Take Five: Time to Give Thanks for Pennsylvania's Parks & Forests


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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS

Our Mission: To inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania's state parks and forests

Michaux State Forest
Photo by Ron George

Happy Friday everyone! We hope your Thanksgiving Day was a peaceful and enjoyable one with lots of pleasant family times to add to the memory banks.

It's a short one this week in deference to the holiday.

Let us just take one more moment to thank everyone for their support in last week's annual ExtraGive Extravaganza. We raised nearly $15,000 in that one day of generosity - just shy of our $16,000 goal - and we simply cannot thank you enough for believing in your state parks and forests and the great things we can all do together to make them even more spectacular.

Since voting is still open for a few more days in the People's Choice phase of our photo contest (see below) I went digging through the entries in last year's contest to see what treasures I might find.

This photo by Ron George jumped out at me as the perfect choice for Take Five. I hope the image allows you to take a moment as this busy holiday season comes on us to just sit back and contemplate something that brings you calm in the outdoors. (If you missed Marci and me talking about the value of looking at nature scenes - among other things - you can catch the recording on our YouTube channel.)

Pam Metzger,

Membership Coordinator

pmetzger@paparksandforests.org

814.233.5703

NEWS OF NOTE

Last Friday while we were working on the ExtraGive Governor Shapiro was posing a very important question to his staff, "If you could go hiking anywhere right now, where would you go?"

Friday might have been National Take a Hike Day but just because we missed it, didn't mean we missed it!

Today is #OptOutsideDay so take a hike, take a bike ride, take a stroll. Just get out there and enjoy!

And for a new place to hike, the 2,500-acre Miller Mountain, the backdrop to the town of Tunkhannock in Wyoming County, has been added to the Pinchot State Forest thanks to the efforts of The Conservation Fund, Williams Companies, and the Keystone Fund.

Miller Mountain is Wyoming County's first state forest land.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Ohiopyle State Park

This one, posted to our Exploring PA Parks & Forests Book of Faces by PA Outdoors Couple, literally had me hopping up and down in my chair. I'm very sorry it missed the "spooky pictures" for Halloween. He's great any time! Give a click to the pic as "Exploring" is open to all.

Little Buffalo State Park

Photographer Gene DeRochemont said to look closely and there's still some color out there. He's definitely right on what seems to have been a crystal clear day last weekend.

M.K. Goddard State Park

Photographer Derek Rezek captured a few crackin' shots at Lake Wilhelm on Sunday: "[F]rosty mornings are a great time to enjoy nature: The ice crystals in the air refract the light better, the world is quiet, and there's a great chance of being totally alone." Alone doing a jigsaw puzzle maybe.

Laurel Ridge State Park

Fantastic. Karen Herwig posted "my 73 year old mom wanted to know why I was in love with the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT). So I took her to Beam Rocks. She was a trooper." Karen subsequently apologized - Mom's not 73 until January. Hike on!

TAKE FIVE FOR TRIVIA

In donations to ExtraGive and opinions expressed here at "Fridays," we have quite a few non-traditionalists in our midst! Dark chocolate was the clear winner in a choice between milk and dark for your s'mores. For a way to enjoy the tasty treat indoors between trips to the campfire, check out Marci's recipe video on our YouTube channel.

Hopefully by now the turkey tryptophan has worn off but the brain may still be a bit fuzzy. So I'll take it easy on you this week! Miller Mountain as noted above is the first state forest parcel in Wyoming County. The county also recently got its first state PARK land. What was 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.

WHERE ARE WE THIS WEEK?

IN CLOSING

Quote: Often attributed to Anatole France

Photo: Jason Robson, "Good Old Turkey Path," Leonard Harrison State Park. (From the private Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Book of Faces)

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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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704 Lisburn Road, Suite 102
Camp Hill PA 17011

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