Annnnnnd, we're back again! We went out to the Big Woods of French Creek State Park for a weekend of outdoor activities with about 50 registered women participants. They had their choice of up to six classes over the day and a half ranging from Backpacking 101 to Yoga, kayaking, orienteering, geocaching, fishing ... Marci tells us that our participants ranged in age from 23 to 84. And THAT has to be the most amazing fact of all.

I am monopolizing the masthead for myself this week with a view of Hopewell Lake on Sunday morning as our last group of kayakers headed out for their paddle. After a very cool overnight, Sunday dawned with a definite chill but by the time the boats were in the water at 10:30 AM it had turned into one of the most beautiful days I've seen in quite awhile. 

I'm not sure it would be possible for a tree to fall more perfectly to destroy a hiking trail bridge than this one that took out the bridge on the Ramble Trail at Caledonia State Park. But thanks to the Friends of Caledonia, the park staff and DCNR Conservation Volunteers, and the Potomac AT Club it was fixed in short order. Check out all the pictures on the Facebook page. Ramble on! 

We'll be featuring seven days of Leave No Trace principles on social media next week - one each day - for Latino Conservation Week. Each principle was explained by one of our Spanish-speaking partners. If you can't wait, they are already available on our YouTube channel.

Last week saw Katie out and about at Cheyney University, America's oldest HBCU, with Mike Piaskowski of the PA Outdoor Corps and Arlene Marshall-Hockenberry, DCNR's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. This triple threat talked with students about volunteer and employment opportunities in Pennsylvania's outdoors.

You'll recall that I called a moratorium on my trivia moratorium in our last issue to pay tribute to the anniversary of the official dedication of the Point State Park Fountain. The fountain was officially opened on August 30, 1974; however, it HAD been turned on early for what reason, I asked. 

It was on July 23, 1974 that it actually sprayed its first spurt - in honor of the Major League Baseball All Star Game taking place across the Allegheny River at Three Rivers Stadium.

Picking up where we left off at the break, we'll return to a "look ahead two weeks schedule" and see what's there to enjoy. A lot - as usual!

Don't forget to bookmark both the PPFF events calendar and the DCNR Calendar of Events so you don't miss anything you'd be sorry to miss!

Picking up where we left off at the break, we'll return to a "look ahead two weeks schedule" and see what's there to enjoy. A lot - as usual!

Don't forget to bookmark both the PPFF events calendar and the DCNR Calendar of Events so you don't miss anything you'd be sorry to miss!

Blue boxes show photos and news locations and purple are events.