I certainly hope you had a more productive week than I did. I expected to be a little behind since Bill and I had a road trip day on Tuesday for a couple of doctor things but Wednesday became a comedy of errors with endless software glitches and then a car hitting a tree out there in the wilds of Somerset county and taking our power (and the membership postcard I was working on) with it for several hours. Not as frightening as the tornado in Wilkes-Barre, however! Glad to hear that only minor injuries were sustained by a few people. Postcards can be (and have been) re-created!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Our masthead photo this week is a classic from the 2012 youth fishing day at Ohiopyle State Park. 

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

Hearty and heart-felt congratulations to Pennsylvania's new State Forester, Ellen Shultzabarger, who assumed the management of our state forest system this week. What a wonderful way to celebrate the 125th anniversary with the first woman to lead the agency since its inception.

As we look toward Father's Day on Sunday, it bears repeating that getting outside is great for your health and well-being, making it possible to enjoy a whole lot more Father's Days to come. The UK version of Men's Health magazine provides "14 reasons to give the green light to outdoor workouts," including a little bit of encouragement for the simplest of steps.

Consider taking a power walking meeting, doing a little gardening (yes, pulling weeds is a work-out), and basically just getting out for five or ten minutes at a stretch. Okay, everyone. Up from behind that device and let's feel a little fresh air!

We aren't the only species that appreciates a little food, fresh air, and sunshine obviously. Next week is National Pollinator Week and the Friends of Beltzville have a special reason to celebrate. The National Pollinator Garden Network is looking to register a million gardens as part of the network and the Beltzville State Park garden is included. Check out the link to Bee Counted on the Network's website. Have you planted for the bees, birds, and butterflies? Register your garden, too!

At work and play in the parks and forests

Let's find some great ways to entertain Dad!

North

Test his sense of rhythm and breath control with a little square dancing hosted by the Friends of Mt. Pisgah.

South

The Look Out Loop hike at Blue Knob State Park is easy to moderate and works up a good appetite for a cookout later.

East

Nockamixon is the place for taking to the water - the Friends are hosting a Kids' Fishing Tournament and the park is sponsoring a Family Paddle Program too.

West

Dads and kids are invited to Ryerson Station State Park for a build-a-bluebird-box event on Sunday.

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 photo from the Forestry Book of Faces is labeled "Moshannon [State Forest] bandits caught red-handed." Everyone's got a raccoon story from Out There, don't they? Mine involves a loaf of bread at the Ricketts Glen State Park campground. The dampness of these little guys' fur suggests they have a story of their own to tell, although I suspect it might not be quite as epic as the one in St. Paul that captured the nation's attention this week.

Take five for trivia

Astute researchers have learned that nine Pennsylvania state parks have boat launch accesses officially deemed to be "marinas." We can also remind you that we have chapter friends groups in two of those parks who host musical events at their marinas (Friends of Goddard on August 11 and 12 and Friends of Shikellamy with marina brunches on July 1 and August 12). For those looking to take Dad in search of more traditional uses of a marina, also visit Bald Eagle, Codorus, Lackawanna, Moraine, Neshaminy, Prince Gallitzin, or Pymatuning.

Maybe it's just me but thoughts of Dad always involve driving. So consider: what notorious road hazard is much more impressive as a geologic feature?

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.

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.