The First Day Hikes are the big news this week. A cursory look at posts from our Friends groups and other parks reveals that attendance was definitely UP again this year. DCNR will make the final calculations as numbers roll in but isn't it wonderful how many people have come to realize that there just is simply NO better way to begin your new year than by being outside?
Thanks to all who posted their pictures using #PAFirstDayHike, including Heather Bowder who shared these cuties enjoying a post hike hot chocolate at Cowans Gap State Park.
We are now officially in the 50th anniversary year of Earth Day (#EarthDay50PA). Stay tuned as in the coming weeks we'll be launching the official website for Pennsylvania's celebration at EarthDay50PA.org. We will be happy to include listings for your volunteer events, school projects, creative crafts, burning issues, and anything else you can come up with - and if you have any celebrity friends, please be in touch. We would love to prepare a series of public service announcements featuring prominent Pennsylvanians. If anyone knows Bradley Cooper, let me know!
In support of these efforts, we are happy to say we got a grant from the 1994 Charles B. Degenstein Foundation to be used to help fund service projects and educational outreach as part of the anniversary of Earth Day. So keep watch on that new website - I'll let you know when it is launched!
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