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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests
No Time for Boats - Black Moshannon State Park
Photo by Karl Florentine
It was a generally quiet week in Confluence, with gray skies and the leaves swiftly losing their connection to their branches. Change is coming. 

Karl and family took a camping weekend visit at Black Mo, thoroughly enjoying peak colors. The sky may have been gray but the leaves did not disappoint!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
 

News of Note

The good folks at Hickory Run State Park now have a new office and visitors center with what look like some terrific exhibits on the formation of the Boulder Field and Lehigh Gorge. And, boy, do I want to go sit by that fireplace shown off to the right in this photo! (Give the photo a click to see a close up of the fireplace itself as well as the rest of the photos in the group.)

Our newsletter should be hitting mailboxes in the next several days and is posted to our website as well. But thanks to our good friend Fundraiser Chad we were able to have it converted to a booklet format to view online. It's pretty snazzy! Grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, and give it a look.

Another new accessible fishing pier graces the waters of Lake Wilhelm at M.K. Goddard State Park's Launch 4. Park Manager Mark reports that while there are a few tweaks needed, it's already being used. On gorgeous days like the one pictured it's not hard to understand why! Thank you to the Friends of Fish Foundation for helping us continue our commitment to "Ensuring An Experience for Everyone in Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests!"

A fun opportunity came in to the office last week. The City of Harrisburg is sponsoring a reverse Holiday parade on City Island on Saturday, November 22. Paradegoers will drive by stationary "floats." And we'll be among the floats! It's going to be fun - with the parade theme being winter and holidays, we (without giving too much away) envision encouraging everyone to remember that the parks and forests are open year 'round for fun. If you are a Harrisburg area reader, the "parade" runs from 10:00 until 12:30 on the 22nd, with the last car permitted in line at noon. And if you're a creative type and would like to help with float prep, please let me know. 


It's nearly ExtraGive time again!
(November 20)


No hikes or milkshakes with Marci this year in deference to gathering restrictions but we still have some fun up our sleeves. Stay tuned to find out more!

Pictures of the Week

Beth Van Horn paid a last visit of the season to the PA Wilds and posted several galleries of her visits to the Exploring PA Parks and Forests Book of Faces, including this one at Kettle Creek State Park. 
It was a week for "last visits," it appears. Doug Clifford says this is probably his last Milky Way photo shoot of the season. Glad he could make it a good one! Bucktail Overlook in the Elk State Forest
Lori Gray-Vieth captured some lovely Laurel Highlands photos last weekend but this one tickled my fancy. It's always appropriate to take time to stop and smell the maples, isn't it? (Give it a click and scroll through the other delights.)
This dreamy view of a milkweed from Dan Sparks-Jackson (along with an informative piece on the plant) comes to us from the Friends of White Clay Creek. It's our jigsaw this week
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant the extension of the deadline to choose a recipient of workplace giving contributions for state employees. 

At Work and Play in the Parks and Forests

REGION PLACE DATE TIME EVENT
North Black Moshannon State Park 10/25/2020 10:00 AM Star Mill Trail Hike
South Pine Grove Furnace State Park 10/25/2020 8:30 AM PIney Mountain Day Pack Hike (Difficult)
East Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center 10/24/2020 9:00 AM Dia de los Muertes
West Laurel Hill State Park 10/24/2020 11:00 AM CCC Camp Tour

Slowing Down 


Looking ahead through the calendar you'll find empty spaces in the next few months as the seasonal educators transition into their off time. The next potential big event will be First Day Hikes. We'll talk more about them as time goes on and we have some clarity on crowd control in an age of COVID.

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 pedal).

Take Five for Trivia

Correct, dear readers! The cardinal dad in our Best in Show photo is the norm for his species. DCNR's counterparts out west, Texas Parks & Wildlife, shared this very cool video last Father's Day demonstrating their devotion to the nestlings. 

Hickory Run State Park is, of course, famous for its Boulder Field. The park's human history is also quite astonishing apart from this intriguing feature. Name just one famous face who passed through during the ineviteable march of time.

Send your answer to me and I'll enter you into the month's random drawing for a goodie from the prize closet if you answer correctly. Enter each week for more chances to win.

Where Are We?

Places boxed in red are from photos and calendar listings. Click it to see it bigger.

In Closing

Tomorrow (the fourth Saturday in October) is National Make a Difference Day when neighbors are meant to spend a little time helping neighbors.

All that is a bit more difficult but no less important in a time of pandemic. 

We can never forget that a difference can be made with the slightest kindness. And sometimes even Superman can use an umbrella. 
 
Photo from the 2018 Highmark Walk in Harrisburg where it, uh, rained a bit. 
SUPPORT PPFF
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.
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Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644

   
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