Yes, it is. It's mid-June. One week from the summer solstice. Head-scratching. As is word that once again significant reductions to the Keystone and Environmental Stewardship Funds are being looked at in budget negotiations in Harrisburg. Please visit the Action Alerts of our news page for our open letter and contact your legislator and the governor to oppose any such short-sighted reductions.

Will be curious as to your reaction to this week's masthead posted to the Mid State Trail's Facebook page by intrepid hiker Wendy Kay on June 11. I find both the creature and the "art" interesting but understand it might elicit a different reaction from some! (There are many other very nice and interesting shots from Wendy and Tom's outing on the Trail of the Year to be found there. Thanks for sharing!)

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of Note

Apparently black bears have been seen in some increasingly problematic locations this spring (not to mention alligators walking down the street in Pittsburgh) so thanks to Marcus Schneck for his piece on PennLive for some "need to know" tips on bear/human interaction (or avoidance thereof).

I had a chance to go up to Laurel Hill State Park with friends Cathy and Wendy on Sunday to see the Historicorps crew in action at CCC Group Camp 2. This great group (funded through PPFF by the Allegheny Foundation) works on saving historic buildings all across the country and, as a lover of old buildings, I have to admit that I came home having decided that I know how I want to spend my retirement! We counted license plates from five different states but I think quite a few more states were represented by the crew. The mess hall roof was replaced during the two week crew and a good bit of exterior plank siding has been restored. The work builds on that done by park maintenance staff and members of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps over the last few years and brings the park one step closer to the dream of a fully restored CCC camp.

At Work and Play in the State Parks and Forests

Sunday is, as you are aware I am sure, Fathers Day - and there are plenty of entertaining ways to get Pops outside for his special day.

NORTH	SOUTH
Tonight is the annual square dance hosted by the Friends of Mount Pisgah (tons of fun). Sunday brings a Kayak Tour and Brunch with the Friends of Lyman Run. Registration needed for the brunch with a click to the button below.	Saturday is Whipple Dam Heritage Day; then kick off dad's day a bit early with another of the Friends of Greenwood Furnace's Music on the Beach concert series on Saturday night there at WHIPPLE DAM STATE PARK. Also on tap the Friends of Colonel Denning will be out for a Last Weekend of Spring Volunteer Day.
EAST	WEST
Check out a Father's Day Weekend Moonlight Paddle tomorrow evening at LACKAWANNA STATE PARK. $5 fee; please register.	Is your dad a railroad aficionado? If so, OHIOPYLE STATE PARK's new escape room, The Great Railway Escape, is for you. Check the calendar as the room has frequent hours so you will have many opportunities to test your knowledge. Bill and I are looking forward to doing this!

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Next weekend is the annual Pioneer Frolic at M.K. GODDARD STATE PARK and the super-friendly FRoGs (Friends of Goddard) will be out in FORCE all weekend. Lots of volunteers are needed to make this (and August's Music at the Marina) events happen - and both events will contribute to the new marina playground. If you can lend a hand (or a frog paw), contact Gary Free.

These and other fun events and fulfilling volunteer opportunities can be found on the PPFF events calendar and DCNR Calendar of Events. Bookmark them and you'll never miss the boat (or hike or festival).

Picture of the Week

This week is a two-fer (three-fer?) - the Friends of Beltzville continue to improve their pollinator garden (if your thumb is green, contact Chair Diane to have a chance to dig in the dirt) AND my work-sanctioned bike ride to Ohiopyle a few weeks ago took me past two new pollinator habitat sites along the Great Allegheny Passage installed by California University of Pennsylvania in conjunction with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Habitat Forever.

Take Five for Trivia

Congratulations to all you pileated woodpecker fans out there, especially young Ami (birder since age 8) who described the male pileated's distinctive red cheek stripe as his "blush." The female may lack this little bit of flair and her red crown may not extend quite so far down to her beak but both are marvelously fun to watch. (Unless they are pecking holes in all the trees in your yard, eh Steven?)

This week? I can't resist. What are "frog paws" really called?

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

Tomorrow is Nature Photography Day which is, we have to say, the perfect day to enter your photographs in PPFF's annual Parks & Forests Through the Season photo contest. How about a picture of you and Dad in nature for the "Intergenerational Joy" category?

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 (PPFF) is a proud member of Earth Share and 1% for the Planet and is a Gold GuideStar participant.