Happy National Trails Day! Okay, so it's really tomorrow but there's no sense in postponing a celebration - we certainly are not! As you read this, Marci and I are headed to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail for a night out before tomorrow's volunteer day with the Ridge Runners and REI culminating in the rededication of the trail following completion of the shelter rehabilitation. We'll get our first look at the prototype firewood shelter and help do some of the first upgrades to the tenting areas.

It should be a great time and we hope that you'll have a little time this weekend to share some love with your favorite trail - be it a hiking trail, a bike trail, an equestrian trail, or a multi-purpose, multi-user "let's all get together and do what we love" trail - the first Saturday in June is the day to show you care.

This week's masthead is admittedly a few weeks late - posted as it was to the Black Moshannon SP Book of Faces back in April during a Take Five hiatus. But it was worth waiting for!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

The photo contest Showcase of Winners from 2017 is officially on display at Columbia Crossing Trails Center in Columbia. The gala opening took place on Wednesday evening and the setting is marvelous! The display is there through June 26 so stop in from 10:00 to 5:00 daily (and 9:00 to 6:00 on weekends); it's a nice addition to your visit to the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, a 14-mile delight connecting Bainbridge and Columbia through lovely Marietta.

With summer just getting underway, it's hard to think of fall already but if you're an event organizer you know that planning ahead is essential. Hence, this call for artists from the Friends of Beltzville as they organize this year's Art in the Park for September.

Keep watch on the DCNR website for announcement of a public meeting to take place in each of the 20 state forest districts. The series began with Sproul State Forest last evening and will focus on the districts' forest management plans and priorities, and give attendees the opportunity to learn about how their forest is being managed and provide input.

As more meetings are scheduled, they will be listed on DCNR’s State Forest Resource Management Plan web page.

At work and play in the parks and forests

There is a trail for everyone in Pennsylvania - Visit ExplorePATrails to find your perfect fit. And if it's June it's the Three Rivers Arts Festival at Point State Park. 

North

The Friends of Oil Creek hit the ski trail for some volunteering on Sunday afternoon - which is not too late for celebrating NTD by any means. After all the trail care and feeding is done on Saturday, it might be time to feed yourself with the Friends of Shikellamy and their Sunday brunch and music at the Marina. It's the first of several this summer!

South

Hiking AND volunteering is a wonderful combination and Greenwood Furnace State Park manager Mike Dinsmore leads a Rusty Diamonds Hike to allow you to do just that. Come find out what a rusty diamond is! Then the first Music on the Mountain at Kings Gap takes place on Sunday evening.

East

Long time readers know by now that the Friends of Ridley Creek are out working on trails on the first Saturday of EVERY month. Is National Trails Day the right day for you to join them?

West

The same goes for the Friends of Ohiopyle and their monthly trail care day. Maybe today is your day! Not that far away, the Laurel Mountain Volunteer Group from Forbes State Forest will be doing their first work day of the season.

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 week's shot is a welcome reminder to appreciate the simple pleasures coming from regular trivia player and all-too-infrequent-because-life-gets-in-the-way camper Steven. I'll let him tell you the story from Little Pine State Park:

I am always amazed by people that I meet camping. More specifically, people that come back from hiking saying "it was a wonderful walk, but I didn't see anything" (usually in reference to wildlife I assume).

[In this case] I took the same walk and saw lots of activity, but was somewhat taken by a robin on its nest. She (Let's assume... The apparent partner in the area had plumage that appeared as bright as hers) seemed unconcerned by my movements around her as I tried to get a picture. Of course, I was using a long zoom so that I could respect her space. I was disappointed, though, that she wouldn't cooperate and let me see the chicks. Oh well, I guess she was just trying to protect their privacy.

I know, nothing special about the American Robin, but maybe that is why this was appealing - finding something common out here in the middle of the forest.

This past camping weekend reminded me that I've been allowing myself to get too busy. So maybe the appeal of the robin was in that she was calmly sitting there taking everything in-maybe a hint for me to take time, sit on the nest, and just enjoy.

Take five for trivia

You know it. The benefits of Pennsylvania's public lands are many - included specifically in the Governor's recent proclamation of Park and Forest Week or not! From improved water (and air) quality, better health, happier families from time spent together, to economic improvement to surrounding communities, and the simple joy that comes from escaping the daily rat race (for sure, Mr. R). Extra credit definitely goes to Angela who is section-hiking Pennsylvania's Appalachian Trail segment - 190 miles of the 226 are so far under those boots. A rousing cheer!

Today's question has to be on trails, right? How many miles must I hike to achieve the State Forest Trails Award? (And do we have a recipient in the audience?)

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.

History of Pennsylvania's State Parks, a program at Greenwood Furnace on Saturday evening, looks at the parks that once were but are no longer.

A little more about the anniversary (with some lovely photographs) was featured in Keystone Edge, an online regional publication about Pennsylvania that's worth a click and a bookmark for this and any number of reasons.

Marci was one of the speakers at our newest state park, Washington Crossing Historic Park, on Wednesday morning wrapping up Park and Forest Week. She reports that one of the highlights of the visit was seeing the newly-restored (by volunteers) and recently-reopened grist mill in action, sampling a scone made from the end product (and bringing home a little ground corn to boot).

The "official week" might be over but the celebration continues! Check in at our website for ways to be involved. There's a 125th Anniversary box right on the home page.

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.