Welcome, April. The Villanova Wildcats are the NCAA champions so Philly has another feather in its tri-cornered cap. Pretty impressive over there on the other side of the Commonwealth.

Here in the west, PPFF is very happy to announce that the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail shelters project is the recipient of one of the Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards sponsored by Dominion and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Read more about it on the PA Environment Digest Blog. Thank you!

And if you'd like to come out and join us and the other project partners at a celebration ribbon-cutting and volunteer day on National Trails Day (June 2), check out the order of the day on our events calendar and RSVP your attendance.

So of course this week's masthead just had to be of the LHHT. The warm and generous folks who use and help maintain the trail also use and maintain a fun Facebook page where photos like Tyler Chilcot's gorgeous recent shot of one of the renovated shelters in snow tells the story of why those chimneys need to be kept in tip-top shape.

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

Goodness, two Take Fives in a row sharing the sad news of the passing of an outdoor recreation standard-bearer. Pennsylvania's trees lost a champion in Greg Schrum, retired Chief of DCNR's Resource Management and Planning Section (and 2009 winner of PPFF's Joseph Ibberson Government Award) on March 31. A generous and thoughtful man, we hope each of you will take his family's request to heart and plant a tree in Greg's honor somewhere in Penn's Woods.

Although we just missed sharing the link before the end of Women's History Month, it's always a good time to find out more about Rachel Carson and, thanks to WITF and the PA Conservation Heritage project, you can view a new documentary about her impact on Pennsylvania's environment. Visit the PA Conservation Heritage website for Rachel Carson: Woman of Nature and the other films. And if you'd like to schedule a viewing and event surrounding the airing of this documentary or any of the others, please be in touch with Marci at the PPFF office.

Register Now - Walk May 19!

At work and play in the parks and forests

Earlier in the week my phone was telling me that the Laurel Highlands could expect four to six inches of snow. Last night as I went to bed it went up to eight to ten. This morning? One to three. I think it's safe to say this year March did NOT go out like a lamb and April is pretty wild as well! But let's go outside and play!

North

It's a birdy weekend at Sinnemahoning with eagles on tap tomorrow (and a volunteer appreciation dinner) and bluebirds on Sunday. Both eagle and bluebird observation events are joined with a training program for official bird-watchers. 

South

The Friends of Cowans Gap's annual 5k takes place on Sunday afternoon and on-site registration is still available. The park is a beautiful place for a run.

East

We'll head a little past the weekend for a Get Moving Monday (afternoon) hike at Nolde Forest. Great way to spend a late lunch hour. 

West

Tomorrow evening in the Forbes State Forest is your chance to take part in a Woodcock Weekend. It's always fun to see the "dance of the timberdoodle" events return to the calendar. 

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 crop does not do justice to the beautiful shots of swans at Black Moshannon State Park by Rusty Glessner. Do click to its original.

Take five for trivia

How many words were you able to make from "quasquicentennial"? WITHOUT Googling it and including that list of over 1,000 words? If you're Irene, you got 132 and that's enough to make her the winner!

As part of our celebration of the 125th anniversary of state parks and forests, we've amassed 125 fun facts and those will be the source for our trivia questions for a little while. This one is tough but also really interesting. What is the only Pennsylvania state park to have a song named after it?

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.

A friend from Wisconsin shared this to her Facebook page this morning: "My adventuresome niece and her let's-make-this-happen husband ". Wow.

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.