The Friends of Pinchot State Park To Hold Open House

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Gifford Pinchot State Park is hosting The Friends of Pinchot State Park Open House on Saturday, June 30, 2012, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Nature/Interpretive Center in the Conewago Day Use Area. Board members will be on hand to answer questions and discuss present and future projects. Light refreshments will be available.

Two programs, free to the public, are slated for the day:

Bug Hunt! (Ages 3 and up) - 11:00am, Nature/Interpretive Center: Park Naturalist, Beth Kepley-McNutt, will lead a discussion about what insects are and how they differ from us. Then, participants will go out and explore to see how many different kinds of insects can be found.

Wildflower Walk (ages 10 and up) - 1:00 pm, Nature/Interpretive Center: Wildflower enthusiast, Pat Sabold, will lead a warm summer stroll identifying wildflowers and sharing bits of lore about the plants. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring bottled water. Ages 10 and up.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks at 1-800-654-5984 (voice) or 717-558-2710 (local or international voice).

Gifford Pinchot State Park

2200 Rosstown Road

Lewisberry, PA 17339

PROCLAMATION - PENNSYLVANIA GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH

June 2012

WHEREAS, Great Outdoors Month is an opportunity for Pennsylvanians to celebrate and experience our great Commonwealth's natural splendor and renew our commitment to conserve our air, water, and land; and

WHEREAS, through biking, swimming, skiing, hiking, hunting, fishing and many other activities, we are able to enjoy the healthy benefits of outdoor recreation and enjoy memorable experiences with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Great Outdoors Month is a significant opportunity to help reconnect our children to nature and reverse the troubling nationwide trends of children spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago and spending six and a half hours each day "plugged into" electronic media; and

WHEREAS, conserving our natural resources and enhancing our legacy of environmental stewardship and enjoyment of the great outdoors by protecting open space, restoring wildlife habitats, educating young people about the environment, planting trees and maintaining recreational trails is critical; and

WHEREAS, outdoor recreation is vital to the economy of the Commonwealth, and the health and well-being of its residents; and this worthy pursuit will be showcased in National Get Outdoors Day events Saturday, June 9, at Parker Dam and Moraine state parks, and Sunday, June 10, at Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center; and

WHEREAS, through the 2007 Governor's Outdoor Conference and the subsequent public meetings held throughout the Commonwealth, we understand that our future quality of life depends on our ability to understand, appreciate and enjoy Pennsylvania's natural bounties.

THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim June 2012 "Great Outdoors Month" in the Commonwealth.  I urge all Pennsylvanians to reaffirm their commitment to enjoying, protecting and conserving the quality of our outdoors.            

Tom Corbett, Governor