2021 Parks and Forests Thru the Seasons Winners

Leave No Trace – The Basics

Sin Dejar Huellas – los esenciales

Volunteerism at Work

Stewardship Success

sean cornell geology day scaled e1613414967505

Educational Opportunities

Recreation Improvements

20200810 lackawanna state park paved trail

little buffalo ada dock static launch websize

Friends Groups in Action

Fan Fotos

Maureen Dwyer took this shot at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Now that's not technically a state park or forest, but who can resist such a good picture?

Washington Crossing Historic Park offers a variety of subjects for the plein air painter to enjoy (Photo by Charles Hutler)

If you want wide open skies, it's hard to top Samuel S. Lewis State Park. (Photo by Charles Hutler) Says Charles, "Imagine this: a couple goes here after work on a dark sky night. They hike a bit, then have a picnic dinner overlooking the view and maybe a lawn game after dinner. Then they can relax in lawn chairs they brought and enjoy good conversation while the sky darkens and the stars come out."

An informal catch and release study at Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center (Photo by Charles Hutler)

Codorus State Park's lovely lake is perfect for vessels large and vessels small. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

You can launch a pretty decent-sized sailboat at Codorus State Park, too. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

Families celebrating National Picnic Day (or just anything else) at Caledonia State Park. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

When cycling the long (25 miles) Lehigh Gorge Trail, it's wonderful to be able to just put your toes in the water. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

Benjamin Rush State Park offers a model airplane field for the hobbyist. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

Beltzville State Park manages the large US Army Corps of Engineers lake where boats of a larger HP can cruise about. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

A hot summer day at Beltzville State Park beach means toes in the sand and some family games. (Photo by Charles Hutler)

2020 Parks and Forests Thru the Seasons Winners

brucewalkovich.motion.princegallitzinsp scaled 1

best in show jean palmer gifford pinchot state park

JonSchwartz.DogsintheOutdoors.Susquehannock scaled 1

annetteoates.intergenerationalmoments.rbwinterstatepark scaled 1

XiaweiZhang.ParkandForestAdventures.MarshCreekSP scaled 1

markboyd.otherwildlifesightings.susquehannockSP scaled 1

trentstross.youngphotographers.parkerdam scaled 1

raymond.david .michaux.intergenerational first

vanhorn.beth .rb winter.intergenerational second

Heather Andrews, Ricketts Glen State Park

laird.larry .parksandforests adventures.first

philibotte.jason .lehigh gorge.adventures second

huggler.carrie.presque isle.other wildlife first

mirales.holly .kings gap.young photo second

2019 Parks & Forests Through the Seasons Winners

merediththomas.dogsintheoutdoors.giffordpinchot1

cgiamario.otherwildlifesettings.nockamixon1

sheliashuba.otherwildlifesightings.raccooncreek1

KaseyGilbert.Selfie.JacobsburgStatePark.jpg1

EricOakman.ParkandForestAdventures.ElkSF1

Diana L Sanner Park and Forest Adventures Laurel Hill State Park1

gloriabenfer.intergenerational.baldeaglesf1

lizmickley.intergenerational.greenwoodfurnace21

RamchandMynedi.Motion.MemorialLakeStatePark11

gwenknight.dogsintheoutdoors.marshcreek1

PhyllisTerchanikDogsInTheOutdoorsGallitzinStateForest edited 21

AnthonyHeath.Dogsintheoutdoors.warriorspath1

trentstross.youngphotographers.laurelridge1

aidankissner.youngphotographers.kingsgap41

Dakota Becker Imes.Youngphotographers.PoeValleySP1

JessicaLyter.Dogsintheoutdoors.poevalley1

State Forests

State Parks

Greenwood Furnace State Park Marci Mowery

Laurel Hill State Park Friends of Laurel Hill

Laurel Summit State Park Richard Zitrick

Leonard Harrison State Park Richard Zitrick

McConnells Mill State Park Charlene Reinhart

Memorial Lake State Park Richard Zitrick

A Full Passport

His September 2015 visit to Poe Valley completed the challenge for Ben Heyser.

