Senior geoenvironmental science majors Johanna Baker and Sean David are contributing to outdoor recreation in Michaux State Forest, one of Pennsylvania’s most visited state parks. Working alongside associate professor of geography and earth science Russell Hedberg, Baker and David are in the final phase of completing the Michaux Southern Trails Assessment through a contract with the Center of Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS). The project is a part of a multi-year effort to support sustainable trail planning in Michaux State Forest.
After spending the summer interning with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Michaux, David was intrigued by the opportunity to join the project. Baker was also drawn to the project, seeing it as a chance to gain experience in the practical application of GIS software skills.
Both David and Baker are responsible for the qualitative analysis of a public survey conducted with the help of southern Michaux visitors and residents within the region. The survey asked residents and recreationists to share their input regarding the creation of the sustainable trail system. David and Baker then used this feedback with an existing spatial analysis that mapped which areas of the forest are most suitable for the new trail development.
“Since the data was primarily qualitative, it gave me a chance to work with a type of data I have less experience with and practice different methods of analysis,” David said. “Working under Dr. Hedberg has helped me approach this kind of data more thoughtfully and understand how to interpret and communicate it effectively.”
Baker said the work provides a lot of insight into recreation planning and environmental conservation. “The qualitative analysis included public feedback regarding concerns with the creation of a new, formalized and sustainable trail system in southern Michaux, what people might like to see in this formalized trail and what aspects of the current system they would like to see retained,” she shared.
Both students shared how getting to collaborate with professionals has proven to be meaningful. “Getting to work individually with regular group check-ins has allowed me to have a strong sense of accountability and independence in my work,” David said. Baker noted that seeing the impact of working with experts helped reinforce her interest in working as a public-sector GIS analyst after graduating.
The recommendations that Baker and David are developing will support the Michaux State Forest staff as they work to protect natural resources while simultaneously meeting the growing demand for hiking, biking, horseback riding and other activities. “This project plays an important role in balancing recreation and environmental conservation within Michaux State Forest, David said. “By providing the forest staff with a management prescription, we can help better meet the needs and interests of the public while ensuring long-term protection of the forest’s natural resources.”
For Baker, the experience working on the Michaux State Forest project also builds upon her experience as a GIS intern with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) during the summer of 2025. While there, she assisted with statewide projects ranging from monitoring steam levels to modeling the potential impact if Hurricane Agnes were to occur today. Her responsibilities included developing web-based tools, digitizing evacuation routes for nuclear power plants and creating map templates used during emergencies. She also contributed to an in-depth analysis of Hurricane Agnes, compiling maps, satellite imagery, historical accounts and federal relief data to help prepare for future natural disasters.
Baker and David’s work on the Michaux Southern Trails Assessment, conducted with Professor Russell Hedberg, not only produced community feedback to help forest staff balance growing recreational use with long-term resource protection, but it also directly benefits the Michaux trail project by pairing community feedback with “spatial suitability analysis” to identify where multi-use trails should be located. For David, the project aligned directly with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Michaux, Baker’s internship with PEMA, and with both of their future career paths in the GIS field.
