Do Something Wild!
Keystone Wild! Notes
Summer 2013 Edition
Check out
this issue:
From Humble Beginnings:
A History of the Pennsylvania State Park System
Cover Story- History of Pa.’s
State Park System. . . . . . . .1
The WRCP Board . . . . . . . . 2
Message from the
Director of the Bureau of
State Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
From the Editor's Desk. . . . 3
How did the State Parks
Get Their Names? . . . . . . . .4
Conservation Today . . . . .11
State Park Natural Areas are
Naturally Amazing! . . . . . .13
Cover Story continued . . .17
A PA State Champion:
Goddard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Environmental Education
for Everyone . . . . . . . . . . .22
Plant Species Matters to
Lepidoptera Larvae. . . . . .25
Wild! Watch: State Parks
are better than TV . . . . . . .27
Wild! Words:
Pa. State Parks. . . . . . . . . 32
Color Me Wild! Go Visit a
State Park Near You!. . . . . 33
Weed It and Reap:
Black Swallow-wort . . . . . 34
Pennsylvania State
Parks began in the
parlors and sitting rooms
of the citizens of
Pennsylvania. Eventually
the state government
became involved, but
the origin of stateoperated parks, free for
all citizens of the
Commonwealth, began
in the home of Isaac W.
Smith of Valley Forge.
Pennsylvania Academic
History Standards that apply
to this article:
8.2.A – Political and cultural
contributions of individuals
and groups to Pennsylvania
history
8.2 and 3.C – Continuity and
change have influenced
Pennsylvania history
The residents of the
Valley Forge area had
always talked about
preserving the location
where the American spirit had been
tested and came out strengthened, but it
was not until December of 1877 that
forward-thinking, like-minded citizens
made a plan. To celebrate the centennial
of Valley Forge, Smith and friends
planned a parade, music, oration and a
grand celebration. In addition, they
resolved to purchase Washington's
Headquarters. Naming
their group the
Centennial and
Memorial Association of
Valley Forge, they
elected Anna Morris
Holstein to lead the
committee.
The governor and
thousands of
Pennsylvanians attended
the celebration, which
earned an illustration in
Harper's Weekly, a
leading magazine of the
time. The celebration
raised the down
payment to buy Washington's
Headquarters, but more importantly,
raised awareness in the state and nation
about preserving the sacred ground of
Valley Forge. Yet the Association
struggled to pay their mortgage, and
ironically failed to receive a federal grant
to create a monument to the fallen
soldiers.
article continues on page 17
Wild! Buys . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Wild Resource Conservation Program
Administered by the
400 Market Street, 6th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17105
(717)787-3212
Visit us at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp
PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
in cooperation with the PA Game Commission and
PA Fish & Boat Commission
Keystone Wild! Notes 1
Pennsylvania
Wild Resource Conservation Program
Do Something Wild!
Tom Corbett, Governor
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Ellen Ferretti, Acting Secretary
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Greg Czarnecki, Executive Director
Wild Resource Conservation Program
Wild Resource
Conservation Board
Honorable Ellen Ferretti
Acting Secretary, Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
Honorable John Arway
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
Honorable Carl Roe
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Game Commission
Senator Gene Yaw, Majority Chairman
Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
Senator John T. Yudichak, Minority Chairman
Senate Environmental Resources and & Energy Committee
Rep. Ron Miller, Majority Chairman
House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
Pennsylvania
Wild Resource
Conservation
Program
Advisory Committee
J. Merlin Benner
Dr. Cynthia Morton
Wellsboro
Pittsburgh
Dr. Timothy Block
Dr. Sarah Sargent
Philadelphia
Meadville
Nate McKelvie
Lebanon
Keystone WILD! Notes
400 Market Street, 6th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17105
717-787-3212
Website: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp
Jessica Sprajcar, Editor
Design/Layout, DEP Graphics
Rep. Gregory Vitali, Minority Chairman
House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee
Keystone Wild! Notes is the official online publication of the
Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program. Its goal is to inform
people about the activities of the program, which supports research and
protection efforts for the state’s natural heritage—its unique collection
of native nongame animals and wild plants. The program is funded by
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
and by public contributions: voluntary checkoffs on the state income
tax return form, direct donations and the purchase of the Wild Resource license plate. If you have comments about Keystone
WILD! Notes, please send them to The Editor, Wild Resource Conservation Program, P.O. Box 8552, Harrisburg, PA 171058552, or e-mail to [email protected]. To subscribe, please go to www.dcnr.state.pa.us/wrcp/subscribe.html and enter
your e-mail address.
Do Something Wild!
Keystone
Wild! Notes
Keystone Wild! Notes 2
A Message from the Director of the Bureau of State Parks
David Kemmerer
T
hanks to the foresight of conservationist Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, a state
park exists near every resident of Pennsylvania. The nearby parks offer a
respite where visitors can fish, hike, boat, swim, mountain bike, picnic and
more. We invite you to enjoy the many overnight facilities, such as campsites, cabins,
yurts and camping cottages. Some campgrounds now include full hook-ups for RVs,
while others include sites that welcome your pets.
The Bureau of State Parks manages 120 state parks, encompassing 287,000 acres of
lands and waters for the conservation of plant and wildlife habitat, and for recreational
and educational opportunities, including seven National Natural Landmarks: Boulder
Field at Hickory Run State Park, Ferncliff Peninsula at Ohiopyle State Park, Forest
Cathedral at Cook Forest State Park, Glens Natural Area at Ricketts Glen State Park,
Gull Point at Presque Isle State Park, Pine Creek Gorge at Colton Point and Leonard
Harrison state parks and Slippery Rock Gorge at McConnells Mill State Park. State
parks also preserve the state's rich history with two National Historic
Landmarks—Point and Delaware Canal state parks—and many locations on the
National Register of Historic Places.
