PENNSYLVANIA PARKS AND FORESTS FOUNDATION INC

THE THEME FOR 2023 WAS REFLECTIONS, WHICH AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT CONSERVATION HISTORY, BUT TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF THE WORD. IT PROVIDED A VENUE FOR EXPLORING A PLACE, SUCH AS THE LEHIGH GORGE, THROUGH A RICHER LENS OF HISTORY, RECREATION AND CONSERVATION. IN THIS REALM, ONE OF THE LARGER PROJECTS OF THE YEAR WAS THE RESTORATION OF THE BOARDWALK AT PETROLEUM CENTER AT OIL CREEK STATE PARK. THIS IS PART ONE OF A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT TO INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF THE EARLY OIL INDUSTRY IN THE COMMONWEALTH. REFLECTING MIGHT ALSO LEAD ONE TO LOOK FORWARD - HOW DOES ONE ENSURE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE OUTDOORS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? IN THIS REALM, WE UNDERTOOK HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS AT MICHAUX STATE FOREST AND BALD EAGLE STATE FOREST, TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY GAME SPECIES LIKE GROUSE AND TURKEY, BUT THOSE OTHER SPECIES THAT RESIDE IN THE SAME HABITAT. CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR CORPS PROGRAM, BOTH THROUGH SUPPORT OF CORPS MEMBERS AS WELL AS AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAM, IS ANOTHER WAY TO PAY IT FORWARD. TWO PROJECTS THAT THE CORPS COMPLETED, SHINGLING RESTROOMS WITH STEEL SHINGLES AT OHIOPYLE STATE PARK AND CREATING A STATE-OF-THE-ART FIREWOOD SHELTER ON THE LAUREL HIGHLAND HIKING TRAIL, PROVIDE LONG-TERM DIVIDENDS FOR PARK AND FOREST USERS. A COLLECTIVE CELEBRATION OF A HIKER-BIKER CAMPGROUND AT OHIOPYLE STATE PARK BROUGHT SMILES TO THE FACES OF MANY WHEN THEY REALIZED THEIR ACCESS TO CAMPING, AND TO TOWN, JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT EASIER. LASTLY, ADVOCACY EFFORTS PAID OFF WHEN DCNR WAS AWARDED 112 MILLION FOR MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. THINGS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PPFF AND FRIENDS GROUPS: 6614 TREES PLANTED 7600 STUDENTS REACHED THROUGH 335 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED THROUGH EITC DONATIONS 518 MILES OF TRAILS BUILT OR MAINTAINED 134 TRAILS MAINTAINED 133 BLUEBIRD BOXES BUILT OR MAINTAINED 35 AMPHITHEATERS OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES BUILT OR MAINTAINED 30 FIRE RINGS PLACED 29 GARDENS PLANTED OR MAINTAINED 27 GRILLS PLACED 26 BENCHES PLACED 24 TRAIL BRIDGES BUILT OR MAINTAINED 22 BLOGS WRITTEN AND POSTED 18 ROADSIDE CLEANUPS 15 VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAMS HELD 15 INFLUENCERS HOSTED 14 SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO SHOWS HELD 12 PAINT BY NUMBERS CREATED 12 BUILDINGS OR OTHER STRUCTURES MAINTAINED 8 PLAYGROUNDS MAINTAINED 4 PLAYGROUNDS BUILT OR UPDATED 4 CONSERVATION BOOKS DISCUSSED 3 INTERNS 2 ADA CANOE AND KAYAK LAUNCHES LAUNCHED 2 HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS 1 HIKER/BIKER CAMPGROUND OPENED 1 ADA FISHING PIER 1 RANGER E-BIKE PURCHASED 1 PUBLIC WEBINAR HELD EQUIPMENT PURCHASES-DR MOWER FOR TRAILS, ETC EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES PURCHASED-ENVIROSCAPE, WATER QUALITY TEST KITS, ETC PA OUTDOOR CORPS CREWS SUPPORT UNTOLD NUMBER REACHED THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OF WINGS OVER WATER