Another few days on the road at the end of last week somehow made this week fly by - I should note that while I told you in last week's Fridays that the photo contest gallery would be at the environmental learning center at Canoe Creek State Park, it is actually at the park office. It was easier to put it there especially as the trek into Canoe Creek last Friday morning turned into a little bit of high (well, medium) adventure with Route 22 closed for flooding and the rain just a-pouring down. I didn't think my tennies would ever dry out!

The weather's looking lovely for this weekend but I am not sure how many of us will be able to enjoy prime viewing of the Perseids meteor shower overnight each night. Metzgers always have terrible luck on that front but it's worth venturing out to the back yard or your favorite park or forest overlook to cast your gaze skyward!

Nice to cast your gaze across the water and see a great blue heron as did Brandon Rohr at Gifford Pinchot State Park as featured on the masthead. Lovely!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

How can this quasquicentennial year be over half over? As summer draws inevitably to its conclusion, too, we hope that you've paid at least one visit to our 125th Anniversary webpage and maybe even downloaded the Ways to Celebrate booklet. There is still plenty of time to volunteer 125 hours or hike 125 miles!

The anniversaries keep piling up and there's so much to celebrate and fun to be had! Smokey Bear turned 74 yesterday; the National Road is 200 years old this year. Gifford Pinchot's birthday is Sunday so maybe you will take a little time to view the Pennsylvania's Conservation Heritage documentary about him; on Monday celebrate the birthday in 1812 of scientist Samuel Haldeman. The Haldeman Mansion in Bainbridge is open on Sundays and would make a lovely stop while biking the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

Speaking of biking, Marci is setting out on a tour of the Delaware and Lehigh Trail over the weekend, nabbing a few parks along the way. I am SURE she will be wearing a PPFF tee shirt so stop her for a selfie as she goes.

Calling all State employees! The annual SECA workplace campaign will be launching in a few short weeks and we proudly remind everyone that we are among the many terrific charities participating. Look for us under #9200-0046.

At work and play in the parks and forests

Many of the parks will be hosting Perseids viewing parties on Saturday and Sunday nights - search "Perseids" on the DCNR calendar of events and they all pop up conveniently - or follow this link: http://events.dcnr.pa.gov/search/events?search=perseids

North

The Friends of Mount Pisgah play host to a special Saturday afternoon fundraising event with the folks of Wine & Design of Williamsport. Paint It Forward includes a wine tasting with Timber Ridge Winery and tickets must be purchased in advance. Help the Friends continue to offer their many children's activities at the park with your ticket purchase.

South

Andre Weltman, Friends of Pine Grove Furnace chair - and occasional trivia question designer - will be presenting one of his history talks on Sunday afternoon at the park. Come out to the Appalachian Trail Museum at 2:00 for a look at the watercourses, wheels, and races that are so prevalent here.

East

Worlds End State Park will be the setting on Saturday afternoon for a Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku) walk. Come and experience the true therapy of time among the trees.

West

How about some Wild Tea on a Sunday afternoon? Ohiopyle is the place to learn a little about the leaves that make a drinkable tonic.

No matter what region of the commonwealth you want to visit, our website Events and the DCNR Calendar of Events are great sources for things to see and do. Bookmark them!

Picture of the week

Picking a photo was especially hard this week - you may have noticed that I "raid" the state parks and forests' individual Facebook pages and those of the bureaus themselves. Pennsylvania State Parks did my work for me and THEN some while I was on the road last week by asking readers to post a picture of "what summer in the state parks means to you." There were some wonderful choices so click the link to enjoy them, including this one from Ohiopyle and Lori Dzojko. (This week's masthead by Brandon Rohr comes from the same post actually.)

Quasquicentennial Happenings

Promised Land State Park will once again be the setting on Saturday afternoon for a CCC and Local History Day. Few did as much as the Civilian Conservation Corps to create the park and forest recreation areas and infrastructure; the "Boys" are "wise old men" now and your chances to meet and talk with them are dwindling. 

Take five for trivia

You'll recall that my drive out Route 422 to Yellow Creek State Park prompted my taking note that an early "highway" followed roughly the same route. That "highway" was the Kittanning Path, although I am inclined to count as correct those who also answered "William Penn Highway" as that is the name given to 422 and, well, William Penn!

Steven (who so often gives value-added to his trivia answers) notes that "one of the qualities that keeps this highway unique from other US highways in Pennsylvania is that this one is missing a piece. US 422 may be on either side of the state, but it is non-existent from Ebensburg to Hershey where the two ends are located.  At no time were the two sections ever joined to from a contiguous route. The segmented nature of US 422 violates AASHTO numbering, as two separate roadways traditionally do not carry the same route number. However, the two sections of US 422 are connected by US 22 and US 322, allowing the two halves of US 422 to carry the same designation. ["U.S. 22: The William Penn Highway". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved 2009-04-24.]"

How many times have I driven on either end of 422 and never realized they don't connect! Neither do my brain synapses, apparently!

For this week, our focus remains on the CCC, often (still) affectionately called the "CCC Boys." They were also known by several other nicknames. Can you give me one?

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.

Happy S'Mores Day! Where's the campfire?
Check out our Pinterest page to see s’more ideas as well as other outdoor camping ideas.

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.

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