David Kemmerer
Director
Bureau of State Parks
Pennsylvania state parks offer ideal environments for trying something novel. Trained
education specialists help visitors explore new modes of recreation through the Get
Outdoors PA program, which has been enhanced through partnerships with local and
municipal parks.
State parks contribute to the economic health of Pennsylvania as well. Over 38 million
visitors spend over a billion dollars in the state and create over 12,000 jobs.
All 120 Pennsylvania state parks are open to you and your family 365 days a year.
Come out and enjoy!
From the Editor’s Desk
by Jessica Sprajcar, Editor of Keystone Wild!Notes
ome of my most cherished childhood memories involve Pennsylvania
state parks. My family spent many summer days feeding the carp at
Pymatuning State Park, camping near Moraine State Park and visiting the
fountain at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. These parks provided
us with affordable vacations and helped to build my appreciation of the natural
world.
S
Now fast forward to the year 2004 and the start of my career with state
employment. As a Pennsylvania Management Associate—a management training
program—one of my first assignments was in the Bureau of State Parks. I spent
six weeks traveling the state, meeting with park managers and staff to discuss
attendance issues. I was so impressed with the number of state parks in
Pennsylvania and the variety of outdoor recreation and educational opportunities
they offer.
Editor Jessica Sprajcar
is a Land Conservation
Specialist in DCNR's Bureau
of Forestry, Rural and
Community Forestry Section.
Now in 2013, I am fortunate enough still to work with state park staff through the
Sustainable Lands Program and visit parks from time to time. I haven't made it to
all 120 state parks yet, but it is a goal of mine. How many parks have you visited?
If the answer is none, it is high time you get out there and visit a Pennsylvania
state park today. You'll be glad you did.
KeystoneWild!Notes 3
How the State Parks Got
Their Names
Compiled by Jessica Sprajcar
Land Conservation Specialist for DCNR Bureau of Forestry
P
ennsylvania is home to 120 state parks – some large, some small – all of which are there for you to
explore and enjoy. I've often wondered how some of my favorite parks got their name. Now I know
that some are named for famous Pennsylvanians, some are named after the creek that runs through, while
others are named for an industry that once thrived there. I tried to lump the names into categories, but
some could easily overlap. Take a look at these interesting facts. You'll probably be surprised a time or
two… I know I was!
People's names
Many of Pennsylvania's state
parks are named for famous
people, like bare-knuckle boxer
William “Bendigo” Thompson.
Bendigo is named for the nearby town
and creek named after William Abednego
Thompson, a bare-knuckle boxer whose
nickname was Bendigo because of his
bobbing and weaving style.
(Photo:Wikipedia)
Benjamin Rush was one of our founding fathers, signing the Declaration of Independence. He is also
considered the Father of American Psychiatry.
Boyd Big Tree is named for Alexander Boyd, president of the Union Deposit Corporation, who donated
the land in 1999, and for the large number of big trees on-site.
Buchanan's Birthplace is named for the 15th president of the U.S., James Buchanan, who was born in
the hollow where the park now resides.
Chapman is named for Dr. Leroy Chapman, a state senator from 1929 to 1963.
Colton Point is named for Henry Colton, a lumberman who supervised the harvesting of trees in the area.
Cook Forest is named for John Cook, the first American to settle in the area and owner of many sawmills.
Cowans Gap is named for John Samuel Cowen, a Loyalist who purchased land (now the park) from the
Tuscarora Indians on which to build his home.
Frances Slocum is named for a young Quaker girl who was kidnapped from her home by American
Indians in 1778 and who ended up spending the rest of her life with them.
Keystone Wild! Notes 4
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
People's names
Gifford Pinchot is named for the first forester of the U.S. and twice governor of Pennsylvania.
Jennings is named for one of Pennsylvania's most renowned botanists, Dr. Otto Emery Jennings.
Joseph E. Ibberson is named for a forester of the same name who donated the land in 1998 for
educational purposes.
Kooser is named for John Kooser, who settled the area in 1867.
Leonard Harrison is named for the civic-minded banker of same name.
Maurice Goddard is named for the first director of the Mont Alto School of Forestry and head of the
Bureau of Forests and Waters.
Nolde Forest is named for Jacob Nolde, who created a coniferous forest plantation on the site.
Some state parks are named
for foreign immigrants who
settled in Pennsylvania, like
violinist Ole Bull.
(Photo: Wikipedia)
Ole Bull is named for Ole
Bornemann Bull, the famous
Norwegian violinist who toured the
U.S. in the 1850s. He purchased a
large tract of land in Potter County
that later became the park.
Parker Dam is named for William Parker, who owned lumber rights and built a splash dam on Laurel Run
at the site of the present day park.
Patterson is thought to have come from the name of people who lived in the area, but no records exist of
anyone named Patterson owning the land that is now the park.
Penn-Roosevelt was the name of the African American CCC Camp at the site. Corps members chose the
name to honor William Penn and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Prince Gallitzin is named for Father Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, son of the Russian Ambassador to
Holland in the late 1700s, and one of the early settlers of Cambria County.
Prouty Place is believed to be named for the Prouty family that once lived near the park.
Ralph Stover is named for the grist mill owner and operator of the same name.
Keystone Wild! Notes 5
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
People's names
Raymond B. Winter was renamed for a state forester of same name who was instrumental in establishing
the park.
Samuel S. Lewis is named to honor the Secretary of the Pa. Department of Forest and Waters from 19511954, who donated his farm to create the park.
Simon B. Elliot is named for a member of the Pa. Legislature and member of the old State Forestry
Reservation Commission.
Tyler is named for Mr. and Mrs. George F. Tyler, who purchased the land in the early 1900s for a dairy farm.
Whipple Dam is named for Osgood Whipple, who constructed a dam to supply water for the operation of
a sawmill.
Municipalities
Elk is named for its location within Elk County and Elk State Forest.
Gouldsboro is named for the village built by Jay Gould, a railroad magnate and tannery owner.
Jacobsburg is named for the colonial village of Jacobsburg, the location of a historic gun-making forge.
