By Marci Mowery, President, Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation

All Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have access to not only 117 state parks but also a rambling 2.1 million acres of state forest lands. These lands were developed through visionary leadership and volunteer efforts dating back to Joseph Rothrock, Gifford Pinchot and Maurice Goddard.

This leadership continues today with Michael DiBerardinis, secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Environmental Resources. Residents and visitors to Pennsylvania may all enjoy this natural resource legacy.

The budget impasse closure of our parks and forests a few weeks ago reinforced the important role these lands play in the lives of our residents and visitors. We must continue to think of new and different ways to support their operation and protection.

While the idea of a modest admissions charge to use our state parks is one idea for the future, the Parks and Forests Foundation is an organization that is doing great work today for the sole purpose of helping these wonderful facilities.

PPFF formed in 1999 to engage people in becoming stewards of Pennsylvania's state parks and forests. Our mission is to connect people to their public lands via education, volunteerism, recreation and financial support. In our short tenure of existence we have accomplished a great deal. Last year alone, a few volunteer groups, called friends groups, contributed more than 50,000 volunteer hours and were given the ability to contribute directly to their favorite park or forest.

Today, we have 19 chapters and 11 independent friends groups currently operating throughout the forests and parks of Pennsylvania that are accomplishing a great deal organizing events, providing education programs, restoring historical gardens, maintaining trails, developing interpretive signs, and much more. PPFF stands ready to serve any individual or group that feels our state's natural resources are worth their time and effort.

You can support your parks and forests right now by visiting the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation Web site at www.PaParksAndForests.org and registering to receive our newsletter. You'll also receive action alerts, event schedules, and other information that empowers you to be a voice for our public lands. GET INVOLVED!

Consider joining one of the existing friends groups or contact PPFF to inquire about starting a new friends group at your favorite state park or forest. No time for that? You can make a donation to PPFF or designate funds to your favorite park or forest.

Donations can also be made to our matching grants program, a new means by which friends groups raise funds for specific projects. The advantage to supporting parks and forests through PPFF is that the tax-deductible donation goes specifically to park and forests projects.

Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have access to 117 state parks and 2.1 million acres of forest lands. You can help continue the legacy of forefathers and mothers while protecting these assets for future generations.

Marci Mowery is president of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.

8/24/2007