The newly announced Big Elk Creek State Park is shown near Landenberg, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. In Chester County, the new park will include 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of Big Elk Creek, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay at Elk River. Officials say the creek was long used by indigenous people and was an area of considerable activity for the Underground Railroad. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The newly announced Big Elk Creek State Park is shown near Landenberg, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. In Chester County, the new park will include 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of Big Elk Creek, which feeds into the Chesapeake Bay at Elk River. Officials say the creek was long used by indigenous people and was an area of considerable activity for the Underground Railroad. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Aired; June 4th, 2025.
Listen to the podcast to hear the full interview.
When Van Wagner talks about trees, it’s more than just classroom chatter — it’s a personal mission. The Danville Area High School agriculture teacher and certified forester recently completed a unique and physically demanding journey: climbing a tree at the highest point in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Wagner says it all started with a simple walk in the woods near his home in Montour County. “I started thinking, wow, I should throw my backpack on and carry my climbing gear. And then when I get to the top, find the tallest tree and climb that,” he recalled during an interview on The Spark with Asia Tabb. “That was gonna be it — one county. But then a light bulb went off. I thought, I could do this in every county.”
What began as a personal challenge quickly evolved into a statewide educational campaign. Wagner used the project not only to inspire his students, who tracked his progress on a classroom map, but to start a larger conversation about the value — and vulnerability — of Pennsylvania’s forests. “This was one of those things where I could put my boots on the ground — or in this case, up in the trees — and show them this isn’t just talk,” he said. “I really do believe in the stuff I talk about in the classroom.”
For Wagner, the goal was twofold. On one hand, he wanted to celebrate Pennsylvania’s forests, which provide economic, environmental, and recreational benefits. On the other, he hoped to raise awareness about threats like invasive species, habitat loss, and climate change. “We have some real challenges in the field of forestry,” he said. “We’re only going to meet those challenges if we get everybody at the table. It can’t just be professional foresters — it’s gotta be all hands on deck.”
Wagner’s love for the outdoors runs deep. He grew up exploring Bald Top Mountain in Danville with his family and friends. That early connection to nature shaped not only his career but his outlook on conservation. “It’s not like I remember one moment where the switch flipped,” he said. “I’ve just always loved the woods.”
His message is clear: Pennsylvania’s forests are a treasure — and it’s going to take all of us to protect them.
