Our Work
Since 1999, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation has acted as the official non-profit partner of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. Building a volunteer base, funding innovative programs in education and recreation, working with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and speaking out (and helping you speak out) in support of our public lands takes many forms and lots of hours and enthusiasm. We have them. Please join us!
Join UsStewardship
Our parks and forests are the property of all residents of the Commonwealth, yet years of under-investing by the general assembly and increased use has left our parks with unmet needs. In partnership with parks and forests staff, we work to provide resources, both human and capital, to ensure the natural, cultural, and aesthetic values of our lands remain for today and future generations.
Learn MoreEducation
PPFF is committed to helping visitors and decision-makers better understand our natural world and the needs of our parks and forests, as well as the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits of spending time outdoors. Our parks and forests are economic engines that support a thriving recreation industry that employs thousands of Pennsylvanians. And educating young conservation leaders, junior scientists, and budding entrepreneurs will keep the state green and growing for generations to come.
Learn MoreRecreation
We have long said that our goal is to ensure a place and an experience for everyone in the outdoors. And so we work to remove real and perceived barriers to your getting out, such our work to place ADA canoe and kayak launches; apply universal design principles to the places we all go for fun and relaxation; to inform and build confidence for outdoor enthusiasts; and improve communication.
Learn MoreVolunteerism
Volunteerism is the heart of our work. Each year, friends and volunteers donate over 75,000 volunteer hours to improve YOUR state parks and forests. We work to make volunteerism easy for individuals as well as corporations, and serve as an umbrella to more than 46 friends groups. From volunteer training to organized events, we are a one stop shop for volunteerism.
Learn MoreSupport Our Work
Stewardship. Education. Recreation. Volunteerism. Does one area resonate with you more than all the others? Your financial support of the Foundation directed to that special mission will help make great things happen.
Donate NowLearn More
About Us
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. With PPFF, citizens can donate or bequeath money to state parks and forests, become active and involved volunteers in the park and forest system, and find some fun and educational opportunities. We’re the official nonprofit partner of your state parks and forests. Be a part of the movement!
Friends Groups
Your special affinity for a specific park or forest means that a PPFF chapter friends group is the perfect outlet for your creative energy. Friends are people like you who volunteer their time, services and support to our state parks and forests. Chapters form for a variety of reasons but all understand the value of their state park or forest and share a common goal to make that park or forest the best in the commonwealth.
Protect Our Parks and Forests
A billion dollar need for our state parks and forests. With the support of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, that was the conclusion of The Legacy of Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Forests: The Future Is In Our Hands. Read the report and find out more at ProtectOurParksandForests.org. For our health, our economy, and our future.