Milton is named for the boroughs of Milton and West Milton, where it is located.
Poe Paddy lies on the site of Poe Mills, a short-lived lumber town of the late 1800s.
Sizerville comes from the name of the logging boomtown of the same name that flourished around the
turn of the century.
Varden is named for the town of the same name, which originated from a character in a Charles Dickens
novel.
Special Features
Archbald Pothole is named for the park's 38-feet deep pothole that was formed 15,000 years ago.
Beltzville is named for the Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam that created Beltzville Lake.
Hyner View is named for the scenic vista that looks down into the West Branch Susquehanna River valley.
Keystone Wild! Notes 6
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
Special Features
Kinzua Bridge is named for the Kinzua Viaduct, once known as the longest and tallest railroad structure.
Many state parks are named after scenic
sites and special man-made structures like
at Worlds End and Kinzua Bridge state
parks.
(Photos: DCNR)
McCalls Dam is named for the sawmill dam constructed on site by Johnny McCall.
McConnells Mill is named for the first gristmill on Slippery Rock Creek. It was built by Daniel Kennedy
but later purchased by Thomas McConnell, hence the name.
Moraine is named for the four continental glaciers that reached their greatest extent just north of the
park. A moraine is the debris left behind from a retreating glacier.
Point is named for its location at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela, the Allegheny and the
Ohio.
Presque Isle is named for a French term that means “almost an island” or peninsula.
Ravensburg is named for the ravens that once roosted on the rock ledges at the southern end of the
park.
Salt Springs is named for the many salt springs in the park, where American Indians and settlers once
extracted the salt from the spring water.
Worlds End is named for the scenic vista located at the junction of Pioneer Road Trail and Worlds End
Trail, and for the feeling that early visitors to the area had of being at the “world’s end”.
Industry
Big Pocono is named for Big Pocono Ski, Inc., now named the Camelback Ski Corporation, which runs a
ski resort on-site.
Caledonia is named for a charcoal iron works in Franklin County, owned by Thaddeus Stevens, a lawyer
and member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1800s.
Greenwood Furnace is named for the iron works that was built there in 1834.
Keystone Wild! Notes 7
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
Industry
Two of our state parks are named for the old iron
furnaces that used to operate there – remnants
of which still exist today.
(Photo: DCNR)
Keystone is named for the Keystone Coal and Coke Company, which purchased the land in 1909 to build a
lake that would supply water for their coke ovens.
Mont Alto is named for the Mont Alto Charcoal Iron Furnace that was built there in 1807.
Norristown Farm is named for the working farm located on-site, which has operated in various forms
since colonial times.
Pine Grove Furnace is named for the Pine Grove Ironworks that used to operate out of the site.
Promised Land is named for the way 18th century immigrant settlers were attracted to the area by
dazzling promotional promises.
Military
Bucktail is named after the famous American Civil War regiment of the Bucktail Rangers.
Colonel Denning is named for William Denning, an American Revolution veteran who was never actually
a colonel.
Fort Washington got its name from the temporary fort built by George Washington's troops in the fall of
1777, before they headed to Valley Forge.
Lyman Run is named for Major Isaac Lyman, an American Revolutionary War soldier believed to be the
second permanent settler in Potter County.
Memorial Lake is named after its lake, which was created in 1945 to honor the Pennsylvania National
Guard soldiers who served in World Wars I and II.
Ricketts Glen is named for Robert Bruce Ricketts, who led Battery F during the Battle of Gettysburg.
Keystone Wild! Notes 8
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
Native Americans
Black Moshannon is named for the American Indian term “Moss-Hanne,” meaning “moose stream.” The
“black” in the name comes from the tea-colored waters of the local streams, due to bark tannins.
Nockamixon comes from the Lenni Lanape American Indian term “nocha-miska-ing,” which means “at the
place of soft soil.”
Ohiopyle comes from the American Indian word “ohiopehhla,” which means “white, frothy water.”
Pymatuning is derived from the Iroquois word that means “the Crooked-mouthed Man's Dwelling Place.”
Shawnee is named for the American Indians who lived for a short time in the vicinity of the park during
their westward migration to Ohio in the early 1700s.
Many state parks got their name from Native American terms or to
honor the people themselves, like the Shawnee and Susquehannock.
(Photos: Wikipedia)
Shikellamy is named in honor of the famous Iroquois Chief Shikellamy, who helped develop
Pennsylvania's frontier in the early to mid-18th century.
Sinnemahoning is named for the American Indian word for “Rocky Lick.” A natural salt lick is reputed to
be near the mouth of Grove Run.
Susquehannock is named for the Iroquois-speaking tribe of American Indians who lived where the park
is now.
Tobyhanna is derived from an American Indian word meaning “a stream whose banks are fringed with
alder.”
Tuscarora is named for the tribe of American Indians who travelled from their home in North Carolina, up
the Susquehanna River valley, to aid other tribes in New York.
Warriors Path is named for the nearby, famous path used by the Iroquois in raids and wars with the
Cherokees and other American Indians in southern Pennsylvania.
Keystone Wild! Notes 9
How the State Parks Got Their Names continued...
HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
Blue Knob
Erie Bluffs
Laurel Mountain
Laurel Summit
Mount Pisgah
Nescopeck
RIDGES AND VALLEYS
Bald Eagle
Laurel Hill
Laurel Ridge
Lehigh Gorge
Little Pine
Kings Gap
Reeds Gap
WATERBODIES
Allegheny Islands
Canoe Creek
Cherry Springs
Clear Creek
Codorus
Delaware Canal
Fowlers Hollow
French Creek
Hickory Run
Hills Creek
Hyner Run
Kettle Creek
Lackawanna
Linn Run
Little Buffalo
Locust Lake
Marsh Creek
Neshaminy
Oil Creek
Poe Valley
Raccoon Creek
Ridley Creek
Susquehanna
Swatara
Trough Creek
Upper Pine Bottom
White Clay Creek
Yellow Creek
A majority of Pennsylvania state parks got their name
from the creek, stream or river that runs through the
park, like Trough Creek and Kettle Creek state parks.
