What do you think this autumn holds? "Brown and down" or leafy brilliance? Judging from what Bill and I saw on this week's rambles we fear the former is our fate.

The masthead photo was taken on Wednesday at the Forbes State Forest's Blue Hole Division, the site of S-98 CCC camp, where the same talented stonemason who worked with us to restore the chimneys along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail brought this lovely "ditch" back to life. Thanks to our donors and the Allegheny Foundation for making it happen. Alas, the only colors much in evidence as we drove along were brown and green with some light yellows tucked in here and there. Nevertheless, the stonework is beautiful. If you are in the Laurel Highlands this fall, pay a visit to the CCC camp site here - it's a beautiful peaceful place for a picnic, and there may be color yet to come. Keep an eye on the DCNR Fall Foliage report to see how things develop.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note

Other rambles this week: Bill and I were up to see the Friends of Parker Dam, busily organizing their part of the park's annual Fall Fest on October 19. Once that is completed it may be a little quieter as they prepare and wait for the lake to freeze so they can get back to their winter ice skating concession. I know a lot of our readers claim Parker Dam as their favorite park - is now the time to become a member of the Friends? They are actively seeking additional members who enjoy events planning! We had a night in Cabin #10 with its wheelchair accessible ramp and a lovely accessible restroom right next door.

The next day was the visit to Blue Hole pictured above as well as a close encounter with the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps AND a group of middle schoolers from Ligonier Valley Middle School. The middle school students are taking part in a hands-on learning experience with some of the group focusing on marketing and the others on horticulture. So planting trees in the hot sun gave the students the opportunity to learn about native trees from Rachael and Cecile while a few of them concentrated on taking photos and interviewing state forest staff for some materials they'll put together to promote the school's programs. Also on hand were Linda McKenna Boxx and Zan McKenna Rich from the Katharine Mabis McKenna Foundation, who graciously donated funds to PPFF to support the Outdoor Corps, and a master naturalist from the Ligonier area. I suspect that when they scheduled the work day they were probably thinking October would be cool and comfortable. It was not.

Meanwhile, Marci was at the other side of the state meeting the Friends of Ridley Creek and conducting legislative tours at Ridley Creek and Frances Slocum state parks. (She says colors are lovely in the Wyoming Valley.) The Ridley Creek mansion and other very old structures throughout the park provided an amazing opportunity to see the very different kinds of maintenance and upgrades necessary in a diverse system like ours. Weddings in the mansion are a potentially lucrative source of revenue for the park - except when the air conditioning isn't working on a hot day like Thursday.

There is one definitely scheduled tour yet to come this fall - Monday, October 7 at Neshaminy. If you are in the neighborhood, please come out and show your support for our parks and forests partners.

The Friends of Yellow Creek have just launched a major fundraising effort called Get Out on the Water. The rehabilitation of a delightful little cove into a sailing base for members and supporters has been complimented this year by a much needed sedimentation removal project, accomplished very quickly and cost-effectively while the lake was in drawdown for the major beach project "across the way." The FOYC are seeking the financial support that will replenish the coffers for this undertaking so if you are a sailor (or paddler/paddleboarder) in the greater Indiana County area, this little gem is for you!

Can it be that another five years has gone by since the last Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan was released? It can. It is. For those who don't remember that far back, the SCORP is the planning document that guides DCNR and its many partners in improving access and availability of recreation. Public webinars will be presented during October with a final draft of the plan coming in January. Register for a webinar and find out more in the press release drafted this week.

At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests

Sunday is the annual Walk in Penn's Woods event with some delightful strolls and rambles taking place all across the state (and not just in state parks and forests). Forest landowners from nearly every county will invite you to visit their property and talk to the trees! And, of course, it being now officially fall festival time is HERE.

NORTH	SOUTH
SIZERVILLE STATE PARK'S entry into the festival sweepstakes takes place on Saturday.	A Perry Country tradition - the LITTLE BUFFALO festival - celebrates its 36th year on Saturday.
EAST	WEST
A different kind of festival - a star party - brings the stargazers to MARSH CREEK STATE PARK on Saturday evening.	The Friends of PRINCE GALLITZIN STATE PARK will be on hand (and foot and wagon) for the park's annual Apple Cider Festival. If it's tradition you're after, you'll have it in buckets here

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The Oil Creek 100 BIG race is coming up next weekend and while it's not a Friends of Oil Creek event, they provide major support for it. Additional hands are always needed for this and indeed the many outdoor activities that are the Friends' specialty. If you like making fun things happen, this might be the group for you. Contact Chair Peg Sims with a click of the button.

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

I mentioned last week that Whipple Lake at Whipple Dam State Park was being drained for sediment removal and repair purposes but that the Fish & Boat Commission would be on hand to remove any remaining fish and relocate them during the project. Steve Rubano (whose brother Mike chairs the Friends of Greenwood Furnace and its sister parks) got some nice photos of the process that you can check out on the Friends' Facebook page. I don't know, though, this caterpillar's eye view of the process struck me as especially charming.

Take Five for Trivia

We hope you had the opportunity to give a little to National Public Lands Day last weekend. You can be sure that the good people of Utah were out there because, yes, Utah is the state that boasts the highest level of volunteerism in the United States with 51% of the state's citizens doing some kind of community service. The top five was rounded out by Minnesota, Oregon, Iowa, and Alaska. No, we do not see Pennsylvania on that list. Shouldn't we be?

Congratulations to Marie from Philadelphia, our September trivia winner. We'll be sending Andreja into the prize closet to come up with something fun.

This week's question is a little different for sure but certainly demonstrates the aching need for infrastructure improvements across the system. Richard and Suzanne are two absolutely determined and dedicated park visitors. I daresay they don't let a week go by without going out exploring. They've seen every park and forest multiple times but they still manage to find little ... treasures on every visit. This particular treasure is the ONLY restroom facility available for group tenters at one of Pennsylvania's larger state parks. Do you know where it is?

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

How tall will you grow on Sunday?

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.