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704 Lisburn Road | Suite 102 | Camp Hill, PA 17011 | 717.236.7644
Dear Pam:
Things are picking up across the state as we move from the opening of trout to the official start of summer with Memorial Day. We see from your minutes (and if we are not getting your minutes, please do add Pam - pmetzger@paparksandforests.org and me - mmowery-ppff@pa.net to your distribution list) that things are picking up with friends groups—volunteer days, events, and more.
Did you know that last year Friends and PPFF donated nearly 42,000 volunteer hours? That's over 651,000 hours since we started keeping track in 2007.
So thank you for all that you do! Our parks and forests benefit from your efforts.
Yours in the Outdoors,
Marci J. Mowery, President
TRAINING
Thanks to Donald Lehigh from the Friends of Michaux for a lead on a wilderness first aid course at East Berlin Community Center.
The course is $140 and runs on June 25th and 26th. CPR/AED certification IS required. If you have completed the course as suggested in previous Monthlies, this is a great opportunity to take the next step training.
At the very least, it's given us a look at a potential partner for training.
TRAINING TOO
Your annual reports revealed that COVID-19 was, of course, the biggest challenge you all faced in 2021. As this has eased somewhat we fully expect that the biggest challenge will once again become member and volunteer recruitment. Because our Zoom gatherings are well-attended (thank you all), we thought it might be interesting to reinstate the old Chapter Chats but as video calls instead of the cumbersome and frustrating telephone conferences.
Let's start on June 8th with a video chat about recruitment. And then gather every other month on the second Wednesday to share ideas and concerns. It needn't be burdensome; just a chance for Friends to share ideas. You are do many of the same things and face the same challenges; we know that you can help each other.
Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 885 2108 9465 Passcode: 866152
DO
The first ever #ILoveMyStatePark week kicks off on Mother’s Day, wrapping up on May 15th. Have existing events during this time period? Consider calling them #ILoveMyStatePark events! Posting images from your work or events during that time? Use the hashtag and also add #ILovePaParks
Let’s show decision makers how much parks are loved! (forests too!)
Check the Friends Resources page of the website (under the Love My Parks Week accordion for daily posts).
KNOW
Regulations regarding hayrides are changing, as recently announced in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Starting in 2023, "prior to operating a hayride, the owner of a hayride attraction shall obtain Department of Agriculture approval of the wagon/trailer and tow vehicle by verifying compliance with the design, operation, maintenance, inspection and testing standards in accordance with Practice F3168-19 or any successor standard and the Department's hayride approval checklist form (collectively the ''hayride attraction submission'')." Each approval will be granted on an annual basis and is site specific.
For Friends groups, this means that starting in 2023 all hayride operators will need to show compliance to the above PRIOR to participating in a Friends event.
Thanks to Mike Rubano of the Friends of Greenwood Furnace for catching the reference and asking the question.
In the interim, please remember that all hayride operations, as well as any equine related events, need to show proof of liability insurance and name PPFF and DCNR on the certificate of insurance. Again, this must be in place PRIOR to participating in a Friends event. Additionally, all providers must submit an invoice to be paid by CHECK for their services.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should any vendor be paid by cash.
KNOW TOO
The 2023 Pennsylvania State Park Calendar will soon be available. If you are interested in selling the calendar as a fundraiser, reach out to Jenna for details on costs.
SHARE
Have you ever visited the PPFF YouTube channel? It contains a host of videos on a wide variety of topics. Find it here: PAParksandForests - YouTube
SHARE TOO
Just before we were ready to send this we got an invitation from PA Lyme Resource Network to participate in the Tick Check Challenge. This is way too fun NOT to do. Tick Check!
RESOURCE REMINDER:
The PPFF website is a great source of information and guidance with forms you can use and information you should know.
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.