(Photos: DCNR)
Answers to Wild! Words page 32.
UNKNOWN – It's a
Mystery to Even Us!
Denton Hill
Hillman
Prompton
Sandbridge
Keystone Wild! Notes 10
Conservation Today
by Greg Czarnecki, WRCP Director
What’s in That Water?
D
etermining where a species lives can be
challenging. If it's nocturnal, secretive, small
or cryptic, it may be tough to find and observe firsthand.
That's why biologists often look for indirect evidence like
scat (droppings), tracks, fur or even bits and pieces, like
seeds or bones, in the scat of things that eat it. Indirect
evidence, however, is hard to come by for aquatic
species because they don't leave tracks, and all of those
other things just float away. But thanks to a relatively
new technology called environmental DNA, or eDNA,
much of that indirect evidence is now evident.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is found in all living cells.
Its primary function is to serve as a blueprint for building
the cells, tissues and organs that make up an organism.
The chemical structure of DNA is the same for all living
things—it's made up of a sequence of five different
chemicals called base pairs. It's the way that those base
pairs are put together, in specific sequences, that is
unique to each species. As a result, scientists can look
at a piece of DNA, read the sequence and identify the
species it came from. This identification process is
sometimes referred to as DNA fingerprinting. (The
sequences are also unique for each individual in a
species, hence its wide use in criminal investigations.)
Living things are constantly releasing bits of their DNA
into the environment. They shed skin cells, DNA passes
out of their body in waste products, mucus and bodily
fluids, they lose leaves and bits of tissue, and in many
other ways. In a body of water all that DNA floats about
in a sort of genetic alphabet soup, comprised of bits of
DNA from all of the things living there. All scientists
have to do is collect some water, extract the eDNA, and
read the alphabet.
Well, it's actually a little more complicated than that.
Those pieces of DNA are too small to detect, so you
need to magnify them somehow. Using a process called
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), scientists are able to
take a single strand of DNA and multiply it millions of
times, thereby making the pattern of base pairs
detectable. Since eDNA only has a shelf life of about
one to three weeks, it gives you a pretty current look at
what's living in a body of water.
eDNA is being used in some pretty interesting ways,
such as detecting invasive species. Asian carp, including
bighead, silver, black and grass carp, are large, invasive
fish (some can grow to 400 pounds) with voracious
appetites that can disrupt food webs, uproot native
DNA, or
Asian carp are
deoxyribonucleic
considered to
acid, is found in
be invasive in
all living cells
the U.S. From
and makes each
the top: silver,
species unique.
grass, bighead
(Image: U.S.
and black carp.
National Library
(Image: USGS)
of Medicine)
Keystone Wild! Notes 11
Conservation Today continued...
plants and displace native fish. One of them, the silver
carp, is also a human health hazard because it can jump
as much as 10 feet out of the water when it hears the
sound of a boat motor. There have been numerous
cases of boaters and jet ski operators being seriously
injured by flying 80-pound fish!
Asian carp escaped from aquaculture ponds along the
Mississippi River during several flooding events in the
1980s and have been steadily expanding their range
since. Scientists have been tracking their movement, in
part, by using eDNA. A group of scientists from the
University of Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy and
Central Michigan University reported just last month
that Asian carp DNA has been found in the western
basin of Lake Erie. It's hoped that this early detection,
before the population has become established, will give
resource managers enough time to implement control
measures.
eDNA can also be used to identify and monitor
endangered species, evaluate the biodiversity of a body
of water, detect pathogens and certify the presence or
absence of species as part of an environmental impact
assessment. This is just one example of the new
technologies emerging in the field of conservation
science. Don't be too surprised if you read about a
WRCP-funded eDNA project in Keystone Wild! Notes
within the next few years.
Keystone Wild!Notes
Photo Contest
As part of our year-long public lands theme we are holding
the first ever Wild Resource Conservation Program photo
contest. We'd like to see the best photos from your visits to
Pennsylvania's state parks, state forests and state game
lands. Here are the details:
Who May Enter
The contest is open to everyone other than employees of
the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and
the Pa. Game Commission.
Categories
You can submit photos in the following categories, but
remember they must have been taken in a Pennsylvania
State Park, State Forest or Game Land: non-game wildlife,
wild plants, and scenic landscapes.
Awards
Awards will be given to the top three entries in each
category for both students (K-12) and adults.
Prizes
Winners will receive a selection of books available through
the Wild Resource Conservation Program and their photo will
be published in next winter's issue of Keystone Wild!Notes.
How to Enter
E-mail your photo to [email protected] as a jpeg file (under
6 MB please). Include your name, e-mail address, city or
town where you live, your age if you're a student, and
where the photo was taken.
Deadline
All photos must be received by
Oct. 31, 2013.
“Like” us on Facebook
WRCP has revamped our
Facebook page and we hope that
you “like” it. When you click on
the “like” button, you will become
a member of our online presence
and be the first to know about
upcoming events, publication
debuts and important news in the
world of WRCP and conservation.
So please find us on Facebook by
searching for “PA Wild Resource
We want to see your photos of nongame wildlife, wild plants and scenic
landscapes, like this image of the
Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
(Photo: Jessica Sprajcar, DCNR)
Conservation Program”
and join our group.
Keystone Wild! Notes 12
State Park Natural Areas
are Naturally Amazing!
Compiled by Rachel Wagoner,
Bureau of State Parks Resource Management and Planning Division
S
tate parks contain some pretty outstanding natural resources, from the 300-year-old white pine and
hemlock trees at Cook Forest to the gorge with its 22 named waterfalls at Ricketts Glen. The Pennsylvania
Bureau of State Parks has a designated natural areas program guaranteed to protect these areas of unique scenic,
geologic and ecological value.
