Salute to the Winners – The 2024 Program

Honors an outstanding contribution to the protection and enhancement of Pennsylvania’s park and forest system

Awarded to The Pennsylvania Forestry Association
Sponsored by Domtar

As the oldest state organization in the US dedicated to forest ecology, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (“PFA”) has an unmatched commitment to stewardship, education, and sustainability. After all, its first president was the Father of Pennsylvania Forestry himself!

Since 1866, PFA has brought together forest landowners, forest industries, resource professionals, loggers, private citizens, environmental and conservation groups, and businesses who care about Pennsylvania’s forest resources.

Continuing from Joseph Rothrock’s leadership to the present day, the PFA understands that the health of Penn’s Woods is intrinsically tied to the health of all its citizens.

PFA weighs in on policy and legislation, manages the Champion Tree Program, hosts educational workshops and seminars, produces education books and materials, maintains the Pennsylvania Tree Farm program and produces a quarterly magazine.

On the first Sunday in October 2016, the PFA joined with Penn State to promote A Walk in Penn’s Woods combining the beauty of the forest in autumn with their mission to raise awareness of and appreciation for the forested lands that provide recreational opportunities, vital wildlife and bird habitat, and outstanding economic value to the Commonwealth and her citizens.

2023 saw restoration and rededication of the iconic Dodge M37 fire-fighting vehicle located outside the Forest Heritage and Discovery Center at Caledonia State Park

Working with both public forest stewards and the even larger cohort of private forest landowners, the PFA continues to educate and engage people in the enjoyment and conservation of Pennsylvania’s 17 million acres of forest.

Given to a person or department at any level of government; recognizes their work in the stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests

Awarded to Wayne Kober
Sponsored by KCI Technologies

Wayne was a young sophomore studying forestry at Penn State McKeesport on the very first Earth Day in 1970. Inspired by the events he witnessed that day and driven by memories of childhood days spent at Pymatuning Lake, he knew there was an opportunity to truly make a difference by switching his major later that year to a fledgling discipline called “Environmental Resource Management.” ERM was designed to train the professionals with both scientific and leadership skills necessary to overcome the environmental challenges embodied by Earth Day. 

Well versed in that philosophy, a long career at the Department of Transportation followed Wayne’s graduation where the need to marry ever-growing transportation needs to a commitment to environmental stewardship was his guiding principle. He learned from best throughout his career from Maurice Goddard to Franklin Kury, Wayne listened, learned, and put their wisdom into practice. 

Ten years more as a private consultant in the field was matched with a stint as President of the PA Association of Environmental Professionals. Eventually, his leadership in the PA Conservation Heritage Project – formed to answer the important question “Where will we find our future conservation leaders?” – means a continued ability to educate the public on conservation. We salute his role in creation of the Forest Heritage Museum at Caledonia State Park and designation of the James C. Nelson Wild Area (and work-in-progress Nelson Trail) at Tuscarora State Forest.

Wayne has made a life of nominating and recognizing other people’s contributions to conservation. We are pleased to be able to recognize Wayne for his many decades of leadership.

Recognizes outstanding citizens or businesses who made a special impact through innovation and creativity

Awarded to Barbara Barksdale
Sponsored by REI

Barbara at the grave of Samuel Coles, Civil War private (Photo by Don Giles, PA Historic & Museum Commission)

How often does an individual’s desire to protect something of her family’s past turn into a larger movement? Such is the case with award winner Barbara Barksdale. We encourage everyone to read the blog post authored by PPFF’s Conservation Heritage intern, Martha Moon, on our News page for the full story. Here, suffice to say that Barbara’s passion for preserving the memory of her ancestors at Harrisburg’s Midland Cemetery has turned her into renowned leader in the historic preservation of cemeteries where Black Americans are interred across Pennsylvania.

The cemetery, already experiencing the effects of overgrowth and neglect, fell into disrepair until the early 1990s when Barbara and her young son first visited. By that time, Midland Cemetery was heavily wooded with overgrowth and many gravestones had shifted, were broken, or buried. Barbara founded the Friends of Midland in 1993 and has been ensuring its restoration and continued preservation since then. She celebrated its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in March 2023.

