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704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644

Dear Pam:

Do you ever feel like time is spinning out of control? We certainly do. Looked at the calendar and thought, "It's October; we need to get a Tidbits out." Looked at the calendar AGAIN and it's MID-October. 

So this is a little late!

Yours in the Outdoors,

Marci

Marci J. Mowery, President

TRAINING 

We are working still on a potential customer service training and an in person "advanced" Leave No Trace as well as a new lead on first aid. Lots of ideas and balls in the air. You'll be the first to know!

In the meantime, the Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Committee (known fondly as CNRAC) has invited participation in "CNRAC Conversations: Economics & the Outdoors," a webinar series on economic development, tourism, and the relationship of those to the outdoors. The second one is particularly pertinent for all of us since it seeks input from stakeholders and users of public lands. 

Find out more about the session from the attached; then register through Webex.

DO

Many thanks to the chapter chairs who signed on to our letter of support for HB 1694 seeking to limit the liability that courts might impose on volunteer organizations such as yours. The bill is slated for a committee vote later this month. We will let you know when it is scheduled. It is not too late to add your chapter's voice to the chorus. 

Find the language of the bill at The bill can be found at: Bill Information - House Bill 1694; Regular Session 2021-2022 - PA General Assembly (state.pa.us).

Sign on the letter of support (read it here) at https://ppff.online/hb1694.

KNOW

As you know, PPFF supports Senate Bill 525 setting aside a portion of the American Rescue Plan funding for investment in projects in our state parks and forests. We are pleased to report that it passed out of committee last week and should be considered by the full Senate soon.

We are not letting up the pressure. On the heels of a very successful visit to Evansburg State Park (where hurricane devastation has only made deferred maintenance problems that much worse), additional  tours are scheduled for Yellow Creek on 10/22 and both Gouldsboro and Tuscarora (State Park) on 11/5. 

Friends of Yellow Creek and Tuscarora/Locust Lake, we sincerely hope you can join us! Having a show of support from interested stakeholders helps the legislators understand the system's needs - and I think you will find it enlightening as well. You begin to understand much more clearly how hard DCNR staff works to make everything run smoothly under challenging circumstances.

KNOW, TOO

Do your events include mountain biking? A bouncy castle? Believe it or not, these two wildly diverse activities are now causing insurance woes. Our general liability carrier has specifically excluded these two activities from the base policy. We have had success in getting other supplemental insurance for mountain biking (which, as you know, results in a surcharge for the premium to your chapter). But we do need to know well in advance of your plans so we can get to work locating the addendum. 

SHARE

The Friends of Prince Gallitzin recently shared some stats from their Crooked Run Campground geocaching trail (designed and placed by Lynn and Rosemary Haselhoff):

Two new geocaches have been added this year, McDermott Point, and Shoreline Restoration.

There have been 1025 cache visits so far this year.  A detailed count of the number of visits by cache is included.  I also calculate the days between cache visits by cache, and a total average for all caches.

So far this year the average time between 1 of the 25 caches in the program breaks down like this;

2 campground cache have been visited each day through September (.5 days between visits).

1+ caches outside the campground have been visited (.6 days between visits).

3 caches of the Total Park Geocaches have been visited each day (.3 days between visits).

Interested in placing a geocache trail in YOUR park or forest? With park manager/district forester permission, the Haselhoffs would be happy to help you join in the fun!

RESOURCE REMINDER:

The PPFF website is a great source of information and guidance with forms you can use and information you should know.

Bookmark Friends Resources for handy reference.

Please get in touch with any of us if you need help:

You receive this monthly email as a result of your position with a Chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation, our board, or interested DCNR staff. PLEASE do not unsubscribe from this email or you will miss important Chapter information. If you are no longer a member of the Chapter's board, please contact Marci or Pam to let us know. 

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