A state park natural area has a unique scenic, geologic
or ecological value that will be maintained in a natural
condition by allowing physical and biological processes
to operate, usually without direct human intervention.
These areas are set aside to provide locations for
scientific observation of natural systems, to protect
examples of typical and unique plant and animal
communities, and to protect outstanding examples of
natural interest and beauty.
The idea to form state park natural areas came from
State Parks 2000, the bureau's strategic plan. The
policy creating the program says that these sensitive
areas need to be protected for scientific study,
environmental educational opportunities and for future
generations. The natural areas program for state parks
complements the Bureau of Forestry's natural and wild
areas program.
In order to ensure that nature will take its due course in
these designated areas, human activity is severely
limited; no human habitation will be allowed, no
research will be conducted in the areas without express
written permission of the state park director, buildings
and other on-site improvements will be restricted to a
minimum safety standard, and the only timber cutting
and insect and disease control allowed will be for public
safety or when activities or events threaten the natural
values of the area.
State Park Natural Areas showcase amazing scenic
and geologic features, like this waterfall in Ricketts
Glen State Park. (Photo: DCNR)
With the designation of the first nine outstanding natural
areas in 1993, the program was off to a fine start.
Thirteen additional areas have been added since to the
program. In an ongoing selection process, other areas
will be reviewed, evaluated and set aside for the
education and enjoyment of future generations.
Here is a listing of all 22 state park natural areas in Pennsylvania:
Black Moshannon Bog
1,992 acres
Wetlands adjacent to the southwest arm of the lake comprise the finest
reconstructed bog in Pennsylvania. Includes many rare plants associated with
sphagnum bogs.
Forest Cathedral
555 acres
This National Natural Landmark has old-growth stands of white pine and eastern
hemlock. Many trees are over 300 years old.
Keystone Wild! Notes 13
State Park Natural Areas are Naturally Amazing! continued...
Swamp Forest
Boulder Field
Pine Creek Gorge
699 acres
This National Natural Landmark is a portion of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
Park vistas on east and west rims overlook scenic gorge. Contains rare plants.
Swamp Forest
246 acres
Perched water table gives rise to palustrine wetland of old growth eastern hemlocks
and white pines at the headwaters of Brown's Run.
Rapid Run
39 acres
Old growth forest of white pine and eastern hemlock containing areas of emergent
wetlands, springs and sphagnum bogs.
Pine Swamp
98 acres
Acidic broadleaf swamp containing rare plant species. Characteristic features
include vegetated sphagnum hummocks and mucky, water-filled channels.
Bender and Black Bear
Swamps
1,600 acres
Acidic shrub swamps. Openings contain spagnum moss, rare plants and animals.
Boulder Field
16 acres
This National Natural Landmark is a unique geological formation of periglacial
origin, impressive due to its flatness and large size.
Fall Brook
34 acres
This area contains many old-growth hemlocks and includes a steep gorge with
picturesque stream and several waterfalls.
Keystone Wild! Notes 14
State Park Natural Areas are Naturally Amazing! continued...
Glens Natural Area
2,845 acres
This National Natural Landmark includes the branches of Kitchen Creek and their
scenic waterfalls that flow through old growth forests of eastern hemlock, white
pine and mixed oak.
Mud Run
1,335 acres
Remote mountain stream lined with rhododendron and eastern hemlock and
buffered by a mature hardwood forest. The stream contains a viable native trout
population.
Mud Swamp
152 acres
Remote emergent wetland containing rare plant species of concern.
Nockamixon Cliffs
28 acres
Cliffs rise nearly 300 feet above the Delaware River. Provides habitat for rare alpine
plant species of concern.
River Islands
80 acres
Seven islands in the Delaware River containing natural plants communities and
many rare plants.
Tidal Marsh
71 acres
Freshwater intertidal zone along the shores of the Delaware River and Neshaminy
Creek containing many rare plants.
Black Jack Swamp
725 acres
Palustrine scrub-shrub and emergent wetlands adjacent to Pymatuning Lake.
Provides habitat for plant and animal species of concern.
Clark Island
161 acres
Mature forest of hardwoods and white pines containing an inland, lake-fed pond.
Provides habitat for plant species of concern.
Swamp area
Hemlock tree
Keystone Wild! Notes 15
State Park Natural Areas are Naturally Amazing! continued...
Ferncliff Peninsula
104 acres
This National Natural Landmark is a peninsula formed by a bend in the
Youghiogheny River. The area contains abundant wildflowers, old growth
hemlocks, mixed oak forests and plant species of concern.
Hemlock Trail
5.8 acres
Scenic area of old growth eastern hemlock. The area includes a picturesque
portion of Laurel Hill Creek which contains a viable native trout population.
Gull Point Special
Management Area
67 acres
This National Natural Landmark has a large variety of habitats (bay, sand dune,
heath, marsh, pond, etc.) that are critical for migrating shore birds and waterfowl.
Provides habitats for many rare plants and animals.
Slippery Rock
92 acres
Floodplain forest of northern hardwoods and adjacent palustrine and shrub-scrub
wetlands containing diverse and rare plants.
Slippery Rock Gorge
1,296 acres
This National Natural Landmark is a steep gorge with numerous rock outcrops and
boulders. Northern hardwood-conifer forests contain areas of old growth forests
and rare plants.
Slippery Rock Gorge
Our Common Wealth is
Our State's Biodiversity!
Our friends at Natural Biodiversity have
developed a new website called Penn
Biodiversity where you can learn all about
the state's biodiversity, or variety of living
things. Penn Biodiversity is full of online
comics for students, lesson plans for
educators, links to videos like our very own
Cosmo's World, and much more. Check it out
today at http://pennbiodiversity.org.
Keystone Wild! Notes 16
The History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks continued...
Valley Forge was designated a U.S. National Historic
Landmark in 1961. In 1976, as part of the national
bicentennial celebration, Pennsylvania's first state park
was transferred to the National Park Service and
became Valley Forge National Historical Park, a gift
from Pennsylvania to the nation.