As Martha writes, “Historic preservation of sites such as the Midland Cemetery goes hand in hand with Pennsylvania’s conservation of land resources and the state’s rich cultural past tied to land utilization. Barbara’s work has been a template for national and international initiatives in historic cemetery preservation. She is a proponent of thorough and detailed documentation of such sites as to not be lost through human intervention or environmental factors, the legacy of the land is preserved. Not only should we value our natural resources and the land they lay on for what they are now, but their historical value too.”

Volunteers of all ages help with the restoration; local students take advantage of the opportunity to view history

Recognizes outstanding citizens or businesses who made an impact in protecting open space, conservation, outdoor recreation, or volunteerism

Awarded to Purple Lizard Maps
Sponsored by Stahl-Sheaffer Engineering

Outdoor enthusiasts across Pennsylvania (Virginia and West Virginia, too) know that if they need a reliable resource for locating the perfect trail all they have to do is follow the purple lizard. Boasting a comprehensive set of beautifully designed and executed all-weather maps and a companion digital app for use on the go, Purple Lizard products are fun to use and highly detailed.

If you’re going to make a great map, you have to get Out There and See Things in person

Because the Lizards are also users of the places and activities featured in their maps, they also offer an engaging social media presence and a bit of expertise and a sense of shared secrets alongside the great tool. And, as a long-time supporter of 1% for the Planet, there’s a demonstrated commitment to sustainability.

Their latest offering, the PA Statewide Outdoor Recreation Map, goes  well beyond life as a simple trail map but instead helps people plan outdoor adventures of all kinds.

Mike and Justine don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk as outdoor enthusiasts. During Covid, Mike was one of the first to agree to do a Lunch Learn on the process of map making, and when PPFF partnered with the Susquehanna River Trail Association to make a new river map, Mike introduced us to a vendor to help us complete the map.

All of which make PLM a great partner for recreation and conservation.

Recognizes a park for exemplary or innovative work in customer service; education, programming, or recreation; stewardship of the natural, cultural, or historic assets; and/or accommodation of needs of visitors

Awarded to Neshaminy State Park
Sponsored by Kate Harper, Esquire

Neshaminy is very popular with the residents of southeast Pennsylvania, resulting in a rich diversity of park users and always a lot going on!

The sun shines and swimmers come out in force

High attendance means capacity is reached multiple times each summer. Aging infrastructure, including a popular but problematic swimming pool, causes extra work. The maintenance crew works to stay ahead of fussy equipment and clean up; rangers are on their toes with traffic and crowd control; support staff works to keep smiles on visitor faces even when closures are required.

Smiling faces are stock in trade at Neshaminy in the pool and at the playground

Just dealing with all the normal operational issues of Neshaminy, especially when it reaches capacity, would be one achievement, but to do it with a constant rotation of Ranger staff makes the challenge even more impressive.

In spite of these significant challenges, this small number of hands consistently creates a welcoming and safe atmosphere for these many visitors, drawing people back time and again.

Recognizes a forest district for their innovative and exemplary work in both forest management and in providing opportunities for healthful, low-density recreation compatible with the integrity of forest ecosystems; customer service; and the effective use of volunteers

Awarded to William Penn State Forest
Sponsored by Inspired by Nature Woodworking

Goat Hill Serpentine Barrens

Pennsylvania’s most urban forest district is home to strikingly diverse habitats. Goat Hill Wild Plant Sanctuary is the most ecologically significant tract within the entire State Forest system with two globally rare plants, 19 state-listed plants, two PA Endangered reptiles, and 14 state-listed insect species. For the last decade, staff from the William Penn State Forest District have committed to enhancing the Serpentine Barrens and being true stewards of this unique site.  District staff have worked closely with the Friends of the Stateline Barrens, botanists, ecologists, historians, local stakeholders, geologists, and wildlife biologists to fully understand how best to manage the tract and carefully plan potential management actions from prescribed burns to hand-pulled and -cut invasive vegetation.

A well-received “Serpentine Barrens Symposium” brought stakeholders from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even New York City together to discuss serpentine management. The district and the Bureau of Forestry is now seen amongst the leaders of serpentine restoration in the state and the Eastern US – helping to support and educate owners and stewards of other serpentine sites.

