The budget drama goes on, doesn't it? Thanks to those of you who called your Senators and asked them to protect dedicated environmental funding. It's worked for now with the House's ill-advised raid having gone down to defeat. Let's do a budget without gimmicks!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator

News of note

Congratulations to all the winners of our 2017 Parks & Forests Through the Seasons photo contest, including Dog & Butterfly, the People's Choice winner for Best in Show by Phyllis Terchanik. It's a vertical so doesn't work as a masthead, more's the pity. Check out Phyllis's lovely young boxer and his winged friend along with all the other winners on our website. Just click the Gallery at the top of the homepage and you'll find the whole selection.

The masthead? Kristin Gearhart's darling pooch at Canoe Creek State Park. Fascinating to discover how many winners this year were done at Canoe Creek. I think we need a special prize!

Next Saturday is National Public Lands Day and you'll find lots of volunteer opportunities available then (and tomorrow - check out the calendar of events for a heads up), including our own Graffiti Busters' event at Buzzards Rocks in the Michaux State Forest.

And it is indeed That Time of Year - the first of DCNR's Fall Foliage Reports has been posted and is available! Ready, set, leaf peep!

At work and play in the parks and forests

Festivals in the Spotlight

Check out the McConnells Mill Heritage Festival tomorrow and Sunday.

North

Join the Friends of Lyman Run for a kayak tour of Lyman Lake on Sunday afternoon.

South

Tomorrow afternoon take a Hike Through History at Pine Grove Furnace with the Friends' own Andre Weltman.

East

Take a Kid Mountain Biking tomorrow morning at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. They'll learn a skill to last a lifetime.

West

Saturdays at Linn Run this weekend features Autumn Adaptations with a hike to beautiful Spruce Bog to watch the change of seasons on this unique landscape.

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

Yet another lovely Facebook grab; not sure that this small reproduction does justice to this shot from Weiser State Forest by Johnny Barnhart. Check out the original. 

Take five for trivia

Correct answer last week for how many eligible photos we had in the Nature's Colors category in this year's photo contest? 182. Nature's colors come in so many varieties - it's lovely to see how photographers interpret the idea!

Today's an important day on the calendar. What is it - and at what time?

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.

Photo by Ted Massa, entry in Nature's Colors photo contest 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 is a proud member of EarthShare and is a Gold GuideStar Participant.