The Rise of State Forests
Valley Forge State Park in 1968
A new park champion arose, Francis M. Brooke. He had
attended the centennial celebration, and when he was
elected to the state legislature, began lobbying for
money for Valley Forge. He succeeded in 1893, when
Governor Robert E. Pattison created the Valley Forge
Park Commission, allotting $25,000. The purpose of the
commission was, “To acquire, maintain, and preserve
forever the Revolutionary CAMP GROUND at Valley
Forge, for the free enjoyment of the people of the State.”
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, in the parlor of Mrs. Brinton
Coxe, several prominent women met in the winter of
1886 to discuss “the increasing destruction of the noble
forests of Pennsylvania.” Soon a public meeting was
held and attended by forestry luminaries like Joseph T.
Rothrock and Samuel S. Lewis, which led to the creation
of the Forestry Commission and eventually the Bureau
of Forests and Waters, as detailed in the spring 2013
issue of Keystone Wild!Notes.
The 10-person commission was comprised of influential
Pennsylvanians, including generals, future governors, exgovernors, legislators, university presidents and business
leaders. One, Samuel W. Pennypacker, who had also
attended the centennial celebration, became governor of
Pennsylvania and pushed through money that greatly
supported Valley Forge.
In his farewell administrative message, Pennypacker
said:
That camp ground upon hills and the
Valley Creek twenty-three miles from
Philadelphia … better than any other
field in the country typifies and
represents the fortitude and resolution
which made the Revolutionary War
successful. The State ought to maintain
it forever as one of the most cherished
possessions … Every American and
especially every Pennsylvanian ought to
go to Valley Forge as the saints of
Mohammed went to Mecca.
The park office of Caledonia Forest Park,
year unknown.
Tasked with purchasing forest reserves in the
headwaters of the major watersheds of Pennsylvania,
the Forestry Commission targeted large properties for
cheap prices. In 1902, the commission purchased Mont
Alto, a charcoal iron furnace that went out of blast in
1893. Once a railroad mountain retreat, Mont Alto had
a swimming pool, hiking trails and an unusual, round
pavilion for dancing. A year later, Caledonia, another
closed iron furnace property, was purchased and the
twin properties became the center of the growing
forestry reserves. Promised Land was purchased in
1903, boasting a pond and a campground. As the
forest reserves were created, people began visiting the
forests to hike, fish, hunt and camp.
Keystone Wild! Notes 17
The History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks continued...
The Creation of the Bureau of State Parks
In 1921, a second Pennsylvania state park - Pennsylvania
State Park at Erie - was created by an act of the
legislature. Although many other places offered the
same amenities as state parks, they were called public
campgrounds and state forest parks, until 1929. At that
time, Governor Fisher reorganized the structure of state
government. The Administrative Code of 1929 formed
the Bureau of State Parks:
For the purpose of promoting outdoor
recreation and education, and making
available for such use natural areas of
unusual scenic beauty, especially such
as provide impressive views, water falls,
gorges, creeks, caves, or other unique
and interesting features ….
Soon, many of the state forest parks and camping areas
were renamed state parks. The park in Erie became
Presque Isle State Park.
The CCC Years
Following years of prosperity, the stock market abruptly
crashed in October of 1929. Despite the efforts of the
government's unprecedented but limited recovery
programs under President Herbert Hoover, the United
States slid into the Great Depression. Many banks failed,
loans and mortgages were foreclosed, unemployment
mushroomed to around 40 percent, factories shut down,
farms were abandoned and bread lines grew in cities.
Almost immediately after taking office in 1933,
President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a flurry of
government programs. Thirty-seven days after
Roosevelt's inauguration, the first enrollee signed into
the Emergency Conservation Work, later re-named the
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Unmarried,
unemployed men age 18 to 25 were the first enrollees.
Later, the age limit changed to 17 to 23. World War I
veterans also had separate camps. Enrollment was for
six months and could be extended up to a total of
two years.
Many young men came to the camps hungry and poorly
clothed. They were issued uniforms and given three
meals a day. Most young men gained about 40 pounds
while in the CCC. The men earned $30 a month, most
of which was sent home to their families.
Each camp had about 200 men, including an army
officer and junior officer, camp doctor, educational
advisor and the project supervisor. Many camps began
in tents until the permanent camp could be built.
Pennsylvania had the second highest number of camps,
trailing only California. Pennsylvania received so many
camps because it already had a plan in place for the
camps, thanks to the forward thinking of Governor
Gifford Pinchot.
In 1935, Roosevelt created the WPA (Works Progress
Administration), which was similar to the CCC but used
local people who lived at home. Many roads, buildings
and bridges were built in Pennsylvania State Parks.
The National Park Service built five Recreation
Demonstration Areas through CCC and WPA labor. Near
The men of Company 361 at S-62-PA Camp Stone Creek Kettle, now called Penn-Roosevelt State Park.
Keystone Wild! Notes 18
The History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks
Forests
continued...
continued...
big cities to provide open-air recreation for urban
dwellers, the recreation areas were, Blue Knob, Hickory
Run, French Creek, Laurel Hill and Raccoon Creek. In
1945, these parks were given to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and became state parks.
A total of 194,500 Pennsylvania citizens served in the
CCC nationwide. The value of the work completed by
the CCC nationwide is estimated at $8 billion.
Pennsylvania had 151 camps, including many in parks
and forests, and some on army bases and soil
conservation camps. The outbreak of World War II
caused the end of the CCC on June 30, 1942.
The CCC transformed the forests and natural areas of
Pennsylvania and the United States, and transformed all
of the young men who were involved. Although it was a
dark time for the economy and the many unemployed
people, the conservation programs like the CCC and
WPA greatly enhanced the Pennsylvania Bureau of
State Parks.
