PENNSYLVANIA—Grey Towers National Historic Site, home of first Forest Service Chief Gifford Pinchot, will celebrate National Public Lands Day with timeless traditions and new collaboration. Working in close partnership with the Grey Towers Heritage Association, Corazón Latino and Conservation Education, the Forest Service at Grey Towers will encourage event attendees to reflect on the creation and maintenance of public lands and importance of these lands to national welfare and personal well-being.

Grey Towers provides the perfect atmosphere for this reflection: According to historian Char Miller, Pinchot shaped the concept of public lands through his Forest Service work and set in motion the creation of the nation’s land management agencies.

Working with Corazón Latino and the Grey Towers Heritage Association, Grey Towers will honor Pinchot traditions established at Grey Towers in the late 1920s. At the end of the summer, Chief Pinchot and his wife Cornelia provided ice cream, music and dancing at their Grey Towers estate and encouraged local community members to enjoy the festivities. According to Pinchot biographer Nelson McGeary, this social gathering became an annual event and attracted several thousand guests. As in past years, the Heritage Association will graciously provide ice cream to attendees, and this year, Corazón Latino will provide musical entertainment. Attendees will enjoy movement classes, music from the local Scott Weiss Band and a performance by opera tenor Jesús Hernández accompanied by Mariachi Hidalgo.

Corazón Latino and Conservation Education will host a children’s activity area including coloring activities, scavenger hunts, citizen science demonstrations and nature-based displays. Woodsy Owl will make a special appearance to celebrate his 50th birthday. He will later be joined by Smokey Bear as they greet visitors of all ages. As an act of service, both adults and children will be invited to write notes of appreciation to our Forest Service firefighters working valiantly to protect our public lands. Acting Grey Tower Director Dr. Tinelle Bustam said, “Recognizing Chief Pinchot’s role in establishing our nation’s public lands, I cannot think of a more appropriate place to mark this special day. The Forest Service looks forward to welcoming new faces and frequent visitors alike as we join together with our partners and local community for a day of celebration.”

In line with the National Environmental Education Foundation's “More Ways to Connect to Nature” theme for National Public Lands Day, Corazón Latino uses the passion, love and solidarity expressed through culture to connect diverse communities with environmental stewardship. With many exciting and active events planned, Corazón Latino hopes participants will recognize the intertwined relationship between human health and forest health. As the nonprofit’s Executive Director Felipe Benitez shared, "Corazón Latino is honored to be part of this celebration of culture, conservation and community while we honor our nation's public lands and our Madre Tierra—Mother Earth. We are delighted to help reconnect families and individuals to the many joys and benefits of nature."

Event registration and a schedule of activities are available at www.corazonlatino.us or www.fs.usda.gov/greytowers. Email SM.FS.greytowers@usda.gov for more information.