Celebrate Earth Day with a Hike in the Forest and a 'Wild & Scenic Film Festival'

Earth Day – held on April 22 – was created to inspire awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Two new events this year in the Allegheny National Forest Region will embrace and celebrate nature’s beauty - a guided hike along the scenic Marilla Springs Trail and the “Wild & Scenic Film Festival” at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Both are free and open to the public.

The Allegheny Outdoor Adventures Club is hosting a hike from 9 a.m. to noon at Marilla Springs Trail, one of the many scenic trails of the Tuna Valley Trail Association. Hikers are invited to meet before 9 a.m. at the Marilla Springs parking lot on West Washington Street, located along Route 346, about five miles west of the City of Bradford. Trail maps are available online in a downloadable format at www.tunavalleytrail.com.

The group is expected to walk 3.6 miles on the trail then turn around. However, hikers are allowed to turn back during any part of the hike. Hikers can participate in as much or as little of the 7.2-mile hike as they desire. At 4 p.m., a second, shorter hike is scheduled for the Richard McDowell Community Trail located at 300 Campus Drive, at the campus Pitt-Bradford.

The “Wild and Scenic Film Festival” will take place from 12:30 to 7 p.m. in the Bromeley Family Theater in Blaisdell Hall at Pitt-Bradford. The festival is jointly hosted with the Allegheny Defense Project and Pitt-Bradford’s Environmental Club.

With the theme of “Our Youth,” festival-goers will see award-winning films about a number of environmental topics, including conservation, climate change, agriculture energy and indigenous cultures.

“Mother Nature’s Child: Growing Outdoors in the Media Age” will be the main feature. The other movies that will be shown are “Chasing Water” and “Connecting the Gems.”

Food and beverages are available at the film festival and free parking is available. A variety of outdoor and nature themed organizations will also participate in the Film Festival displaying their information and providing a variety of raffle items for attendees.

For more information on the festival, contact Stephen Robar at robar@pitt.edu. For more information on the Allegheny National Forest Region, including a free brochure on all the local trails, attractions and nearby lodging please call the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau at 800-473-9370 or e-mail info@visitANF.com. Maps and guides are also available at visitANF.com.

Pictured, a walk on the Richard McDowell Community Trail
Courtesy of ANFVB

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