We fall back - but not into old patterns, right? I'm on Day 4 of a return to my yoga mat. I'm not saying that they are long or vigorous practices but they are practices nonetheless. November and February seem to be the longest, most difficult months for a lot of people so let us resolve to be outside as much as we can and to give a few extra thanks this year while we're at it. We're still here!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

Thanks to Becky Fox for this lovely photo (from Nature's Colors category of the photo contest) at Pinchot State Park. Click to the original.

News of note

Happy news from Sinnemahoning State Park this week with the official rededication of the George B. Stevenson Dam. This multi-year, multi-million dollar restoration included shoreline stabilization and fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects resulting in a happier, healthier reservoir. I'm thinking a visit should be paid!

The hiring process has opened for the next round of DCNR Youth Outdoor Corps positions. If you know someone between the ages of 18 and 25 who love the outdoors and want to learn a set of life and employment skills (and work in the outdoors doing great things for our communities), visit the YCC page of the DCNR website for more information.

Coming up on November 17 is our third year of participation in the Lancaster County Community Foundation's ExtraGive promotion - a 24-hour blitz of generosity from all of you to a bunch of really deserving organizations in southcentral Pennsylvania including PPFF of course! The best news of all to this year's event is the size of the matching pool all organizations are eligible to tap - $500,000. So get your clicking finger primed for November 17 and your chance to help us take that whole pot. Okay, we know we won't to do THAT but a hefty chunk would be grand.

At work and play in the parks and forests

It's quiet out there.

North

The Clear Creek State Park Hiking Series features the 2.5-mile Boundary and Irish Rock Hike on Sunday afternoon.

South

Take a hike tomorrow evening at Greenwood Furnace State Park By the Light of the Silvery Moon.

East

It's a Mansion Open House day on Sunday at Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center with lots of good stuff in addition to mansion tours - including a performance by Baile Latino at 2:00. 

West

Nature at Night at Jennings Environmental Education Center is a great way to say goodbye to Daylight Savings Time.

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

This cool post on the Book of Faces from Ohiopyle State Park caught my eye. The October log showed visitors from 15 countries and 42 states. Wow! Can anyone really suggest that our state parks and forests don't have an economic impact!

Take five for trivia

The October trivia prize is awarded to Maple Carol for her pumpkin picture randomly chosen. Pretty scary. Pretty artistic, too!

To kick of November (and, yes, say a big howdy to a return to Eastern Standard Time), tell me when was daylight savings time first enacted, by whom, and why?

Submit your answer for entry into our random monthly prize drawing. Each correct response per week goes into the hat and at the end of the month one lucky winner receives a PPFF goodie. The more weeks you enter, the better your chances!

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 is a Gold GuideStar Participant.