Visitors to local state forests might encounter Penn State students who are conducting surveys through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The latest surveys are underway in Weiser State Forest, which includes parts of Carbon and Schuylkill counties, and Pinchot State Forest, which includes Luzerne County.

Visitors are encouraged to participate in the on-site surveys and answer questions about their experiences in state forests.

“Forest recreation continues to be an important way to connect our forest resources with people, and we want to learn more about these forest users and their recreational experiences,” DCNR state forester Seth Cassell said. “These surveys are key in helping Bureau of Forestry staff and DCNR partners in understanding users wants and needs to improve experiences on public lands. We look forward to input from visitors in Pinchot and Weiser state forests.”

Survey questions will include where the visitors are from, activities pursued, length of stay in the area, spending patterns and satisfaction with the experience. Counting the number of vehicles at certain locations also will be included.

According to DCNR, results will be particularly helpful in more recent state forest acquisitions such as the Miller Mountain Tract in Pinchot State Forest. Forest managers will be better able to understand visitation levels and visitor expectations in these new areas of state forest land.

The surveys began Monday and will continue through July. A final report will be presented in the fall of 2025.

DCNR and Penn State University’s Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management have partnered on monitoring projects since 2000. The most report was released in 2023, assessing user needs at Rothrock State Forest in Centre, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties, and Gallitzin State Forest in Somerset, Bedford, Cambria, and Indiana counties.