“Other people are there, and they're utilizing the parks and hiking as their form of recovery, whether it's from substance abuse, whether it's from a medical issue, whether it's mental health... It's become a part of who they are.”

Our host, Marci Mowery, sits down with Rob Neitz, Park Manager at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It’s the only state park within the two-county Lehigh Valley region and a quiet sanctuary amid one of the East Coast's fastest-growing corridors.

Unlike a typical state park, Jacobsburg's mission centers on environmental education, which means partnering with school groups, civic organizations, and teachers, while remaining open to the public for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

At 1,168 acres, it may be modest in size, but its location near the Kittatinny Ridge makes it an important stopover for migratory birds and a green refuge for hundreds of thousands of nearby residents.

The center's cultural history is equally rich. The Henry family, who manufactured the famed Pennsylvania Long Rifle from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War era, shaped the land that would become Jacobsburg.

Remarkably, a Henry family member, James Henry, also drafted some of Pennsylvania's earliest riparian buffer legislation, proposing a bill to revegetate the state's waterways.

Rob says that visitor stories are what most drive him. A cancer survivor finding peace by the creek. A stroke patient rebuilding strength on the trails, two to three miles each day.

"Those stories," says Rob, "are really at the heart of what we do."

Beyond its own boundaries, Jacobsburg anchors the Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, established in 2004, a multi-partner initiative connecting Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton through trails and preserved green space.

It’s proof that conservation and economic vitality are not opposing forces, but seeds of the same flourishing community!

Key Topics:

1. What Makes an Education Center Different from a State Park (03:04)
2. Visitor Stories & the Heart of the Mission (04:42)
3. The Henry Family & Cultural History (08:24)
4. Volunteering & Community Programming (13:14)
5. Accessibility & the Visitor Center (17:14)
6. The Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape (24:35)
7. Conservation as Economic Development (28:44)
8. Loaner Equipment & Getting Started (34:29)

Resources:

1. Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
2. Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape
3. James Henry
4. DCNR Calendar of Events

🎧 Listen to the Think Outside Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite app while on the go! New episodes drop bi-weekly on Mondays, and you may occasionally find a bonus episode, as well!

The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation inspires stewardship of YOUR state parks and forests through volunteerism, education, recreation, and philanthropy.

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🎶 Podcast music provided by Evan Mongeau

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