PENNSYLVANIA PARKS AND FORESTS FOUNDATION

Currently there are 46 state park and forest friends groups which are chapters functioning under the nonprofit umbrella of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. These chapters are geographically dispersed throughout the commonwealth. These local, public private partnerships build bridges between the community and public land, serve to accomplish tasks and projects that would not otherwise be accomplished, and engage the public.

We are a catalyst in the adaptive recreation movement in Pennsylvania. Our accessibility work has included trainings on adaptive recreation and body mechanics, assessments of areas, informational sessions, and park upgrades and improvements, such as trail improvements, placement of ADA fishing and kayaking docks, and purchase of equipment.

We strive to improve the visitor experience through improved inclusive recreation, events, habitat protection, promotion of parks and forests as tools for improving human health, volunteer experiences and opportunities, improvements and expansion of parks and forests infrastructure, and by being a voice for parks and forests.

We produce a printed newsletter with an electronic copy that goes out to e-subscribers and posted to our webpage; we produce a weekly newsletter of what is happening in our parks and forests, and we educate through informational videos that we create.