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FOR TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests

The Presque Isle Light
Mary Ann Pike - Presque Isle State Park

It was an eventful week - Metzgers' Curse of the Cloudy-Sky Astronomy Fail has been broken. We saw a Perseid! Actually, we did see in total four meteors during a brief clear spell Tuesday night but one of them - the first, in fact - was a breathtaking fireball. Finally! Dare we hope that we'll see other good things in the sky in future? We dare.

In a serendipitous coincidence, Reader Mary Ann happened to be in Presque Isle State Park while last week's trivia question was floating around the ethernet. This is a lovely shot, isn't it?

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation

News of Note

You don't need us to tell you that the parks are CROWDED this year. The good news is that COVID-19 has made outdoor enthusiasts of us all. The bad news? Not everyone is as well behaved as you and us. And overcrowding is causing problems including the need to close some overcrowded places. We have been saying for months that it would be wise to seek out the lesser-known parks and forests; now that is becoming imperative as closures increase. Check the DCNR Alert for additional information on closings and alternatives. No one wants to be the bad guy or gal and turn an SUV filled with crying children away from a closed beach. Plan ahead!

At least visitors to Lackawanna State Park will encounter less resistance when walking or rolling along the newly repaved path at the park thanks to your donations and the support of the Scranton Area Community Foundation and the Pocono Forests & Waters Conservation Landscape.

We have been sharing some of our beginners' videos over the last few weeks and hope you are finding them helpful. Trail Mama Georgette from the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail group has also been doing an ongoing series of tips for LHHT newbies, information that transfers quite well to long-distance hikers of all sorts.

With tips on everything to setting up your shelter to first aid and packing, I think you'll get a kick out of them and learn a thing or two as well. Isn't it wonderful that there are so many people willing to help you get out there and feel confident?

A unique video perspective comes to you from the Department of Environmental Protection featuring volunteer divers who helped with a very special clean-up at Cowans Gap State Park in June. The volunteer divers plan to do the same at Gifford Pinchot State Park next year. Learn more with a click to the picture.

Our strategic planning survey will stay open a few more days. If you can take a moment to give a click and an opinion, we'd be grateful. Please visit surveymonkey.com/r/PPFFMembersDonors and that'll do.

Pictures of the Week

As ever, lots of beauty featured on the Book of Faces including the DCNR (State Forest trails) and PA State Parks (State Parks obviously) Facebook pages. Thanks to the photographers who post and share.

The Donut Hole Trail is 90 miles of fun in the Sproul State Forest/Hyner Run State Park. Imagine how many donut holes you can consume without even a second thought after a 90-miler?

"Chillin' in the Yough" at Ohiopyle State Park from Thomas Jude in the Exploring PA Parks & Forests Book of Faces. That's an iconic summer shot right there, people, and this week's jigsaw.

Give this sunrise at Lake Arthur (Moraine State Park) a click and I think you'll be able to hear the blue herons calling heard by photographer Chris Condello.

There's symbiosis in Cook Forest State Park as taken by Kenneth Keeler.

IN STOCK and ready for your wall!
The 2020-2021 State Parks Calendar is here.

At Work and Play in the Parks and Forests

As noted previously, events (involving fewer than 25 people) have returned. In any instance, it is always wise to make a call to the appropriate park office or sponsoring organization to make sure an event is truly going to take place or that space is available.

REGION	PLACE	DATE	TIME	EVENT
North	Kinzua Bridge State Park	8/15/2020	1:00 PM	Nature Walk on the General Kane
South	Trough Creek State Park	8/15/2020	1:00 PM	Rhododendron Trail Hike
East	Washington Crossing Historic Park	8/15/2020	10:00 AM	Delaware River Adventure
West	Yellow Creek State Park	8/15/2020	7:30 PM	Night Hike

A Look Ahead to Labor Day Events

Turtle Pond Pause, 9/6/20. Frances Slocum State Park.
Hike Troutman Run Old Growth, 9/6/20. Cook Forest State Park.
Buffalo Ridge Hike, 9/6/20. Little Buffalo State Park.
Chappell's Field Hike, 9/5/20. Blue Knob State Park.

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).

SUPPORT PPFF

Take Five for Trivia

Astute readers last week knew that Presque Isle State Park boasts a lighthouse. Two, in fact. The Presque Isle Lighthouse in Mary Ann's masthead photo and the Erie Harbor North Pier Light. A third, the Erie Land Lighthouse, was the original lighthouse for the lakeshore. It is owned by the city and is located in the aptly named Lighthouse Park.

In looking at our staff calendar, I see that Marci and Joe are heading to Greenwood Furnace State Park this week for hosting duties. Lucky them; Greenwood has a wonderful little campground and a nifty little beach. The land has had a varied history, from a Native American settlement to a prosperous iron furnace, to a CCC camp. It was also the home to an operation that would have been useful for our 2020 Year of the Trees project. What was it?

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. And red and white together make a pink event! 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!

"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.

Big thanks to Fretz RV for their $500 donation to the campaign. We've invited RV dealers across the state to participate in the campaign on behalf of their customers and Fretz is our first. If you're an RV owner, you might encourage them to support the improvements as well.

Thank you!

In Closing

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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