Dear Pam:

Hard to believe that it is May. This year is flying by so quickly. As we ‘speak’ we are preparing for our annual awards banquet, being held on May 14^th. It isn’t too early to start thinking about nominees for next year's banquet!

As always, thank you for all that you do to make your state park or forest a better place.

Marci J. Mowery, President

TRAINING 

You may recall a free interpretive hosts training (best practices for working with the public) conducted by DCNR having been held last year at Laurel Hill and Kings Gap. It was a well-received opportunity and we are pleased to work with DCNR's educational staff to offer it one more time - at Codorus State Park on June 17 and 18.

Unfortunately, it will be "one LAST time" as well - the curriculum designer is no longer making it available at no cost so next steps for the educational staff are under consideration. There is, again, no cost (PPFF covers the cost of the materials) but you do need to register. Check out the flyer for additional details. 

KNOW

I Love My State Park Week Launches!

According to the National Association of State Park Foundations (NASPF), state parks across the United States have more than 809 million visitors annually, which generates more than $100 billion for local and state economies. Closer to home, Pennsylvania state parks were visited nearly 40 million times in 2023, contributing more than $14 billion to the commonwealth’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. State parks are economic revenue generators as people visit, spend the night in a hotel, buy dinner at a nearby restaurant, grab some souvenirs, and fill up their gas tank.

It’s not just a boost to the economy … state parks provide a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities that are good for people’s physical, mental, and emotional health as well, as the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) showcased in a series of videos we developed. Being outside helps to regulate heart rate, decrease blood pressure, and even lose weight. Multiple studies show that physical activity outdoors can develop positive engagement with others, and it can improve self-esteem and reduce tension, anger, and depression.

What Is “I Love My State Parks” Week?

Back in 2022, NASPF launched the first-ever “I Love My State Parks” campaign. The objectives of the campaign are to increase the visibility of state parks by sharing the story of state parks, benefits to the public, how to access these places, and the programs offered; connect with the public to have them share their state park memories; increase the visibility of the state parks foundations and their supportive missions; and engage new audiences to the state parks and the nonprofits that support them. The weeklong event was so successful that NASPF members voted to make it an annual occurrence. Fast forward to 2024, and more than 8,500 state parks across the country are expected to host events from Mother’s Day (May 12) through May 19, 2024. 

If you are hosting an event during May 12-19,  be sure to take photos and post using the #ILOVEMYSTATEPARKSWEEK hashtag.

KNOW TOO

PPFF supports Governor’s Shapiro’s proposed budget for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. We will soon be launching some educational materials in support of the budget investments. We will share these materials with you when they are available.

SHARE

We will once again be celebrating PA Healthy Lands Week this year and while it doesn't take place until the end of September, I think we all know that September will be here before we know it!

If you are planning an event for the period from September 28 through October 4 please consider submitting it to the website and branding it accordingly. This initiative was an outgrowth of the last Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) and we would certainly like to help DCNR see it "grow legs." 

Here's a logo you can use!