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FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
Earth Week is here! ("Come on, Pam. We KNOW that.")

How will you celebrate? We hope you'll find at least one good idea in this newsletter or at EarthDay50PA.org especially on the page, "A Virtual Celebration." We having been working hard to gather and post as many of the ideas that have come through the inbox over the last couple of weeks as we possibly can. We do believe there's something for everyone. 

Did you get your Year of the Tree/Earth Day 50 shirt from our Bonfire sale? At least some of the first batch of orders are known to have been received so please share your photographs with us on social media #EarthDay50PA #YearofTheTree

This is such an important anniversary. With moves afoot here in Pennsylvania and across the country to use COVID-19 as an EXCUSE to roll back environmental gains, we MUST let our elected and appointed leaders know that we are watching and we will NOT let it happen.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
 

What's Up

A reminder from the April 17 edition of "Take Five" that two virtual experiences provide the chance to view one of the PA Conservation Heritage Project documentaries and then participate in a panel discussion on the issues raised by the films. Click the photos to enlarge them.

The first, featuring "Generations Yet to Come," the story of the Environmental Rights Amendment to the PA Constitution, is hosted on Monday evening by the members of the South Mountain Partnership. Registration in advance is required


"Penn's Woods: Cradle of Conservation" will be featured in a presentation by WITF-TV. This film traces the history of resource extraction in the Commonwealth and the resources' recovery from industrial impact. No registration required; access the broadcast at OVEE: https://ovee.itvs.org/screenings/pwkhq

It is our intention to host a similar screening of "Mira Lloyd Dock: A Beautiful Crusade" on our YouTube channel on the evening of April 30th. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for that. 
All next week join PPFF Staff for CHILDREN'S STORYTIME at 3:00 PM on our Facebook page. Each day one of us will read a favorite environmental or kids' themed book. Most choices are being finalized at press time so tune in and be surprised, or check the Facebook page to see listings as they are chosen.
  • Monday: PPFF President Marci Mowery 
  • Tuesday: PPFF Outreach Coordinator Sarah Scholl 
  • Wednesday: Marci's back 
  • Thursday: PPFF Bookkeeper Bernadette Howard 
  • Friday: PPFF Membership Coordinator Pam Metzger shares "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon. 
Here's a little Earth Day fun. You know how much we LOVE our EarthDay50 logo. Why not try your hand at coloring it yourself? 

This simplified version is available for download so color it your way! 


Post your finished product in your front window or on your car's dashboard as you go out for your daily (close to home) fresh air excursion. #ColorMyEarthDay50 on social media and I bet PPFF Sarah will find some swag to send your way in thanks!

If you're not really into coloring but would like to post the original in window or car, you can download that as well

At the beginning of the year, our friends at REI introduced their 52-week Opt to Act Plan to combat climate change. So we understand. It's April and you might be a little bit behind. But they always say "it's never too late" and nowhere is that more true than in working to change the world! Opt to Act from here on in!
As noted above there seems to be a rather perplexing (to put it mildly) attempt to tie COVID-19 quarantines to relaxation of the state's environmental laws. From a call to the Department of Environmental Protection to stop enforcement of existing regulation to an abortive attempt to freeze spending from critical environmental funds during the pandemic, some of our officials don't seem to understand how important the outdoors has always been for you and your family and how critically important your parks and forests are to you NOW. 

Will you join us in reminding them? First, determine who your state representative and senator is with a quick click to the Find My Legislator page of the General Assembly's website

Then, print out a couple of copies of this post card, personalize it with your own message, and send it off. 


If you prefer to send an email, once you have located your legislators, an alphabetical listing of all personnel can be found on the General Assembly's website; click "Click to Show Email" to reveal the addresses. 

Along with Earth Week, we are also about to begin J.T. Rothrock Memorial Conservation Week. Every year we encourage you to visit one of the state forest districts and share your photographs. This year we urge you to stay close to home and enjoy a nearby portion of the 2.2 million acres of Pennsylvania forests Dr. Rothrock helped to bring back for us to enjoy. When it comes down to it, it feels like we owe JTR a nod of appreciation for every tree in Penn's Woods!

A young Joseph Rothrock learned at an early age of the healing powers of the outdoors as he transformed himself from years of childhood ill health to a vigorous adulthood through years of roaming the Mifflin County forests of his home. We think he'd appreciate our infographic on The Value of Trees. Click it to download and print one of your own. 

In Closing 

If this doesn't have a groovy 70s vibe, we don't know what does! This is the original Earth Week poster by Martin Carey for the Earth Week Committee of Philadelphia.
 
 
SUPPORT PPFF
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
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Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644

   
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