A Porch with a View – Canoe Creek State Park
Photo by JoAnn Murphy Brown
As noted in the transmitter email, sometimes the challenges of wrestling a dragon don’t really provide much of a return on investment of time. So we move on.
But Memorial Day Weekend has arrived and all my talk of “challenging” pales in comparison to the those faced by the fallen veterans who are meant to be honored by the holiday. Take a moment to say a quiet “thank you” as you enjoy the beauty of the natural world this weekend. If you happen to be near Prince Gallitzin State Park tomorrow morning, the Friends are happy to note that their annual Memorial Day salute to veterans is back ON this year albeit at the beach instead of the campground amphitheater in deference to physical distancing. Bring your own chair – and a handkerchief.
We certainly hope that you have the chance to spend some of your time this summer in a setting as lovely as on our masthead – a cabin at Canoe Creek State Park where photographer JoAnn Murphy Brown and family spent some time recently. The photo (which makes a wonderful jigsaw puzzle) comes from a Book of Faces group called simply Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests. It’s a public group filled with lots of nice photos. I have definitely raided it liberally this week, going back through some “archival” images as well to the beginning of the month.
Pam Metzger, Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
NEWS OF NOTE
With Memorial Day, Parks and Forests Week draws to a close but with any luck you’ve been able to get out and enjoy some of them. Our social media has been encouraging fans of the PF to become members of PPFF this week. Another suggestion we’ve made is that you take the opportunity as you are out and about to print and drop off the pre-addressed thank you cards we put in the blog. Find your favorite place and print out either a two-sided card or even just the one side with the park or forest’s address and pop on a stamp. We also included the full page thank you image you could drop off in the office on your next visit.
No one ever tires of hearing a grateful or kind word!
Another new blog post in our “Guest Blogger” series comes from Joe Baker and Kate Peresolak on the demonstrable historical relationship between the trees used in construction and the time period in which the construction took place. “Dendrochronology” is your word for the week!
We are sure you recall the camping enhancements fundraising campaign, designed to raise money for very specific purposes (or, yes, general contributions) for improvements in park and forests campgrounds. One of the first items to sell out were 30-amp breakers and here is a stalwart member of the Prince Gallitzin State Park maintenance crew, Matt Holland, installing one of them. Thank you for making a difference in our campgrounds! Watch for more improvements in the months ahead.
The forecast for this first unofficial weekend of summer is pretty wet, so the wildfire danger will be low undoubtedly. Nevertheless, as you are enjoying your s’mores please be campfire savvy. Here are our brand new infographics as reminders. Our thanks to The Latino Connection for translation services.
PICTURES OF THE WEEK
Give a click to the photo to go to its original, larger format.
If you, like I, start to itch and ooze just by looking at these in the wild (it almost works with the photos), this is a handy resource to keep on your phone. Ignorance, in this case, is NOT bliss.
Small and isolated Prouty Place State Park gets the green and glowing treatment in this photo by Matt Yingling. Matt shared a whole raft of gorgeous photos to the Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests page but because Prouty Place is SO hard to get to it doesn’t often get much respect. It’s nice to give its trees a nod and Matt captures a bit more than that so do give a click through. You might be tempted to take a detour when next you are in the Wilds.
One click to the right from this view out from the Coffin Rock Tower at Sproul State Forest is a panoramic video from the fire tower as well. Thanks to photographer Bill Hamilton for making that climb and taking that picture. There’s a Bureau of Forestry truck in his first photo so I think he’s allowed up there. I’m never going up there. You?
Marsh Creek always seems to be reflected in a dramatic sky photo. This one from Amy Leigh is no exception – but with the added unusual feature of sailboats.
The enchantingly named Bol Weevil seems to haunt Michaux State Forest (and if you are a fisherperson you will especially enjoy his posts). I just seem to be in a “dramatic skies” kind of mood and this one qualifies.
For May, we asked:
And our winning photo is this quintessential Pennsylvania scene at Promised Land State Park captured by Terry Harrison. Congratulations, Terry!
Look for the June promo next week – a call to look in your rear view mirrow. At least figuratively.
WHERE ARE WE THIS WEEK?
TAKE FIVE FOR TRIVIA
The birders united to note that Presque Isle State Park is located along the very important Atlantic Flyway – I-95 for migratory birds. For more information on good times to take advantage of the traffic, visit the Tom Ridge Environmental Center’s website.
So what IS dendrochronology? (Come on! You KNEW that was coming, right?)
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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Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644
