I hope you have been taking FULL advantage of Lake Appreciation Month because it's summer for SURE. Cathy and Sadie the dog and I paid a little visit to the Outflow Campground on our morning walk on Wednesday. The Outflow is just below the Youghiogheny Dam and is popular with fisherfolk and fisherbirds alike (saw an osprey and a great blue heron chasing each other in the sky). In any event, Sadie thought a dip would be fun as it was a steamy morning. I put my toes in. Brrrr! Quite a different story from the other side of the dam where the beach is sandy and the water delightful after a first shocking plunge. 

The masthead shows that Sarah Zagorce found a peaceful evening at Canoe Creek for lake appreciating. 

Thanks to everyone who made calls and wrote in support of parks and forests funding. If you have been reading/listening to media you know that the budget is a work in progress. We hope to share good news. Soon.

Marci met with the Harrisburg crew of the PA Pa Outdoor Corps and Brian and Jason spent time Thursday morning with the York Crew at Pinchot, where were they were planting trees at an accessibility project that we are supporting and hope to unveil soon.

Speaking of Marci, visit her (and Joe) at booth 44, Inspired by Nature Pottery, at the Caledonia Craft Fair on Saturday.

Find us in 50plus Life Lebanon County digital magazine out in the July issue (page 19) with an article by our writer Jessica Aiello on the health benefits of outdoor recreation.

While we await word on the budget, word comes from our friends at REI on the opportunity to voice support for the federal Transit to Trails Act. As we've pointed out in our own statewide pilot (Wilderness Wheels) the ability to actually get to a park or forest is a significant barrier to places without public transportation for people without cars or other private vehicles. Doc Goddard may famously have succeeded in placing a state park within 25 miles of every Pennsylvanian but without transportation even that 25 miles might as well be 100 miles!

The grant program established by the Transit to Trails Act could help fund ways to get more people to the outdoors. A few clicks is all it takes to voice your opinion. 

Last week's question was a little tricky and we caught a bunch of you who quite naturally assumed that Doc Goddard believed that a park without a lake would be like apple pie without ice cream. But no! Doc believed the perfect companion of apple pie is cheddar cheese! Have you ever tried it? I have not but would be quite willing to give it a go. Marci pronounces it quite yummy!

Picture ID! In the foreground of the picture of Prince Gallitzin above is a plant. Name the plant and the species of butterfly most often associated with it.

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

What kind of fun will you find?

Put a bookmark on the PPFF Events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events so you never miss an announcement.

Blue boxes locate events; green photographs and news.

Tuesday the 12th is "Simplicity Day" meant to honor the birthday of Henry David Thoreau. Born 1817.

The quote and art are by Morgan Harper Nichols, whose Instagram is a delight.