Boughs of Holly.

Tis the season for the decking of halls as you know. This week's masthead comes from Kings Gap Environmental Education Center where the final holiday Open House at the mansion takes place this Sunday from noon until 4:00.

And otherwise, enjoy the weekend before a polar vortex approaches!

~ Pam Metzger
Membership & Volunteer Coordinator

News of Note.

Thanks to those who weighed in on the calendar idea. Most people favor a price between $10 and $15 for a 12-month calendar featuring photographs of Pennsylvania's beautiful scenery. Congratulations to Coopersburg Carol for having her email randomly selected to win. A copy of the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport will be winging its way to her shortly.

Planning means enough surveys for all of us! The work is already underway for the September 2017 Greenways & Trails Summit hosted by the PA Recreation & Parks Society. As a trail user, your input on the summit is requested by PRPS through this survey.

Picture of the Week.

Okay, so this one was quite obviously NOT taken in a Pennsylvania state park or forest. However, we can't help but pay some kind of homage to the late John Glenn and applaud the Facebook share by the Cherry Springs Dark Sky Association of the NASA Astronomy Photo of the Day. Click it to visit the blog post explaining the astronomical phenomena pictured. Or just enjoy the photograph! Wow!

At Work & Play in the Parks & Forests.

North.

Deck your halls with natural ornaments you might make this evening at a Natural Ornaments crafting session at R.B. Winter.

South.

If you can't make the mansion open house on Sunday, the Friends of Kings Gap invite you to a holiday coffee house Saturday evening. Get acquainted and enjoy the decorations, music, and treats.

East.

Speaking of holiday open houses, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center is the place to enjoy one on Saturday afternoon.

West.

The annual Step into Snowshoes weekly try-out program at Jennings Environmental Education Center is getting underway. Weather permitting!

No matter what region you're looking to visit, our website Calendar of Events, the DCNR Calendar of Events and the ever-expanding Get Outdoors PA calendar are all great sources for things to do and see.

Take Five for Trivia.

Of all the cosmic occurrences, the star of a video this week on the Promised Land State Park Book of Faces was none other than a porcupine. Just one, though, not a prickle of them. Nevertheless, a pretty special little dude. (By the way, I also note that a group of porcupines might be known as an "array;" however, "prickle" takes top honors here!)

As I finish up Fridays, the snow is falling outside my window. So this week, tell me when you'll experience the winter solstice in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Send in your answer and we'll enter your correct answer 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.

Start making your plans!

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.