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FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
SUP down there?
Pam Metzger - Ohiopyle State Park
Oh, my. What a beautiful week! Another one to be bottled up and kept for grayer days to come. Still my heart goes out to the people of the Pacific Northwest. Bill and I fell so in love with that area on our October 2018 train trip and although it's too warm right now to wear my PNW sweatshirt I am remembering those places with fondness and wistful remembrance. Just as we all do on this somber 9/11 anniversary. A day we'd all rather not have experienced.
I am taking the prestigious (?) masthead for myself this week. One day I was taking an afternoon walk instead of my usual morning one and spotted these SUP-ers coming under the Youghiogheny River bridge. I was barely quick enough to snap a few pictures and shout down to give me their phone number so I might text the photos to them as they glided by. Certainly the one after they'd gone past was the best of the lot. I'd like to try that SUP thing someday, although I'm not sure at this point I would be able to actually buy one - or a regular kayak, or a bicycle, or a tent. A study we just posted to the Protect Our Parks & Forests website talks about the five outdoor activities that experienced a resurgence in popularity during the COVID-19 crisis.
Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
News of Note
Our Lunch & Learn series makes a return on Tuesday at noon with a presentation on Birding Basics with Audubon PA's Keith Russell,Program Manager for Urban Conservation,and Margaret Brittingham, Professor of Wildlife Resources at Penn State Extension. Viewers will enjoy a discussion about the growing popularity of birdwatching, some thoughts on being a birdwatcher, and some tips for creating bird habitat at home and are encouraged to comment their questions for panelists during the program. Tune in on our Facebook page or YouTube channel on Tuesday (or view the recording there afterwards).
Sarah is busily compiling, collating, and getting entries ready to post on Facebook for voting in the annual photo contest. Watch that space or our news blog for your chance to pick the winners.
September 13th marks the 108th birthday of Maurice Goddard, visionary leader of Pennsylvania's state parks system. As noted on the PA Conservation Heritage website:
Considered to be the ‘Patriarch of Pennsylvania State Parks’, Goddard was known for his blunt, no-nonsense style and served under five Pennsylvania governors as Secretary of Forests and Waters and as the founding Secretary of the Department of Environmental Resources (1955-1979). He spent an unprecedented 24 years as a cabinet officer ... During his tenure, Goddard added 45 parks and 130,000 acres of park land, gaining national recognition for Pennsylvania’s state park system.
#PATrailsMonth brings a trio of PA Wilds Trails for your consideration. And like the post that acompanies the picture says, "Find these trails and more http://trails.dcnr.pa.gov/"
The Laurel Highlands Ultra race is ON for September 26th (70 miler) and 27th (50k) with full COVID precautions in place. Kristie Zavatchan and her family are among the Ridge Runners who have been out clearing the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail to make it ready for the racers. Clan Zavatchan cleared the first five miles from Ohiopyle to Maple Summit. Thank you, Ridge Runners!
This is definitely an "I would like to be there" shot from Scott Gehman along the Rocky Knob Trail in the Michaux State Forest. Nice. Jigsaw!
Taken at Two Lick Lake (which is in the Gamelands NEAR Yellow Creek State Park but is not IN the state park), newlyweds Carina and Nathaniel took a few laps in their wedding attire. Congratulations!
At Work and Play in the Parks and Forests
The fun keeps going even after Labor Day. Be sure to check on special restrictions or registration requirements.
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
Ah, the Golden Eagle Trail. Called by some (including my good friend Carol Witzeman), "the best day hike in Pennsylvania." Ashamed to say I've never been there. Where? The Wolf Run Wild Area of the Tiadaghton State Forest.
Extra point to Jenn Ulmer for including this picture of a 2012 hike with her answer. That's the famous Raven's Horn, one of the hike's notable features.
I'll get there one day.
This week, speaking of Doc Goddard, he had a vision of a state park, with free
admission, within how many miles of every resident of the Commonwealth?
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.
Extra point to Jenn Ulmer for including this picture of a 2012 hike with her answer. That's the famous Raven's Horn, one of the hike's notable features.
