Take Five: Humming to Myself


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FOR OVER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

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

Presque Isle State Park
Photo by Cindy MacTaggart Rodgers

James Taylor was in my head this week. No, not "Carolina in My Mind," but "You've Got a Friend."

"Winter, spring, summer, or fall ...". Okay, we never quite made it to SUMMER but we certainly hit the other three here in the good ol' Valley of the Foot of the Turkey. But there are daffodils in the planters of the church next door, buds on some of the {admittedly not terribly desirable} Bradford pear trees, and a bunch of peepers singing their best songs in the pond across the road so hope does spring eternal!

The masthead is a crop from vertical (click here to see the original) in the Pennsylvania Photography with Uncovering PA Book of Faces. I know I've been doing a lot of Presque Isle/Erie Bluffs the last couple of weeks but this one was irresistible. Jigsaw puzzle-able, too!

One commenter wrote that it looks like a confrontation between a bear and a dragon. Let's call it a conversation.

Pam Metzger,

Membership Coordinator

pmetzger@paparksandforests.org

814.233.5703

NEWS OF NOTE

A note from Marci: I just returned from a week of exploring Hanging Rock State Park in North Carolina, where I trekked to a fire tower to ring in my 60^th birthday. Upon return home, after a long 6.5 hour drive, I was overwhelmed by the kindness of PPFF members, friends, board members, and donors when I opened my home door to a pile of birthday cards! I am metering out reading the cards, but every single one has brought a smile to my face. Thank you for your kindness in helping me to celebrate this milestone birthday.

With your support, the Friends of Michaux recently invested in a tracked mini-dumper to assist with trail building in the Michaux State Forest. This equipment helps to move heavy materials onto more remote parks of trails.

Thank you, Friends of Michaux!

As we all know, Pennsylvania has a vast network of trails that allow hikers, bikers, cross country skiers, walkers and more to access both back and front country in state parks and forests. Yet many of these trails have seen wear and tear from heavy use, explosive weather events, and the test of time.

To help Elk State Forest raise funds for bridge replacement and accessibility improvements on some of the state's best-loved trails (like the Quehanna, pictured here by Miranda Van Bramer), we have established a fundraising page on our website. For every donation to the page over $10, we will send you an I Love My PA State Forests sticker. Help us reach a goal of $15,000 for the trails. Also, keep an eye out for an upcoming online silent auction to benefit this forest district's trail needs.

Click the pic to donate or visit https://ppff.gives/elksf-trails.

We have been sharing the post below for the last few weeks announcing the winners' reception at the East Wing Rotunda on April 8. We hope you can join us; however, if you cannot be there that afternoon (and meet a few of the winning photographers in person) please be aware that the gallery will be hanging in the Capitol throughout the month of April. So if you should find yourself in Harrisburg next month, please do yourself a favor and drop in to see it.

Just as an aside, it is ALWAYS worthwhile to visit the gorgeous Capitol building. I am looking forward to seeing the Violet Oakley murals again; in truth, there is much wonderful art work to see, including Henry Mercer floor tiles, and stained glass by William Brantley Van Ingen.

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED

But you can still DONATE to Pennsylvania's Tree-Planting Fund

DONATE HERE

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Hills Creek State Park

Roblin Ann Laura shared this (and other) shots on a Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Book of Faces post. "I'm in love with this beautiful place," says she. So are we! Might be why it (and the other parks in the Complex) won Park of the Year this time out!

Colton Point State Park

Roblin Ann Laura gets a two-fer - with a second group of photos from another great park in the Hills Creek Complex. Here's a brief return of the trivia question - can you name all the parks in the HC Complex?

Greenwood Furnace State Park

Ah, look at the clarity of that lovely meandering stream posted (along with others) by Dusko Popov - again in the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Book of Faces.

McConnells Mill State Park

Dina Brownley enjoyed a sunny day at the park. She "never tires" of going to MM. And her photo completes this week's Photos of the Week theme - trails, water, rocks, trees. It's Pennsylvania!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Earth Day (April 22) events begin this featured weekend so you have plenty of time to make your plans. Filtering the DCNR Calendar of Events gets us 14 events so far for the two week Earth Day period so far.

North

Canyon Waterfall Geology Hike
Saturday, April 12 | 9:00 AM
Leonard Harrison State Park

South

American Revolution Marker Dedication
Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area
Saturday, 4/12 | 2:00 PM

East

Hike Big Pocono: Indian Trail
(Registration Required)
Big Pocono State Park
Saturday, 4/12 | 11:00 AM

West

Full Moon Woodcock Walk
Oil Creek State Park
Saturday, 4/12 | 7:00 PM

A reminder, don't forget to bookmark our online calendar and DCNR's calendar of events so you don't miss a thing.

WHERE ARE WE THIS WEEK?

As is traditional, blue boxes are photos and news; bright green are events.

IN CLOSING

Sunday is Take a Walk in the Park Day.

Photo: Kaylin Renee. McConnells Mill State Park.

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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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