If this parcel were the Forest’s only priority, the specialized skills needed would be task enough. But staff also stewards Little Tinicum Island in the Delaware, cares for several undeveloped forested parcels such as Gibraltar Hill, and works constantly to connect the culturally diverse citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania to their neighborhood public lands.

Gibraltar Hill Trail. Photo by J s1vxk9d. Alltrails.com.

Recognizes outstanding volunteer efforts for a special project for a state park or forest

Individual: Awarded to Margarita Caicedo
Sponsored by The Organic Snack Company/Kate’s Real Food

PPFF’s first Latina ambassador has worked tirelessly since coming on board to connect the Spanish-speaking community to Pennsylvania’s public lands. Margarita volunteers monthly on Spanish language radio programs focused on the outdoors, has spoken through webinars and media appearances on the important connections between the outdoors and health, and rarely turns down a request to attend an outdoor event to share her personal story of learning the value of being outdoors to her own life. She forges connections through the truth of her own experiences and the force of her own personality.

Margarita has also appeared in two PPFF videos, one on the connection between time spent outdoors and health and, in her capacity as a trained Leave No Trace presenter, as a Leave No Trace speaker in our upcoming video on these important principles.

Margarita’s passion for the outdoors and the benefits outdoor recreation provides is contagious.

Margarita at Marsh Creek for one of the many park programs she has attended

Awarded to Lackawanna State Park Trail Care Crew
Co-Sponsored by Art Communication Systems / Mountain Graphics

As the name implies, the LSPTCC is all about the trail system at Lackawanna. The 26 miles of existing trail (and adjoining lands of the Countryside Conservancy) are improved and restored through their efforts with comprehensive long-term plans for expanding the system. The Crew have purchased mowers, blowers, saws, and other tools and are experts in the trail construction arena. Heavy rains in December tried to wash out a bridge restored only hours before. It held then and remains in place even following this spring’s additional heavy rains.

Lackawanna State Park sees an average of 367,000 visitors a year so the benefits of this well-cared-for network of trails are far-reaching. Their work doesn’t stop with trails—they have also been known to tackle invasive species.

The crew seems to have an uncanny ability to attract volunteers of all ages, which bodes well for the trail system’s continued success.

The Trail Crew also forges partnerships to advance their mission, such as a recent beer with Last Minute Brewing, Right on Shredule IPA, to support their work.

The Kennedy Creek bridge in April 2024 following heavy rains

Recognizes the planning and initiation of an outstanding program or ongoing event in a state park or forest

Individual: Awarded to Mike Teeter
Sponsored by Lawrence Walsh / The Parker House of Confluence

Is there a big event coming up? A chance to reach hundreds, if not thousands, of outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, beer lovers? If so, Mike (and his family) hop in the car, take PPFF materials and the Big Prize Wheel, and devote all needed hours to sharing his untiring enthusiasm for Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. He sits in the hot sun, huddles under the tent in steady rain, and always offers a welcome to all who happen by.

In addition to sharing his passion about the outdoors with adults, Mike is keen on introducing children to the outdoors, with a goal of creating life-long outdoor enthusiasts. Mike also educates on Leave No Trace Principles, advancing both DCNR and PPFFs mission to educate on stewardship of the resource.

Mike serves as a volunteer in his nearby state park and serves on the PPFF Development Committee, which meets monthly. In this capacity he is spearheading opportunities to build partnerships with PA businesses (he would love to see a PPFF branded coffee). In his role as committee member, he also helps thank PPFF donors by telephone and is ever looking to share stories of how to create a well-lived life outdoors.

Mike is a true ambassador of Pennsylvania’s outdoors and a champion for an engaged citizenry.

Mike and his prize wheel – Shikellamy State Park

Group: Awarded to French & Indian War Encampment Officers’ Corps
Sponsored by Seneca Resources

2024 marks the 20th year of the Cook Forest French & Indian War Encampment, arguably the finest living history event in the PA State Park system, and the Officers’ Corps is the event’s key coordinating group. The event resembles a military operation drawing 200-300 high quality re-enactors portraying French, British, Colonial, and Woodland Indians. Cumulatively they often surpass 4,800 volunteer hours in creating outdoor connections to the park’s historical and cultural resources drawing the public into an often-overlooked part of history that played a large role in forming the United States.

