ExtraGive 2019 is finally here. As of this morning as I launched Fridays we were at $2,240 of our $10,000 goal. Thanks to KCI Tecnologies the first $1,000 we raised was matched dollar for dollar. So. Thank you for getting us to this important milestone. Of course, I'm holding out for us to take 50% of the $500,000 stretch goal (by raising 50% of all the money raised today). No pressure, readers!

But if you have time today, why not join Marci and Amanda first at Susquehannock State Park for lunch and a hike and then over at Sam Lewis State Park to tour the new environmental education center. At least we don't have a blizzard this year!

As for the subject line, next week we'll be "doing the mashed potato," as well as the filling (stuffing in your family?), rolls, pies, and oh, yes, turkey. Enjoy and I shall return as the new month rolls in.

This week's masthead is that Hawk Point Overlook at Susquehannock you will see this afternoon. It's from Wikimedia Commons "Nicholas" and I suspect it's Nicholas Tonelli, whose beautiful photographs of Pennsylvania's state parks and forests have appeared in PPFF goodies for years now. A click will take you to the original; hope the view today is as clear!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note

Thanksgiving is all about visiting friends and family in far-flung (or nearby) places. So this week folks from the Friends of Buchanan State Forest paid a visit to neighboring Cowans Gap State Park for Educator George's annual Dutch Oven Thanksgiving feast (and pronounced it delicious and great fun). If this is your special little corner of the world, by the way, both the Friends of Buchanan and Friends of Cowans Gap look forward to lots of interesting events and volunteer projects in the new year! Look them up.

And a last word on ExtraGive. As they say, a picture is worth 1,000 of them but in this case two of them are priceless!

Over at Laurel Hill State Park, children now have a new way to engage in the outdoors with the restoration of a failing Civilian Conservation Corps cabin into what the park has named the Laurel Learning Lab. The "before" and "after" views tell the story.

Good things happen when you Give Extra. #IGiveExtra

At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests

As we approach Thanksgiving, we hope you're planning a little time outside next week to counteract all the food and indoor fun that is our traditional feast day. I'll take this space this week to suggest a few opportunities to do just that.

NORTH	SOUTH
Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 until 3:30 a Holiday Healthy Hike steps off at BALD EAGLE STATE PARK. The potatoes will be peeled and the turkey thawing quietly so go outside for a bit!	On the holiday itself, a Turkey Burn Holiday Hike kicks off first thing Thursday morning at NOLDE FOREST ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER. This one requires registration so you can be notified if inclement weather cancels it day of.
EAST	WEST
Friday is NOT Black Friday but is instead the day to join our good friends at REI in their #OptOutside campaign. DELAWARE CANAL, RALPH STOVER, and NOLDE FOREST all have eastern excursions on tap for Friday morning.	The truly determined among us will have Turkey Trot options and PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK is the scene for a good one on Thursday morning - the Erie Runners Club offer a 5k or 10k option to garner you the extra piece of pumpkin pie for sure!

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

Two parks that just seem to "go together" are Clear Creek and Cook Forest. I can't seem to think of one without the other and wouldn't you know that readers Dennis Woytek and Kathy Gates each shared photos this week from these companion parks! Two different hikes on two different days but both with the graceful accompaniment of big trees and blue skies.

Take Five for Trivia

Okay, TECHNICALLY it is true "any mammal will get cold" if the temperature is low enough. HOWEVER, according to DCNR's weekly "Resource" email it would have to be a pretty cold day in Pennsylvania for it to happen. Says the November 13th issue: 'A dense underlayer of fur, covered over by longer guard hairs help to trap air against the body of the elk, providing an insulating effect. This insulation is so good, the snow that lands on them won’t even melt!"'

I don't guess they get cold either while they are behaving thusly (as photographed by our good friend Phyllis Terchanik):

For this week, I get to share a learning experience of my own. While checking Amanda's "Events and Outreach Calendar" for important upcoming notable days I found that next Tuesday is "Ruth Patrick's birthday." "Who's Ruth Patrick?" I asked the cat. And now I'm asking you! Or more particularly, what role did she play in Pennsylvania conservation?

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.

In Closing

Regular reader Steven shared a lovely post this week from Pocket.com, a website I definitely need to explore. "The Secret Life of Trees: The Astonishing Science of What Trees Feel and How They Communicate," besides being beautifully illustrated, excerpts and summarizes a book on the subject by German forester Peter Wollheben. Settle in and enjoy the article; perhaps find the book as well. I think I will do just that.

As Steven said, "I can't help but wish that people were a little more like the trees."

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.