Posted: April 6, 2020

As you read this, you know that the COVID-19 epidemic has thrown a “monkey wrench” into Earth Day plans as well as the everyday activities of 330 million Americans.

As an EMT, I watch current events with concern and trepidation. In our rural section of Centre County, EMS call volume has dropped. I appreciate those who are considering the strain on the system before calling for 911 assistance. Please be sure your emergency is an emergency. I am viewing our low call rate as the calm before the storm. I am hunkering down so that I will be available when the calls start coming. We are all doing our part as best we can during the confusion and uncertainty. Hang in there.

The PA Forestry Association has been participating in the Earth Day 50 PA Partnership Group for the past three months. The Earth Day 50 PA Partnership Group has been planning a host of Earth Day/Week/Month activities. PFA helped to organize an April 20 Earth Day celebration "Penn's Woods: Cradle of Conservation" documentary viewing followed by an interactive audience/speaker's panel discussion at the Penn State Mont Alto Campus.

PFA was also invited to participate in the April 22 Earth Day Celebration Educational Event for students at Governor Wolf's residence in Harrisburg. Immediate past PFA President Richard Lewis, PFA Executive Director Caleb Wright, and I were planning to attend this Governor's Residence Event and hand out Earth Day Wildflower Packets and "Every Day is Earth day" silicone bracelets to the 200+ students and adults attending the event.

With thanks to PFA Communications Committee Co-chairs Nancy Baker and Linda Finley, we planned to have a special "Earth Day 50" Spring Edition of Pennsylvania Forests coming out on April 1.

This issue features the following articles:

  • Earth Day 50 and the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry
  • Earth Day at 50: Fifty years of PA Milestones in Forestry
  • You Are There: Recollections from the First Earth Day
  • The PFA on Earth Day 1970
  • Pennsylvania Forests: Looking at the Past to See into the Future
  • Chronological Listing of events for Earth Month
  • Earth Day Hiking - Leave No Trace

As you read this, you know that the COVID-19 epidemic has thrown a "monkey wrench" into these Earth Day plans as well as the everyday activities of 330 million Americans. We will keep PFA members informed about the likely cancellation of our Earth Day events via our Facebook page.

I hope you'll be able to view this change in direction of our everyday lives as an opportunity--and use the now likely free time to enjoy some much needed R&R of your own, reading that book you've been putting off, getting the garden ready, hiking in a your forest or a local State Park or Forest, taking a child fishing, or just enjoying a nice scenic drive in the rural areas of our beautiful Keystone state (barring travel restrictions).

Please, everyone take care to follow the recommended COVID-19 health guidelines. Hopefully your area will not see many cases and we will all come out of this stronger and better prepared for future problems. I understand the impact this may have on our members, physically, emotionally, and financially. As we all seek to find the right answers to the many questions out there, I hope we all make it through this crisis unharmed in every way.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Forestry Association, visit the website or call 800-835-8065.

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802