Gloria Benfer finished up in July 2016. She had some adorable company along the way.

Charles Hutler (some of whose photos can be found in the Fan Fotos gallery of our website) wrapped up the challenge at Keystone State Park. Asked his favorite park, he diplomatically demurred in his answer! Eventually, he said, "Picking a favorite park is hard. One factor is proximity and what I like to do. So I’m going to say Promised Land. It’s setting is very pretty, and the lake is great for swimming, fishing and boating. In fact, if you look at the “Pennsylvania State Parks & Forest Recreational Guide & Highway Map” you’ll see something listed in every lodging and activity box . That’s impressive. Which one would I make a special trip to go back? Samuel S Lewis. I remember pulling into that park and being awed by the panoramic scenic view. I refer to it now as nature’s Imax theater. I’d go back on a dark sky night to have a daylight picnic dinner and then watch the view change into a star studded night sky."

Christian Alexandersen ran at least a mile in each of the 121 state parks. The most challenging was this mud run at Allegheny Islands State Park. Read more about that and his other adventures on our News page. Check "Guest Blogs" for the deets.

Susan Torrance reported visiting every state park and camping at everyone with a campground!

It may have taken nearly 10 years but Mike Lipay completed the challenge in April 2021. He says his favorite parks weren't necessarily the biggest or even closest to home. But there are definitely some he'll visit again - with kayak!

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic on September 19, 2020, Abram Shaffner completed his Passport with a visit to McConnells Mill. He and his boots took a well-deserved rest along Slippery Rock Creek.

Steve & Tanya Kohl completed their passport in 2019 with a visit to Jennings. They are hikers and wildflowers fans and live near Tuscarora State Park.

Connie & Matt Horne finished up in November 2017.

Jan & Alan Thoms' first park was Sinnemahoning in October 2012, right after they got married. Last park, Ryerson Station in June 2018.

Anti Graffiti Student Art

Pennsylvania Beauty

Richard Zitrick, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center

Varden Conservation Area Richard Zitrick

Banquet 2019

Graffiti Busters at Work

difficult to understand the motive e1478708538979

donations from ritters true value hardware e1478708418631

donatons from sherwin williams e1478708580525

graffiti busting takes a lot of tools and food

graffiti busters have all kinds of talent

shippensburg students and crew at hammonds rocks

2016 Parks & Forests Thru the Seasons Winners

H.BumperBauer.furfeathers.clearcreekspRaccoonReflections

LaurieSpade.FriendsAndFamilyFun.MarshCreek2

dallasrunser.furfeathersfins.elkcountryvisitorcenter

PhyllisTerchanik.furfeathersfinsandscales.princegallitzin

barbaralewis.furfeathers.promisedlandbeaverswim

dotmonahan.learnaboutourpasthistoriclandmarks.oilcreekstatepark

brandywhitenight.learnaboutourparkshistoriclandmarks.kinzua e1475077751304

Larry.Laird .HistoricalLandmarks.BuchannonBirthplace

MattStich myparks CaneoCreek with milkyway

CrystalHunt.MyParksandForests.PineGroveFurnace 1

williamkrouseii.myparksandforests.rickettsglen e1475082917675

DonnaSchneider.naturescolors.sinnemahoning1

brian.m.hare NaturesColors nofishingNockamixonSP 02

claytonwhitenight.youngphotographersages9 14.lehighgorgestatepark2 e1475082848530

loreleielliott.youngphotographers914.cowansgap.shellyhirez e1475082620343

garretttalkington.youngphotographers15 21.kinzuabridge e1473602453100

allysonkusko.youngphotographers1521.hickoryrun e1475082940248

makaylawhaling.youngphotographers15 21.sinnemahoningsp e1475082884662

XiaweiZhang.FurFeathersFinsScale.RickettsGlenSP2

CarolynAnderson NaturesColorsKeystone one vertical purple cloud