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FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
Blue Sky Dreams
Frank Tokash - Tobyhanna State Park
And just like that, it's September. The day I dread occurred this week - the appearance of hardy mums in the grocery stores. Oh, don't get me wrong. They're pretty enough. But they always signify end of summer to me.
Aside from all the Halloween candy in the same stores. Why?!
Frank Tokash's photo from Tobyhanna State Park gives no hint of Halloween or anything like autumn. That's a beautiful blue summer sky!
Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
News of Note
Knowledge is power! Make sure you're as powerful as you can be before heading out to a state park or forests. There are plenty of resources on our websiteand YouTube channel to help you find where to go and what to do when you get there, including the "Explore Near" series of fact sheets. It's a great place to check if you are going to a particular area of the state and aren't sure what the parks or forests are in the area. ¡Recursos en español disponibles!
BIG thanks to the York Dispatch for being there to showcase the hard work of volunteers at the Samuel S. Lewis State Park environmental center on Sunday. Bigger thanks to those volunteers who pitched in and the donors who made it happen. Curtis has promised another song in gratitude.
Fight the idea all you wish but fall is in the air - the Game Commission has activated the Elk Cam so we can keep our eyes on the king of beasts (PA Wilds variety).
An important issue (highlighted on the Protect Our Parks and Forests website) is that of abandoned mine reclamation. Former Secretary of DCNR (and one of the founders of PPFF) John Oliver co-authored an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week about the need for reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund. Federal dollars for addressing abandoned mine drainage and land reclamation come to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania still receives PILOT funding - $25 million per year since 2016 - and this AMLTF funding for needed clean-up efforts. If 2019's RECLAIM Act passes the Senate as it did the House, Pennsylvania could receive an additional $55 million per year. Please contact Senators Casey(a co-sponsor of the reauthorization bill) and Toomey to urge their support for this non-partisan legislation.
When you make a contribution through PPFF to your favorite park or forest, we make sure that contribution is acknowledged appropriately. Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks have come up with a lovely way to acknowledge contributions they receive.
Finally, this observation - the state parks and forests have, as you know, been crowded and over-crowded this season. It's been like a Labor Day weekend all day every day! So it's a good time to break out the #PracticeSafeRec infographic we shared what seems like a very LONG time ago:
DCNR's "Overcrowding Alert" page continues to give the most up to date information for alternative destinations when the place you're considering is closed due to crowding.
Well, maybe they do in Forbes State Forest. It IS a pretty special place!
I do have a hard time passing by a night sky shot when I find it. This one by Jack Belle on the Exploring page is from Lyman Run State Park.
Blazing star and butterflies by FRoG Fran. This lovely scene was captured by Fran Bires at Jennings Environmental Education Center. He left Goddard State Park for his adventure. Yay, Fran!
While Fran was away from Goddard, Patricia Anderson was there enjoying the cool of the woods. This will make a challenging jigsaw for a long weekend.
At Work and Play in the Parks and Forests
Be aware of the busyness of the parks this weekend and if one of these programs (or any of the others on the calendar) strike your fancy, please call the park office and make sure of a registration process.
The last Saturday in November is always National Public Lands Day. Can you think of a BETTER year to commit to a few hours of volunteer time in service to the places YOU love?
These are just a few of the events that already on the schedule. More will come. After all, it's only 9/4!
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 pedal).
Take Five for Trivia
What large feature of the Pennsylvania landscape can you see from Sam Lewis State Park? Well, we were going for the Susquehanna River but I also decided to accept Mount Pisgah since technically you can "see" Mount Pisgah even though the park is located "on" Mount Pisgah!
Coincidentally, part of the property on which the park is built was once a tree nursery, tying in with the questions of the last two weeks about tree nurseries. Planting and growing trees is never a bad subject, is it?
Congratulations to our August trivia winner, randomly drawn from the month's correct answers - Greensburg Hugh.
To kick off September - and #PATrails Month - let us wander into the woods and take a hike on the Golden Eagle Trail. Where are we? (An extra entry will be awarded for a picture of you ON the Golden Eagle.)
Send your answer to me and I'll enter you into the month's random drawing for a goodie from the prize closet if you answer correctly. Enter each week for more chances to win.
Where Are We?
Places boxed in red are from photos and calendar listings; the white boxes illustrate the "upcoming" events. Click it to see it bigger.
Watch for this poster in your favorite state park/forest kiosk. It gives you a direct link to contribute to the Camping Enhancements campaign for improvements throughout the system. But wait. You can do that from here as well! (Give it a click to copy and share in your own social media.)
"Buy" an amenity through our online store or, if you prefer, support our Charity Go Fund Me. Either way, the money will make happy campers even happier.
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.
BIG thanks to the York Dispatch 
And check out this video and the 
