Terry Wentz was a Pennsylvania State Parks manager who served with the state for 34 years at four locations throughout South Central Pennsylvania including Canoe Creek State Park, Trough Creek State Park, and Warriors Path State Park.Wentz, Daniel P. "Terry L. Wentz." AltoonaMirror.com - Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - The Altoona Mirror. Altoona Mirror, 1 June 2010. Web. 08 August 2010. <http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/530392.html>.Bubb, Frederick. "PA News". The PA Bugle. Winter 2009. Web. 08 August 2010. He is most noted for his work in progressive management and environmental education.Wentz, Daniel P. "Terry Wentz." Waxwing Associates - Pennsylvania Tourism At It's [sic] Best. Dan Wentz, 8 October 2008. Web. 08 August 2010. . He founded Waxwing Associates,Waxwing Associates an eco-tourism company that also provided wildlife management consulting and grant writing services. Wentz is noted for his work with the largest little brown bat colony east of the Mississippi River, which is located in an abandoned church at Canoe Creek State Park.Simon, Dan. "Flight of the Bat." GreenWorks.tv. 11 October 2002. Web. 08 August 2010. . His conservation efforts have also resulted in further protections for the endangered Indiana bats which reside in Canoe Creek State Park in an abandoned mine. Wentz is noted as one of the founding members of Rails To Trails of Central Pennsylvania.Wentz, Founding Member of Rails to Trails, Honored His efforts in acquiring grants for land helped to establish the Lower Trail. He also served time in Vietnam as a dog handler for the United States Army assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. Wentz was also a past president of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society, and served on the Juniata Valley Audubon board for over a decade. He helped develop a benefit horse ride trail for Dreams Go On, an organization that provides therapeutic horseback riding sessions to adults and children who are physically challenged, receive mental health, behavioral health or family therapy services.Welcome to Dreams Go On. Web. 08 August 2010. "Dreams Go On Homepage"."Lehman Engineers Trail Ride 2009 to Benefit Dreams Go On 2009." Lehman Engineers Trail Ride 2009 to Benefit Dreams Go On 2009. Web. 08 August 2010. <>
Dedications
On October 2, 2010, the Canoe Creek Environmental Center at Canoe Creek State Park was named after Terry Wentz. On May 15, 2011, the first annual Terry Wentz Memorial Hike was held at Canoe Creek State Park.Kotala, Stan. "Moshannon Group News — Sierra Club". Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter. Web. 6 September 2010.
Awards The Bureau of State Parks honored Wentz's longstanding work with bluebirds with a posthumous Cavity Nesting Monitor of the Year award.Clegg, Amanda "Local man’s commitment honored" AltoonaMirror.com - Altoona, PA | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - The Altoona Mirror. Altoona Mirror, 2 October 2010. Web. 2 October 2010. <http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/542880.html>.
Wentz also won the American Trails, Trail Worker of the Year award in November 2010."Terry Wentz National Trails Award Winner 2010." American Trails - Your National Resource for Trails and Greenways. Web. 29 November 2010. <http://www.americantrails.org/awards/NTS10awards/PA-Terry-Wentz.html>. The honor was awarded posthumously to his wife, Debbie.
References
External links
Altoona Mirror Obituary
Flight Of The Bat - Green Works Radio Rails To Trails - Board of Directors Information Centre Daily Times Obituary - Terry Wentz Altoona Mirror - For the Birds The Alleghenies Birding Tips Lehman Engineers Trail Ride 2009 to Benefit Dreams Go On 2009 The Pittsburgh Press - Conservation Day Scheduled Altoona Mirror - Local man's commitment honored Late park manager to be honored at state park building dedication