The Goddard Era
In 1955, Maurice K. Goddard was appointed director of
the Department of Parks and Forests. There were 44
Pennsylvania state parks at that time. Dr. Goddard
proposed building a state park within 25 miles of every
resident of Pennsylvania. That same year, Governor
Leader signed the Oil and Gas Lease Fund Act, which
earmarked royalties from oil and gas taken from stateowned land to be spent on conservation, recreation and
flood control.
In 1957, Pennsylvania's New State Parks: A Report to
the General Assembly on Act 256, studied 175 potential
state parks. The new parks were evaluated on water,
Maurice K. Goddard
gives away the key
to Valley Forge
State Park.
location, topography, subsurface conditions, availability
and scenic and historical significance. Acquisition of
some of the new state parks began immediately.
Goddard reorganized the Bureau of State Parks into four
regions, an organizational structure that still exists.
Visitation of state parks rose from eight million visitors
in 1955 to 24 million visitors by 1961.
The legislature introduced Project 70 to raise money for
forestry, conservation, parks, improved water quality
and pollution control. This bond issue had to go
through the Senate, the House of Representatives and
the voters. Goddard traveled around the state selling
the project:
Acquiring parks and open spaces for
parks in and around our urban centers
must be regarded as a 'now or never'
proposition … Such a program simply
cannot be postponed until sometime in
the remote and hazy future, because land
costs in these areas, high as they are
now, will be too high for government
purchase in another ten years.
Voters approved Project 70 in 1963. Needing money to
improve the lands purchased by Project 70, the
legislature created Project 500. The money was
earmarked for reclaiming abandoned mines, for state
parks and forests, for improving and building sewage
plants, and for local and county parks. This bond issue
passed in 1968, paving the way for acquiring and
creating many state parks.
In 1979, Goddard retired after 24 years of service under
six governors. He added 45 state parks and 130,000
acres of land during his tenure. To learn more about
Goddard's legacy, see his story on page 21.
Gifts and Giveaways
In 1911, Pennsylvania received the first of many gifts of
parks. President James Buchanan's niece left in her will
the provision to create a monument to her uncle on his
birthplace. After her death, a pyramidal monument was
built at Stony Batter and given to the Commonwealth,
James Buchanans Birthplace State Park. A year later,
noted newspaperman George W. Childs donated
property in Pike County. Over a dozen parks have been
gifts to the state, coming from the U.S. military,
businesses and individuals.
Keystone Wild! Notes 19
The History of Pennsylvania’s State Parks continued...
1926 photo of James
Buchanan's Birthplace
State Park
Some state parks were built and managed as
partnerships. At Beltzville State Park, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers built and operates the flood control
lake, but the Bureau of State Parks manages the
recreational aspects. At Codorus State Park, the
Glatfelter Paper Company built and operates the lake as a
water supply for making paper, and the Bureau of State
Parks purchased and manages the lands and recreation.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks has given away
parks, too. Curwinsville and Crooked Creek had been
built in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, who later took back management of the
parks. Independence Mall State Park, right in front of
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, was given to the
National Park Service in 1976. George W. Childs State
Park was transferred to the National Park Service as part
of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area,
in 1983.
The Modern Era
In the 1990s, the Bureau of State Parks began
modernizing many of the oldest parks, replacing vault
toilets with flush toilets, building modern cabins, leveling
campsites for recreational vehicles and changing facilities
to match the expectations of modern visitors. For the
years 2009 to 2011, the bureau was awarded the top
honor of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in
Park and Recreation Management by the American
Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in
partnership with the National Recreation and Park
Association. The future looks bright.
Completed in
2008, the new
park office at
Ricketts Glen
State Park is a
modern gateway
to a timeless
natural resource.
Want to Learn More About
Our Grants?
Now you can search through 30 years worth of
plant, animal and habitat research that was
funded through WRCP grants. Just enter in one
or more keywords and up will pop a list of grant
reports that can be downloaded in pdf form or
viewed online. Learn all about the reptiles,
amphibians, fish, mammals, birds, insects,
trees, flowers and other species that make
Pennsylvania such a special place. To access
this database, go to
All photos from the archive of the Pennsylvania Bureau of
State Parks.
Keystone Wild! Notes 20
A Pennsylvania State Park Champion:
Maurice K. Goddard
by Charlie Miller, Natural Resource Specialist
Bureau of State Parks
B
orn in Lowell, Massachusetts, but growing up in Kansas, Toronto
and finally Portland, Maine, Maurice Goddard received a B.S.
degree in Forestry from the University of Maine and a M.S.
degree in Forestry from the University of California at Berkley. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 and was awarded the Bronze Star, the
Legion of Merit and earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
After serving as the director of the Mont Alto Forestry School (now a Penn
State campus), Goddard went on to head the Pennsylvania State University
Forestry School. When Governor Leader was elected in 1955, Goddard
wrote a letter to the new administration with his suggestions for priorities
for forestry and conservation. After being extensively questioned about his
recommendations for who should head the Department of Forests and
Waters, Goddard was himself offered the job. Goddard took the position
and set a goal of a state park within 25 miles of every resident of
Pennsylvania. “We took a big map of Pennsylvania and drew circles around
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, the Wyoming Valley, and Harrisburg,” he said.
Goddard quickly set to work to improve the professionalism of the
department by obtaining civil service status for professional staff and
increasing the number of college educated employees. In 1959, Maurice K.
Goddard received an honorary doctorate of science from Waynesburg
College and was thereafter called “Doc Goddard.”
Falling short of funds for his 25-mile state park goal, Dr. Goddard needed
more money and proposed bond issues to raise money specifically for
conservation. Two voter approved bond issues raised the money needed
to expand and protect the natural resources of Pennsylvania.
In 1971, the Department of Forests and Waters was combined with
several other state departments to create the Department of
Environmental Resources (now split into the Department of Environmental
Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources).
Although opposed to the combined department, Dr. Goddard was
appointed secretary of the department.
