FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of
Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests



This will be a "quickie" this week; a few days in the office in Camp Hill made me appreciate the quiet in my western Pennsylvania garage! I'm on the road back home as you read this with hopes your Earth Day weekend is full of joy and sunshine (and a little bit of giving back to the lands we love).

Should you find yourself in Harrisburg on Monday (which is Actual Earth Day), the First Lady will be hosting a celebration with DCNR and DEP at the Governor's Mansion from 10:00 until 12:00. You might stop by to say hello!

Let the 60 volunteers of the Friends of White Clay Creek, Wilmington Trail Club, and the London Britain Township Land Trust who joined together last weekend for their Spring Clean-Up Day along the White Clay Creek inspire you. These folks filled one four cubic yard dumpster with gunk, transported another two cubic yards of concrete to the Preserve maintenance shop for reuse, and attacked invasive plants with vigor and success (and not a little bit of elbow grease).



Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note


It finally happened! As I am sure you read, this week the Eastern Hellbender finally became the officially recognized Pennsylvania state amphibian. Now let's offer them some protection!

Things did not go so well for either Worlds End State Park (where a tornado has uprooted trees and caused general chaos) or Little Buffalo State Park (where strong winds uprooted some particularly large trees in the campground).

There were, as expected, a lot of folks in waders in the Youghiogheny and Laurel Hill last Saturday. Have you ever been curious about trout stocking in Pennsylvania streams? Check out this video from the Fish & Boat Commission to learn more.

Marci's visit to Pinchot State Park on Thursday afternoon showcased the 1960s era bathrooms that could surely benefit from the passage of Restore PA!


At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests


As you'd imagine, there are a LOT of volunteer opportunities available this weekend. This is but a smattering! A specialized search for Earth Day events on the DCNR calendar will yield big results for a few weeks.


NORTH SOUTH
A few years ago the SONS of Lake Erie won one of our volunteerism awards and the Spring Clean-Up was one big reason why. PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK benefits from their efforts and those of hundreds of others on the 63rd annual event this Saturday morning. You can be one of them. COWANS GAP STATE PARK. Saturday morning. Be there!




EAST
WEST
Friends of Nockamixon and other volunteers will be out stewarding at NOCKAMIXON STATE PARK (and its approaches) on Saturday morning. Join in!

Because wildflowers are such a big part of what makes RACCOON CREEK STATE PARK so special, a Garlic Mustard Pull attack day is an important contribution to the health of the resource. Saturday evening is the time.




ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
The Friends of Big Pocono recently got their website domain name back from the clutches of evil forces and now need some help rebuilding a site. If that's your bag, contact Chair John Motz and let's get them back on the World Wide Web.

These and other fun events and fulfilling volunteer opportunities can be found on the PPFF events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events. Bookmark them and you'll never miss the boat (or hike or festival).



Picture of the Week


Speaking of Raccoon Creek State Park and wildflowers, here's phlox blooming along the Old Wagon Trail. Click to the Book of Faces and breathe deep.


Take Five for Trivia


From last week, why is that lovely yellowish flower called a "bloodroot?" Its stem, called the rhizome, secretes a bright red latex compound when cut. Bloodroot's scientific name is Sanguinaria canadensis.

Saturday begins the annual Rothrock Memorial Conservation Week, where we encourage everyone to go out and celebrate in a state forest in honor of J.T. Rothrock, the Father of Pennsylvania Forestry. Where was Dr. Rothrock born?

Send in your answer and we'll enter your correct response into our monthly prize drawing. All correct answers each week will go into the hat and at the end of the month we'll draw one lucky winner. The more correct answers you submit in a month (up to four or the occasional five depending on the month), the more chances you'll have to win.

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.



Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a proud member of Earth Share and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar participant.


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