For many of the re-enactors, the Encampment is a family event and they take pride in the ability to share a glimpse into family life in the 1700s quite beyond the more photo-thrilling musket fire scenes of the weekend. Most live hours away, but like the 6,000 to 8,000 visitors who attend annually, they wouldn’t miss it.

Area businesses also see the event’s value to the community and consistently donate to offset the costs of hosting an event of this magnitude. To date, move than $37,000 has been raised through the French and Indian War Encampment fund held by PPFF.

An event such as the encampment is a tremendous commitment of time—and we thank Officer’s Corps for their dedication to the event and their partnership with the park.

The families of the colony. Photo by G. Wiant.

One of the otherworldly scenes that bring people back every year to the encampment

Recognizes an effort which has resulted in the physical improvement of facilities

Individual: Awarded to Gary Kirk
Sponsored by The Asimos Family

For many years while the state budget was limited for maintenance staff at the White Clay Creek Preserve, Gary was the primary caretaker of the Preserve itself. He has spent countless hours clearing downed trees, maintaining sapling fields, creating signage, mowing trails, clearing drainage paths, leveling trails, and building trail bridges. He inspires others to join him in maintaining the trails, enforcing team safety protocols, and rewarding hard work with an annual pizza party at his home.

PPFF had the opportunity to join Gary on a Field Day to prepare for the placement off a very large bridge. Gary coordinated the multi-day event with the park, the regional engineers, the contractor, and the local municipalities to accommodate the large shipment. The efforts paid off when a much-loved trail was reopened to the public.

As his nominator explained, “Gary loves the Preserve, but he also loves his community and Swamper team. His community spirit, dedication, and character are superlative, and the Preserve would suffer without his leadership and sweat equity.”

We would be remiss if we didn’t note that Gary is known for his trail work in other areas, as well. When we contacted his state elected official in Delaware, they were aware and celebrated his dedication to outdoor recreation.

Taking a break from the chainsaw

Group: Awarded to Friends of Michaux
Sponsored by an Anonymous Benefactor (thank you)

Hiking, mountain biking, climbing paddling, horses, ATVs—all modes of recreation can be enjoyed in the Michaux State Forest, and the Friends boast an equally impressive array of partnerships and volunteerism opportunities directed to each of these opportunities including an individually-focused trail stewardship program, regular workdays, and many events to help people connect to the forest through recreation. Their trailer full of tools can be seen with everyone from the South-Central PA Climbers to the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bikers Association always looking to ensure a place for every volunteer and trail user in the Michaux.

Members of the Friends are also trained on Leave No Trace principles and can frequently be found presenting LNT programming for school groups to better help them understand these principles.

The Friends just celebrated their five-year anniversary with a celebration of accomplishments and fundraising dinner.

Tabling with the trailer

Recognizes a significant contribution to a park or forest by a person under the age of 25 through volunteer hours, a significant project, an innovative idea, or more

Awarded to Hung Pham
Sponsored by Color & Culture

A junior at Susquehanna Township High School, Hung is a founding member of the Hiking and the Environment club started in Spring 2022. Hung created flyers and videos for the school newscast to advertise the new club and helped develop a list of local and state park, forest and conservation areas where the group could hike. His efforts grew the club from a few walkers every Monday to two vans of students visiting state parks and forests, including a 2023 trip to Ricketts Glen State Park.

While most students in the club had never been in the woods before, Hung convinced the club advisor, who is here with him and his family today, to take the class camping.  They just returned from a group camping trip to Worlds End State Park, where they not only hiked, but had a program by the State Game Commission.

Hung has also been instrumental in getting a marker and pen recycling program started at the school. He is currently looking into a messaging campaign to reduce the use of disposable water bottles at school along with a recycling program.

The first step in creating environmentally conscious citizens who want to protect state parks and resources is to get them outside in those parks. Hung has taken that first step by encouraging his fellow schoolmates to enjoy hiking and learning about PA’s natural resources.

A first visit to Ricketts Glen State Park