Ever hear of "Walk with Ease?" It is an Arthritis Foundation program that has been proven to help people with arthritis or other related conditions reduce pain, increase balance, strength and walking pace, and improve overall health. 

As a Walk With Ease Program Leader, learn to help arthritis pain sufferers build confidence in their ability to be physically active, and show them how they can make physical activity part of their everyday lives. You’ll learn the relationship between arthritis, exercise, and pain; develop and implement a personal walking plan with realistic goals; and get tips, strategies, and resources for maintaining a long-term exercise routine. Participants receive an Arthritis Foundation certification, a leader's manual filled with exercise illustrations, health education information, and a 6-week walking plan.

Interested in participating in a training course? Reach out to us at heretohelp@paparksandforests.org and we'll fill you in!

As you may know, PPFF has been a key sponsor of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps since its inception in 2016. Now, these some years on, it is a good time to reassess and plan for the PAOC's future. As a result, PPFF seeks a qualified professional to lead strategic planning process to produce a three- to five-year strategic implementation plan to guide the PAOC. 

From the announcement to come:

"The PAOC, which began in 2016, is a program that leads to career pathways and family-sustaining wages by providing hands-on professional development opportunities for youth and young adults as they complete resource management projects in parks, forests, and public lands.

The ideal proposal will demonstrate experience analyzing youth workforce development programs in outdoor and conservation settings and have experience in climate resiliency as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion work. The Foundation has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) that outlines the selection criteria and process. To get a copy of the RFP, email office@paparksandforests.org. All proposals are due by October 17, 2023, and work will begin in December through late July 2024."

If you know a consultant for whom this RFP would be a good fit, please encourage them to be in touch!

September 16 marks the kick off for National Clean Up Day (which actually runs for a week) which challenges us to think about what would happen if we all picked up just one piece of trash. Check it out at What Would Happen If?

And keep that spirit going as Healthy Lands Week begins on September 23 just as Clean Up Week ends! There's an ever growing number of events - both volunteer and experiential - popping up on the HLW website so give it a click often.

It's the second Friday of the month and speaking of Healthy Lands Week, Marci is the guest on WLCH Radio Centro in Lancaster this morning at 8:30 AM (so I'm rushing to get final edits done before we miss the "On Air" signal). You guessed it - Healthy Lands Week is the topic!

She was also a guest on Doug Saltzman's radio show earlier this week on WMBS in Uniontown. It was a great time and he has invited her back so we promise to give everyone more of a heads-up next time.