A Catalyst For Community Improvement
Driving the resources, conservation and development of projects for Northwestern Pennsylvania since 1964
Serving 8 counties of northwestern Pa: Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren.
Women's Outdoor Workshops Are Back!!
*The deadline to register for this
event is Oct. 5th!
Join us Saturday, Oct. 17th, 2026 for the second WOW event under Penn Soil RC&D's leadership! We have 17 workshops for women and girls 12 years old and up to select from when they register for this event!
Our host location for this Women's Outdoor Workshop is the Tionesta Church of God, 1582 PA-36, Tionesta, Pa, 16353, 8 am until about 5 pm.
Coffee and donuts will be provided during registration/sign in starting at 8 am, as
well as lunch, included with your registration,
provided by the Women’s Auxiliary
of The Tionesta Church of God! If you have food restrictions, it is recommended to bring food you know you can have.
Download, complete and return the Word Doc or PDF registration document below with your registration fee to be registered for our Oct. 17th WOW event. Visit our Shop page for a quick and easy online option to pay your registration fee, plus any additional materials fees if you sign up for one of the 5 classes that have an extra materials fee. Add all applicable fees to your cart before you checkout. The waiver at the bottom of the registration form does require an actual signature, we can't accept just typing your name on the form. If you don't have a means to print, sign and scan the last page into your computer to email to us, please consider emailing your form with class selections and contact info, then print it off and mail a copy to our office with your signature.
If you are unable to print the registration form, you can pick one up at the following locations:
Warren Co.:
Penn Soil Office - 4000 Conewango Ave, Warren
Warren Visitor's Center, 22045 US -6, Warren
Forest Co.:
Forest Co. Conservation District
or call or email and we can mail them to you!
If you have questions, would like to volunteer for the event, would like a sponsor or donate something to the basket raffle, contact us by email at pennsoilrcd@wcconservation.net or call the office at 814-726-1141 and ask for Sue Nielsen.
Registration form:
And a few photos from the June WOW event courtesy of Kirby Neubert:
Kayak Twister!
Rock Painting in Nature
Water Safety & Kayking
Archery
Blacksmithing
Fur Taking
Fly Fishing
Water Safety Days are being planned in multiple counties for 2026!
Penn Soil will be at the annual Memorial Day weekend festivities in Russell, PA. sponsored by R.O.A.R. - Revitalization of Akeley/Russell. We will be located at the Larimer Park Boat Launch between 9 am and 2 pm on Sat. May 23 talking water safety, native & invasive species, and demonstrating some rescues!
On Sat., June 13th, we'll be at the Clarion River Water Fest at Toby Boat Launch covering water & kayaking safety. Visit the Clarion Co. Conservation District website for information on how to register for this event.
We will also be assisting with the planning and hosting of the Clarion River Cleanup and Conewango Creek Cleanup in the fall of 2026! Stay tuned for updates!
These events are made possible thanks to funding from the PA Environmental Council and the Foundation for PA Watersheds!!
2026 Annual Nature Art Showcase & Sale
Penn Soil RC&D once again partnered with the Council on Greenways & Trails to plan and co-host the tenth annual Nature Art Showcase and Sale held February 6-7, 2026 at the Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin, PA. This was a free event for the public which showcases local artist's artwork that must represent scenes from nature within the 8 northwest PA counties Penn Soil serves.
Submission categories include 2-D, 3-D, youth and this year's themed category was "On The Wing"! More than 110 original art items submitted by 62 artists were displayed in the main lobby of the Barrow-Civic Theatre in downtown Franklin. The variety of talent on display was amazing.
The “People’s Choice” awards were chosen from original artworks made using diverse techniques featuring outdoor recreation and natural resources of northwestern Pennsylvania. This year’s prizes were made and donated by fellow artists participating in the two-day event.
2026 Winners :
Two-Dimensional category - a spray painting prepared by Jesse Wolfgang of Warren, PA entitled “Transcendence.” He strives to use recycled and repurposed materials to create artwork capturing motion, experience, and links with nature.
He received a framed photograph of a Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly provided by Kirby Neubert of Seneca, PA.
Mary Rose Ragon of Franklin, PA assembled her “Whimsical Woodland Wonder” with miniature natural materials found near her home. This item received the highest number of ballots in the 3-D category. Her prize is a stained-glass original work called “Honeycomb Corner” made by Barb Makohus of Centerville.
In the “On The Wing” category attendees selected “The Hunter and The Taken,” a panel with overlaid painted images of a bald eagle and other predators and prey. Heidi Wirtner of Emlenton, PA conceptualized this panel. Lisa Hulihan of Franklin, PA furnished the prize, a wooden keepsake box with a photograph of a bald eagle inserted as the box lid.
Thirteen-year-old seventh grader Cooper Greenlee of Polk, PA entered a pencil drawing of “Childhood in Nature,” which earned the highest tally among the youth (ages 12-18) category. His prize, customized by Victorian City Art & Frame in Franklin, is a wide wood frame with a mat cut out in train shapes.
Stay up to date with Penn Soil RC&D projects and events. Sign up for our quarterly newsletter on the CONTACT page!
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