the Commonwealth,” said PPFF President Marci Mowery. “With our shared commitment to these public lands, partnering with the PA Wilds Center was a natural fit. The support of the public indicates their passion for these public lands and their commitment to the stewardship of our parks and forests.”

In addition to elected officials and partner organizations who will be in attendance, the PA Wilds Center invites the public to be part of the celebration to see the new shop and try out the viewfinders. Local food truck Wandering Barista will also be on-site with coffee, teas, cider and pastries for purchase.

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Leonard Harrison State Park is currently open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shop will close for the season on Nov. 2. Learn more at ShopThePAWilds.com/pa-wilds-conservation-shops.

Libby Bloomquist, Sustainable Commerce Director at PA Wilds Center, said the PA Grand Canyon brings thousands of travelers to the area each year. “Visitors, whether they’re coming from near or far, are typically looking for something special to commemorate their trip and remember the amazing view,” she said. “We give them a chance to truly take home a piece of the PA Wilds by offering products that are made here by local artisans and authentically represent our region. Some popular sellers are PA Grand Canyon t-shirts that were designed by a local artist and printed in the PA Wilds, handcrafted earrings and other jewelry so folks can wear their love of the Wilds, and the famous Pennsylvania State Parks and State Forests Passport so visitors can continue to track their adventures.”

Each new PA Wilds Conservation Shop has created a full-time store manager and a store keyholder position, as well as part-time jobs. The PA Wilds Center invests thousands of dollars a year buying inventory and value-added products directly from local businesses for its gift shops. The shops also intentionally pass foot traffic to other area businesses, visitor bureaus, and attractions.

Each PA Wilds Conservation Shop aims to be a part of the community where it is located, carrying items that authentically reflect each unique location. “The view from Leonard Harrison State Park is spectacular, and plenty of the designs here feature the picturesque overlook of the gorge,” said Bloomquist. “For example, 3D wooden cut magnets show the Pine Creek Valley in full fall foliage. Other photo prints and art show the gorgeous dark skies and rolling hills. Locally made maple syrup gives families a sweet taste of the Pine Creek Valley, and kids especially love the ‘tree stump’ chocolates we sell that are made just a few miles away in Wellsboro. We also sell locally made metal replicas of Wellsboro’s famous gas street lights. Visitors who are traveling on the nearby Pine Creek Rail Trail appreciate the PCRT guidebook or the funny ‘elk on a bike’ t-shirts.”

There are currently more than 40 vendors supplying products for the Conservation Shops, a vast majority of whom are located in the PA Wilds and participate in the free Wilds Cooperative of PA network. The Wilds Cooperative seeks to connect and promote local businesses and is the entry point for those looking to tap into and leverage PA Wilds branding, marketing and commerce opportunities. Rural artisans interested in learning more about how to get their products into the shops are encouraged to visit WildsCoPA.org/join and apply.

The PA Wilds Conservation Shop at Marienville also opened this year. The shop operates out of a former train depot along the Knox and Kane Rail Trail in Forest County.

The flagship PA Wilds Conservation Shop, which opened in 2016, will continue to operate at Kinzua Bridge State Park, even as the Skywalk there undergoes maintenance off and on for the next three years starting later this year.

The funding to stand up the two new PA Wilds Conservation Shops came from a three-year Area Development grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support the next phase of expansion for the work being done to help rural small businesses leverage the region’s growing outdoor recreation economy. The ARC funding will also help the Center create new licensing and professional development opportunities for rural entrepreneurs, support outreach efforts, and help underwrite key regional marketing projects to continue positioning the region as a premier outdoor recreation destination and create new economic opportunities.

ABOUT THE PA WILDS

The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that inspires the communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The PA Wilds Center promotes the region and its 2+ million acres of public lands as a premier outdoor recreation destination as a way to diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, attract investment, retain population and improve quality of life. The PA Wilds Center’s core programs seek to help businesses leverage the PA Wilds brand and connect with new market opportunities, including: the Wilds Cooperative of PA, a network of more than 575 place-based businesses and organizations, and the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, a retail outlet primarily featuring products sourced from the WCO. For more information on the PA Wilds Center, visit www.PAWildsCenter.org. To learn more about the WCO, visit www.WildsCoPA.org. Explore the PA Wilds at www.PAWilds.com. Find regionally made products at www.ShopThePAWilds.com.