FOR TWENTY YEARS

Our mission: Inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s
state parks and forests
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And there we are. The first week of January under our belts and the resolutions are clicking right along, aren't they? You still have focus. Enthusiasm is high. Amiright? This is The Year.

One step at a time, dear readers! A yoga teacher of mine once said that "a daily practice can be nothing more than one downward facing dog." And sometimes that's all it is. But sometimes? Sometimes it's a whole room of humans breathing as one.

Thanks to photographer Chris Condello for sharing the photo which becomes our first masthead of 2019 to the PA State Parks Facebook page. Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park on the day after Christmas.



Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator


News of note

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You notice that new logo at the top of the email. Yes! PPFF is celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. We hope to have lots of fun remembering all the way back to 1999 when the first articles of incorporation for the "Friends of Pennsylvania's Parks and Forests" (FPPF!) were signed by Linda McKenna Boxx, Cliff Jones, and Joe Ibberson and our efforts on behalf of the state parks and forests began. Through setbacks and successes (and the rearrangement of p's and f's) our love for these great places hasn't wavered a bit.

Nor has our love for the other people who love them. Thanks to all of you who stepped up to the plate so many times - specifically in December when you helped us reach the $10,000 challenge match for placement of an ADA dock at Little Buffalo State Park. That commitment was so inspiring that the Partnership for Better Health offered an additional $20,000 grant!

We are now at $43,000 of our now $51,000 goal! Why $51,000 and not $50,000? Feedback from users of previous docks suggested we add a railing to the rear of the dock, which we did. The dock has been ordered in anticipation of reaching our goal and having the site prepared in time for a spring installation! Thank you also to the Kline Foundation for their support. If you would like to help us get to that magic $51,000 number, online donations can still be made at http://bit.ly/littlebuffdockdonations.

In other news of note, we want to thank Weis Markets and Mid Penn Bank for their Educational Improvement Tax Credit donations in support of the Watershed Education and "One Bird, Two Habitat" programs in state parks and forests. 2018 donations were used to create the watershed education kits pictured here to facilitate student programs.


At work and play in the parks and forests

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It will be a little quiet on the calendar front for a few months as staffing levels are at their winter nadir. But you know the fun - and volunteer opportunities - still await.

North

Tomorrow morning (Saturday) provides the first chance of the year to have Coffee with the Birds at SINNEMAHONING STATE PARK

South

The parks and forests of the southern tier are quiet this weekend - which means it's a perfect time to schedule a little hike of your own. If you downloaded a copy of our "Pennsylvania Happy Places" for Giving Tuesday in November, you know that the Goat Hill Wild Plant Sanctuary in the WILLIAM PENN STATE FOREST offers a quiet hike along the Rose Trail perfect for quiet contemplation.

East

Your first chance of the year to volunteer with the Friends of Ridley Creek on their monthly trail maintenance days is tomorrow (Saturday morning). All are welcome at RIDLEY CREEK STATE PARK. 

West

You know the Friends of Ohiopyle are right there alongside the Friends of Ridley Creek (albeit a few hundred miles to the west) doing their monthly first Saturday of the month maintenance at OHIOPYLE STATE PARK. There's a place for you attached to a rake or shovel.

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

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Look at this crew! The First Day Hikers of Kings Gap. Reports are coming in from across the system of record crowds for the event. Just for starters, there were over 250 at Pine Grove Furnace, 338 at Moraine, 70 people in the rain at Pymatuning, and 16 with the Friends of Lyman Run way up north.

Take five for trivia

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The pages of the calendar tell me that tomorrow is the first day of the Farm Show with its celebration of all things agricultural and traditional. You can almost taste the milk shakes, can't you?

Uh oh. There goes THAT resolution!

Oh, well. It's the 103rd Farm Show and the What's New page of the website offer enough incentive to draw the crowds, I think. We know you're want to drop by and visit with the folks from DCNR at their booth and find out what projects and programs are on the horizon this year. So what is the busiest time of the day for a visit? 

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

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Sincere thanks to David Hess and the PA Environment Digest for consistently providing great information on the environmental front in the Commonwealth. Especially wonderful for the end of the year was a compilation of no fewer than 175 inspiring stories of environmental stewardship from folks who already live Chris Anderson's resolution. Put your feet up and enjoy!



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 is a proud member of EarthShare and is a Gold GuideStar Participant.

  

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