DCNR, Partners Offering Holiday Gifts That Help Conservation

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources offers some suggestions for holiday gifts that will delight recipients and help to conserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources:

A Pennsylvania state park gift card can be made in any dollar amount and may be used for campsites, cabins and pavilions anywhere they are available in the state park system. Parks are a great, economical overnight destination and offer the opportunity to watch wildlife and connect with nature. Gift cards are available online.

Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation living gifts supports the planting of native plants, environmental education and the volunteer organizations that help enhance and conserve state parks and forests. PPFF is a non-profit organization that helps enhance parks and forests, protect natural resources, and support conservation and environmental programs. Contact PPFF by email to: mmowery-ppff@pa.net for more information.

A state park calendar features stunning photography that captures the wonders of Pennsylvania’s state parks throughout the seasons and provides tips and facts that make it easy to discover all that state parks have to offer. The 9” x 13” calendar costs $8.49, plus sales tax and shipping, and can be ordered by calling 1-888-PAPARKS. Proceeds support the 117 state parks.

Pottery with a special glaze: In a continuing effort to help market abandoned mine treatment technologies, particularly iron and manganese removal, the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Butler County and its partners have formed a pottery connection to produce and sell pottery glazed with minerals extracted from passive treatment systems. Proceeds help to build and maintain treatment systems.

The pottery can be ordered online.

For more information about state forests, visit the DCNR website or call 717-772-9101.