HUNTINGDON — A soft breeze moves through the early-spring understory at Greenwood Furnace in Huntingdon, carrying the scent of thawing earth and the first hints of green.

It’s the kind of day when the forest feels like it’s waking up, and for Penn State Extension forestry educator Cathryn Pugh, it’s the perfect backdrop for inviting people to slow down, look closely and rediscover the plants that quietly shape Pennsylvania’s wild places.

Her 2026 “Plants in the Park” series will bring that experience to three state parks this spring and summer, offering a gentle, sensory-rich introduction to plant identification for anyone curious about the natural world.

“Spring is a great time to get back outdoors,” said Jen Moore, environmental education specialist at the Greenwood Furnace State Park Complex. “Join in these fun, educational walks with Cat Pugh. Programs are open to anyone interested in learning about plants and identification techniques.”

The program, free and open to the public, is built around a simple idea: most people walk past dozens of fascinating plants every time they step onto a trail, but few stop long enough to notice them. Pugh’s guided walks encourage participants to do just that.

Over the course of 90 minutes, she leads small groups along easy paths, pointing out the familiar and the overlooked — the leathery evergreen leaves of mountain laurel, the delicate architecture of emerging ferns, the subtle differences between birch and beech, the scent of crushed wintergreen underfoot. Each stop becomes an invitation to engage the senses and to see the forest with fresh eyes.

At Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon, where the first walk will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, the landscape offers a rich mix of hardwoods, hemlocks and early spring wildflowers. Participants can expect to learn the basics of plant ID: how leaf shape, bark texture, branching patterns and habitat clues can help narrow down a species. Pugh emphasizes observation over memorization, encouraging visitors to ask questions, make comparisons and build confidence in their ability to recognize what grows around them.

Later that same afternoon, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the program moves to Whipple Dam State Park in Petersburg. The lakeside setting provides a different palette of plants — moisture-loving shrubs, towering pines and the first hints of summer growth along the shoreline. The shift in location underscores one of the program’s central lessons: plants tell the story of the places they grow. By noticing what thrives near water, what clings to rocky slopes or what carpets the forest floor, participants begin to understand how ecosystems fit together.

The series concludes on Friday, Aug. 21, at Penn-Roosevelt State Park in Huntingdon, with two sessions offered at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The late-summer timing means the forest will look entirely different — lush, full and buzzing with life. Goldenrod and asters may be in bloom, berries ripening, and the canopy deep with mature leaves. For many participants, returning later in the season offers a chance to see how the same trails transform over time and how plant identification shifts with the seasons.

Throughout each walk, Pugh blends science with storytelling, weaving in the cultural history, ecological roles and surprising adaptations of the plants she highlights. A simple leaf becomes a lesson in survival; a patch of moss becomes a miniature ecosystem; a towering oak becomes a reminder of the centuries-long timeline of the forest. The goal isn’t to turn participants into botanists, but to help them feel at home in the woods — to recognize the neighbors they’ve been walking past for years.

“Group sizes are generally small allowing for more individualized instruction,” Moore added. “Each walk is different – you never know what plant Cat will talk about next. Come out and join us.”

Registration is recommended but not required, and each session is designed to be accessible to beginners, families and anyone who enjoys a slow, thoughtful walk outdoors.

More information and registration details are available at extension.psu.edu/plants-in-the-park.