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704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644
Dear {{Constituent First Name}}:
Thank you to all who helped to make the first I Love My State Parks week a success! It was fun to see the posts and reposts of things that took place during the week. Feel free to continue to use the #ILoveMyStateParks and #ILovePAParks on relevant social media posts. The more we show the love, the better we stand to effect changes for our parks and forests!
The event will return in 2023, kicking off again on Mother’s Day.
Yours in the Outdoors,
Marci J. Mowery, President
TRAINING
A reminder that a chat on member and volunteer recruitment is scheduled for June 8th. Again, this is not meant to be lengthy or burdensome but a chance for Friends to share ideas and have a catch-up as the Brits would say. You do many of the same things and face the same challenges; we know that you can help each other.
Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 885 2108 9465 Passcode: 866152
DO
Contact your elected officials and let them know how important investing in your park or forest is. Call them, stop by their office, invite them to your park or forest workday or send them a message via our website Take Action Center (https://paparksandforests.org/our-work/stewardship/be-a-voice/)
We have a ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity with the American Rescue Plan to have much needed funds invested in to park and forest maintenance. And who better to talk about the locations where you are based than YOU!
The majority of Pennsylvanians agree that these investments are a high priority. Check out the infographic related to our poll—feel free to share with your elected officials and on your social media channels.
DO TOO
DCNR is partnering with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and will utilize the online Trail Implementation and Management (TIM) tool for the collection of all trail gap data.
To assist with the submission of trail gaps, PEC is offering two webinars:
June 14th, 12:30-1:30 will cover the trail gap collection process and how to complete the intake form.
Follow the instructions then complete the “intake form” for each of your trail gaps along the section(s) of trail your organization manages.
Once the basic information is provided through the intake form, the information will be processed within 7 to 10 days and trail managers will be emailed with instructions on how to access the TIM.
Complete Trail Gap Profile within the TIM.
Generally, we are seeking gap data for trails (non-motorized or motorized) that meet the following criteria:
Trails that are a majority off-road or are planned to have a majority off-road alignment
Trails that are planned to be at least 5 miles long
Trails that connect multiple municipalities and/or counties
Trails that are formally recognized in an official planning document
Currently, the data collection effort is expected to continue through September 30, 2022. If you have questions about the process, please contact Chris Corbran, PEC Program Coordinator at TIMTool@pecpa.org.
KNOW
You may have already "met" Brian Swift, our new Public Engagement Coordinator. Also on board is Jason Lenker, a sustainability major from Shippensburg, who will be out and about with us at events and working on projects.
Make sure that you have bswift@paparksandforests.org set to be received by your email provider so that you don’t miss his monthly ideas for social media. If you are not receiving—or you would like someone else in the group to receive it—shoot him an email.
KNOW TOO
July 16-24 is Latino Conservation Week! We are working with several parks and the William Penn Forest District to host events during this week to encourage and welcome the Latino community to state parks and forests. Let us know if you plan to do anything and we will add it to the master calendar of events. It could be as simple as establishing a bilingual storybook trail or more involved like a bilingual hike or paddle!
SHARE
It's worth repeating that the American Rescue Plan offers an historic opportunity to direct much needed funding to our state parks and forests and other outdoor amenities. Here's another infographic you might share on social media with the suggestion to your followers to weigh in on through our Take Action Center. A shortened URL is https://ppff.online/take-action.
RESOURCE REMINDER:
The PPFF website is a great source of information and guidance with forms you can use and information you should know.
You receive this monthly email as a result of your position with a Chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, our board, or interested DCNR staff. PLEASE do not unsubscribe from this email or you will miss important Chapter information. If you are no longer a member of the Chapter's board, please contact Marci or Pam to let us know.
