Those looking for an alternative to Black Friday shopping this year have a new way to channel the holiday spirit to the Pennsylvania state parks and forests they love.  The PA Parks and Forests Foundation has joined “Giving Tuesday,” a first of its kind effort to transform how people participate in the giving season.

Taking place on December 3—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—Giving Tuesday hopes to tap the reach of social media to create a national movement around the holidays dedicated to giving, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days synonymous with holiday shopping,

“Giving Tuesday is an easy way to remember your favorite non-profits during the Thanksgiving holiday. Investing in non-profits not only makes you feel good, it does good,” said PPFF President Marci Mowery.

The PA Parks and Forests Foundation is committed to conservation, education and enhancing Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests through a large network of volunteer chapters working in parks across the state.

The Foundation is actively working to increase accessible recreation opportunities for disabled Pennsylvanians, helping to build accessible playgrounds in the parks, supporting staff training sessions, and fundraising for EZ-Dock ADA accessible boat ramps at several parks, including the newest at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.

PPFF has also launched a new annual event for wounded service members to try out activities ranging from adaptive kayaking and handcycling to fishing and nature photography at Gifford Pinchot State Park.

Find more information about ways to support Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests through PPFF at the Giving Tuesday website.

12/2/2013