Looks like my timing was decent - I see from HummingbirdCentral.com that spring migration is about to deposit these amazing creatures on our doorsteps. I spent a little time last weekend making food so it's in the fridge awaiting our first arrivals. Check out that website, by the way, where you can submit your first sighting in your yard and add to the citizen science involved here - and track arrivals with their interactive map. Don't forget that making your own food is a cinch. It's one part white sugar to four parts water brought just to a boil. Cool it and put it in your feeders without adding any red dye as that can be harmful. Make a big batch - it can be stored in the refrigerator.

This week's masthead is from French Creek State Park. Spring wildflowers to brighten the day, says the Facebook post, which includes a few more specimens than just this bloodroot. We saw some Dutchman's breeches along our trail walk on Tuesday; these little "pants" are my second favorite posey.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note

At the request of American Hiking Society, PPFF was glad to sign on to a letter to the US House and Senate Appropriations Committees to encourage federal funding for trails on federal lands including National Forest, National Park, National Wildlife Refuge, and Bureau of Land Management properties. Among other requests, the letter asks that funds be set aside in the budget to address the ongoing maintenance backlog (sounds familiar) on these assets, that Volunteers in Parks programs be supported, that the Land & Water Conservation Fund be fully funded as promised, and that the new 21st Century Conservation Corps be supported and utilized. Please take a moment to write to your own representative and Senators Casey and Toomey to encourage their support of our national trails systems.

Dale Yohe, who designed the logo now being used to denote the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, let the readers of the LHHT Facebook page know that a new hiking medallion with the logo will be on sale at the Laurel Hill Outpost, the park's gift shop near the County Line Road entrance to the park.

At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests

NORTH	SOUTH
Last week we noted the opportunity for training at Chapman for bluebird/cavity nesting volunteers. This Sunday an opportunity to train for Eagle Watch volunteers takes place at SINNEMAHONING STATE PARK.	Sunday is Spring Volunteer Day with the FRIENDS OF LITTLE BUFFALO STATE PARK with a varied list of projects to keep a volunteer busy.
EAST	WEST
Out at FORT WASHINGTON STATE PARK is another Saturday opportunity for spring volunteering to ready the park for another busy season.	A work day at MORAINE STATE PARK tomorrow has landscaping at Davis Hollow the main event.

ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

The Friends of Buchanan steward two sections of trails (and want to spearhead increased trail development and connections) in the BUCHANAN STATE FOREST but they need more man- and womanpower to accomplish all their goals. Contact Chair Karen Rosenberger to find out how you can help, including with an Adopt-a-Highway/Keep PA Beautiful event tomorrow.

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

Such is the state of my memory that I had intended at the end of March to give a well-deserved shout out to Stewards of Penn's Woods volunteer Luke Miney for his recent post-winter visit to his adopted Beam Rocks in the Forbes/Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. He discovered graffiti in a place he's been working incredibly hard to keep clean and so this Picture of the Week (one of many he shot that day) is not my usual "beauty shot."

Luke will be going out to Beam Rocks over the course of the next several months and would, we are sure, be delighted to have volunteers to assist him. He has purchased the graffiti removal products that PPFF uses as a donation above and beyond the hard word he puts in on a place he calls his "home." Get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with Luke!

If there is a state forest site YOU like to call home and you would like to become a Steward of Penn's Woods, find out more at the PPFF website.

Take Five for Trivia

The first question of April was a pretty easy one, I think! Yes, the lake at R.B. WINTER STATE PARK that is now free of ice as the remnants slipped over the dam is Halfway Lake. Raymond Burrows Winter, the state forester for whom the park was named, penned what must be a lovely history of the place he grew to love (originally named Halfway Dam State Park). An excerpt can be found as the History section of the park's webpage. MANY people who answered the question claim R.B. Winter as their favorite park. A visit is in order, for you and for me!

This week, why is that lovely yellowish flower called a "bloodroot?"

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

Snoopy knows.

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.