Think Outside Podcast: A Guide To Nature Exploration In Pennsylvania

 People are so down on government these days. Lately, they deserve it. 

The people who claimed that they’d drained the swamp have filled it with crooks. 

However, there are career, non-political public servants who are dedicated, honest, and do their best for the citizens of this country or a state.  

Think Outside is a bi-weekly audio series hosted by Marci Mowery and produced by the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF). It serves as a guide to nature exploration, conservation, wellness, and public outdoor recreation. Marci Mowery is the President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF).

The show spotlights outdoor exploration, and highlights state parks, forests, and lesser-known public lands.

The show features interviews with district foresters, park managers, authors, and local conservation leaders.

A key, overriding theme is promoting the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature, alongside ways to protect public lands.

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 125 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. With PPFF, citizens can donate or bequeath money to state parks and forests, become active and involved volunteers in the park and forest system, and find some fun and educational opportunities. PPFF’s status as a registered charity allows chapter friends groups to operate on our public lands for the benefit of everyone. 

 PPFF is committed to helping visitors and decision-makers better understand our natural world and the needs of our parks and forests, as well as the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits of spending time outdoors. Our parks and forests are economic engines that support a thriving recreation industry that employs thousands of Pennsylvanians. And educating young conservation leaders, junior scientists, and budding entrepreneurs will keep the state green and growing for generations to come.

On their website, Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) says: "Our parks and forests are the property of all residents of the Commonwealth, yet years of under-investing by the general assembly and increased use has left our parks with unmet needs. In partnership with parks and forests staff, we work to provide resources, both human and capital, to ensure the natural, cultural, and aesthetic values of our lands remain for today and future generations."

Mowery continues: "Volunteerism is the heart of our work. Each year, friends and volunteers donate over 75,000 volunteer hours to improve YOUR state parks and forests. We work to make volunteerism easy for individuals as well as corporations, and serve as an umbrella to more than 46 friends groups. From volunteer training to organized events, we are a one-stop shop for volunteerism."

I'm happy to report that Marci Mowery is an excellent steward for Pennsylvania parks and forests and is a terrific podcast host and interviewer. With its catchy intro music, and Mowery's enthusiasm, Think Outside turns out to be an invigorating and breathtaking audio experience.

One of my favorite episodes was released on July 15, 2026 -- Inside Forbes State Forest: Trails, History, and Hidden Wonders with Ed Callahan, District Forester. 

On that show, host Marci Mowery, sat down with Ed Callahan, who is district forester for the Forbes State Forest, spanning Westmoreland, Fayette, and Somerset counties in southwestern Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. He arrived in 1999 as assistant district forester and took over the district in 2002; since then, holdings have grown from roughly 58,000 to 64,000 acres.

Mr. Callahan explains that the forest sits in three separated blocks (Laurel Mountain, Mount Davis, and the ridge near Quebec Run), each an hour to ninety minutes apart and ecologically distinct, tied together by neighboring state parks, game lands, and private landowners like Seven Springs and Nemacolin Woodlands.

Mr. Callahan says: "The district's name honors General John Forbes's French and Indian War road, and sites like the 1770s-era Carroll Cabin and the Wharton Iron Furnace have been restored with grant support from the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. At Mount Davis, the state's high point, a 1930s-era observation tower is being fitted with new interpretive signage so visitors who can't climb it still get the view."

The episode just wants you to get outside, which means the podcast has met its objective.

Think Outside is a terrific nature podcast. You don't have to live in Pennsylvania to enjoy the show.  

 I love that an audio podcast can create such a compelling picture of nature. Video not needed.  Finally, kudos to Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF). She's not only effective at preserving Pennsylvania's parks and forests but also as a podcast host.