Our mission: To inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.


Sorry we're a little late today but we were {this close} to getting the latest of our videos uploaded to our YouTube channel and really wanted to include the link before launching Take Five this week. It's done! The latest video is Parks and Forests Are for Everyone and we do hope it inspires you to find your place out there. 

I've really been remiss in promoting the channel. Throughout last year's "Back to Basics" series, board member Jae Ellison was good enough to star in a few practical how-to videos so while you're there check them out as well (in the Back to Basics playlist) as the first two "About PPFF" type videos (in Who and Why IS PPFF). We think they're all very well done. 

Sometimes a picture just tickles your fancy and thus it is with this week's masthead. It's from Codorus State Park's Facebook page and was actually posted along with a few others in the series last October. It and its companions just struck me as a place I'd like to be standing. Hope this weekend finds you standing outside somewhere equally striking.



Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator


News of note
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Here's your reminder that an informational meeting on the potential Friends of Rothrock takes place Monday evening in State College. More details on our calendar of events.

In a story to make your day a little brighter, reuse and recycle has been taken to a whole new level by the creative rehabilitation of the former Nippenose Valley Elementary School into Nippenose Valley Village, a senior living community. Through assistance of a grant from DCNR, the community will be adding trails, play equipment, and other accessible recreation facilities to encourage more interaction among the generations. Read more about it on the DCNR Good Natured blog.

I wonder if eventually one of the bus transportation programs fostered by PPFF will bring those two populations together. We've gathered the submitted names for the program (you'll recall we seek something a little more exciting than Bus Transportation Pilot Project) and have put them out to a panel of volunteers for a vote. Stay tuned for developments.

If you are the owner of your own piece of Penn's Woods - literally, the actually woods - several opportunities are coming up this spring for learning a little more about the sustainable management of your property. You'll be thinking spring in no time!

Saturday, March 3: Making the Most of Your Piece of Nature: A Sustainable Backyard Workshop, free of charge, takes place at the Butler Community College Succop Theater under the auspices of Forbes State Forest.

Saturday, March 17: The Dauphin County Woodland Owners Association present their 8th annual conference, free of charge (with a $10 optional lunch payable at the conference), at the Dauphin County Agricultural & Natural Resources Center.

Saturday, April 7: The Bureau of Forestry joins with Penn State Extension to present Woods in Your Backyard, a day-long workshop at the Union County Government Center in Lewisburg. There is a $35 charge for this one.


Register Now - Walk May 19!


At work and play in the parks and forests

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North

Sunday morning might be the perfect time for the little ones to learn about fish and turtles at the Tom Ridge Environmental Education Center. 

South

A strong through the woods for a Winter Tree ID course is a welcome event at Greenwood Furnace tomorrow afternoon.

East

Are you ready for the spring peepers? Do you know anything about them? Join Herp Helper Rich Bonnett at French Creek on Sunday for a look at the Wonders of Amphibian Migration.

West

Once again this year, the good people of the North Country Trail are taking folks on a few George Washington/Cherry Pie Hikes at Jennings Environmental Education Center this weekend. Register for tomorrow's Long Hike; visit Jennings' page on the calendar for the other hiking opportunities on offer.

No matter what region of the commonwealth you want to visit, our website Events and the DCNR Calendar of Events are great sources for things to see and do. Bookmark them!

Picture of the week

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They promised fun at the Prince Gallitzin Winter Fun Day and it looks like it was a promise fulfilled. Who can argue with a good sledding hill?

Take five for trivia

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Did you manage it? All Audubon asked for participation as an official entrant in the Great Backyard Bird Count last weekend was 15 minutes. How many species did you find? We managed a total of 10 here.

Speaking of that new video of ours, tell me the names of three of the people who were generous enough to devote their time to appearing in the production - which is truly the very smallest part of the great things all of our video stars do for your state parks and forests every day!

Send in your answer and we'll enter your correct response into our monthly prize drawing. All correct answers each week will go into the hat and at the end of the month we'll draw one lucky winner. The more correct answers you submit in a month (up to four or the occasional five depending on the month), the more chances you'll have to win.


In closing

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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.


Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar Participant.


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