Just Waiting to Sail – M.K. Goddard State Park
Photo by Vicki Sholley
My goodness, what a beautiful week we had for celebrating our Environmental Rights. It felt like nothing but “clean air, pure water, and natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values” anywhere you turned. So now cast your memory back a couple of years to our celebration of the 125th anniversary of our state parks and forests and the declaration of the last full week of May as Parks & Forests Week. Well, here we are again. The last full week of May is upon us!
We hope you will spend at least part of your time in a state park or forest this week (and share your adventures on Instagram or other social media. #PAParksandForestsWeek).
Today is also Bike to Work Day which is fun given that so many of us are still working from home. So perhaps, like me, it will become Bike AWAY FROM Work at some point on a gorgeous afternoon. No harm in pedaling outside the box.
The masthead is from Vicki Sholley and her visit to the John C. Oliver Multipurpose Trail at M.K. Goddard State Park. Love to see the boats in the water – meaning warm weather is certainly upon us.
Pam Metzger, Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
NEWS OF NOTE
History is on our minds a good bit right now – this is the year to not only enjoy the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Rights Amendment but the 100th anniversary of Presque Isle State Park. So when you see Presque Isle 100 written here and there, know that it is NOT a new auto race! Visit the Tom Ridge Center sometime this summer and view the special exhibit now through August 23.
Speaking of the PAEnviroRights50 celebration, were you able to tune into the program (sponsored by PPFF, WITF, and StateImpact Pennsylvania) on Tuesday evening? If not, you can view the panel discussion that followed viewing of portions of the videos, Generations Yet to Come: Environmental Rights in PA and Straight Talk: The Ralph Abele Story, both available in full from the Pennsylvania’s Conservation Heritage website.
The new Friends of R.B. Winter host their first volunteer day this Saturday at 9:00 AM. Meet at Pavilion #2 for assignments and make the acquaintance of your fellow Winterfans.
A hearty “welcome aboard” goes out to our first summer intern post-pandemic! Angelica Brill, “a rising senior at Penn State University with a double major in Community, Environment, and Development as well as Spanish. I am excited to intern with PPFF for the summer, as it will provide me with new experiences and insights in the behind-the-scenes of the Parks and Forests world!” We are equally excited to have you with us, Angelica.
You know, of course of the Pennsylvania State Parks & State Forests Passport and the challenge it offers to “See Them All.” There are a lot of copies floating around out there and a lot of people who are taking the challenge quite seriously. Reader Charles Hutler is halfway there, boosted by a six-park weekend in the Philadelphia area last week. “French Creek, Marsh Creek, Ridley Creek, Norristown Farm, Evansburg, and Fort Washington. I personally like parks with swimming lakes. None of these six had swimming lakes [but] Marsh Creek has something unique – sailboat rentals. That’s a nice plus.” Doc Goddard agreed with Charles; he believed that water makes a park!
PICTURES OF THE WEEK
Give a click to the photo to go to its original, larger format.
Mason Wheeler’s May 17th post to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail page included several wonderful views big and small. This one seems to cry out for a caption, doesn’t it?
Another very focused photo comes from Slow Hiker Racheal Rock. As a reminder, the Slow Hikers Facebook group is a private one so I can’t link you either to her post or to the other photos she shared from Cowans Gap State Park. A click can give you a slightly larger view though.
I enjoy sharing this view by David Rock (no relation to Racheal above, I think) of the ruins of Kinzua Bridge from down at tornado level. I wonder if it wouldn’t make an interesting jigsaw.
The folks at Clear Creek State Forest shared this this look at the Clarion River, a little up due to lots of “precipitation.” Uh, yes. Snow on the ground until last Sunday! Caddis hatch in evidence as well, say the foresters.
WHERE ARE WE THIS WEEK?
TAKE FIVE FOR TRIVIA
I took a bike ride Wednesday afternoon to try and clear my head and get energized to tackle the suggested replacement template for this blog post. It didn’t work – I only realized how out of shape I had gotten over the winter and wanted to nap when I got home. The good news is that I had pedals on my bike, unlike the walking contraption that was the first bicycle. 1853 was the year for that most welcome improvement.
Presque Isle State Park is, among other things, a popular birding destination. Along what flyway is it located?
Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I’ll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.
IN CLOSING
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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