When Dr. Goddard retired in 1979, after an unprecedented 24 years as a
cabinet officer to six governors, he had added 45 state parks and an
additional 130,000 acres of state park land. He raised Pennsylvania's
parks and forestry departments to national leaders, while not losing sight
of the people and programs.
Doc Goddard was a major
champion of state parks in
Pennsylvania.
Photo: DCNR archives
Dr. Goddard was a giant in the
field of conservation, a man
with vision, courage, integrity
and enormous energy. He will
long be remembered by his
contemporaries for his many
far-reaching accomplishments,
his friendliness and tenacity …
As he takes his place among
other great conservationists of
this century—Rothrock,
Pinchot, Leopold—
Pennsylvanians will note that a
great tree has fallen … has
fallen … is gone.
- Dr. Norman Lacasse
Dr. Goddard received many awards in his career, including the prestigious
National Wildlife Federation Special Achievement Award for his 50 years as
an outspoken defender of natural resources.
Keystone Wild! Notes 21
Environmental Education for Everyone
by Frances Stein, Natural Resource Program Specialist
for the Bureau of State Parks Region 2
T
he nearly 300,000 acres that make up Pennsylvania's 120 award winning state parks have plenty to offer
visitors seeking opportunities to learn, discover and explore. The Bureau of State Parks Outdoor
Programming Services Division provides a schedule of year-round activities that focus on nature, history,
environmental education and outdoor recreation. Last year, over 10,000 programs were provided for 387,055 visitors.
Programs for Individuals and Families
Interpretive programs are available for all ages and
abilities and include hikes, demonstrations, reenactments, and campfire programs. Get a closer look
at the special places and unique resources found in our
state parks. Hike to a waterfall, enjoy early morning
bird songs, take a boat ride on a lake, experience the
sound of cannon fire from the French and Indian War,
taste wild edibles, or explore the woods at night to
locate owls. Experienced state park staff will lead you
on these and many other programs as you make the
most of your time in the park.
State parks
offer a wide
variety of family
programming,
from historical
re-enactments
to nature walks.
Participate in one of the Get Outdoors PA programs.
These guided recreational activities teach new skills in a
variety of outdoor activities that allow you to explore our
state parks in new ways. Learn to backpack, kayak,
snowshoe, geocache or fly fish. Want to go camping but
don't know how? Participate in the First-Time Camper
program. This program, a partnership with Gander
Mountain, provides you and your family with the use of
basic camping gear (tent, sleeping pads, camp chairs,
camp stove and lantern) and state park staff show you
how to set up a tent, build a fire and begin your
camping adventure. All this for only $20.00 for two
nights! New this year is the Family Camping 101
program, which is a partnership with Northface and part
of their national Explore Your Parks program. The
program includes an overnight of staff-guided camping.
Want even more? Sign up for an ecotour. These
guided, multiday excursions include travel to multiple
locations, with several different recreational activities
built around a theme. From Eagle Weekends to
Wheels, Heels and Keels, these exciting trips are geared
to pack a lot of fun and adventure into just a few days.
The First-Time
Camper program
provides all the
camping gear a
family needs, all
for a very low
fee.
Programs for Kids
Several programs are for kids only. DiscoverE is a series
of programs that combines recreation and education.
These programs are divided into four different age
levels, and participants progress from one level to the
next as they grow in knowledge and skills. Hide N
Seekers is for children ages four and five and combines
play, exploration, stories and crafts as they look, listen
and explore the world around them. Outdoor Explorers
for ages six through eight provides adventure and
discovery with time to learn. Participants might go on
safari, build a birdhouse or explore a stream. The
KeystoneWild!Notes 22
Environmental Education for Everyone continued...
Penn's Adventurers for ages nine through 12 builds
outdoor skills and incorporates recreation, science,
history and geography. Participants may visit a historical
site, go on a hike or paddle a kayak. The final level is
Conservation Leaders for ages 13 through 17. This
program works to develop skills by making a commitment to conservation with a conservation project.
Projects may include building a trail, organizing an
outdoor program or monitoring bluebird boxes.
DiscoverE programs
are geared toward
specific age ranges
and have activities
like craft making,
birdhouse building
and hiking.
Exploring Careers Outdoors (ECO Camp) is a week-long
residential program for high school students (grades 10
to 12) to learn how adults make a living in the outdoors.
Students have the opportunity to meet park managers,
foresters, geologists and other conservation
professionals while exploring state parks and forests.
Information about continued involvement with DCNR
staff, internships and future employment is available
after completing the camp.
Adventure
Camps expose
youths from
urban areas to
new experiences
like fishing and
kayaking.
are developed to meet academic standards. Programs
may include studying a stream, discovering adaptations
of birds, exploring soil or investigating insects.
For instance, the Watershed Education program,
designed for students in grades six through 12, includes
both classroom activities and field research. Students
investigate, research, map and monitor past and present
uses of their watershed and network with other schools
in this comprehensive approach to learning about the
resource. Currently over 6,000 students in 177 schools
are active in this program. The PA Land Choices program
is also designed for students in grades six through 12
and focuses on landscapes, communities and land use
planning. Last year over 3,000 students participated.
Both of these multidisciplinary programs align with state
educational standards.
Several state parks in urban areas offer Adventure
Camps, a partnership between DCNR and a local
community organization or agency such as a boys and
girls club or a city park and recreation department, to
encourage a connection with the outdoors. These
camps (usually four or five days in length) provide urban
youth ages 13 to 15 the opportunity to fish, hike, bike,
kayak and learn new outdoor recreation skills in nearby
state parks as well as in their own neighborhood green
spaces. Eight camps were held last year.
Programs for Students and Teachers
Each year, school students participate in environmental
education programs at state parks. Students participate
in hands-on, multidisciplinary, educational programs that
State park educators also work with
classroom teachers on programs like PA
Land Choices and Watershed Education.
(Photo: Estelle Ruppert, DCNR)
KeystoneWild!Notes 23
Environmental Education for Everyone continued...
Pennsylvania state parks also offer in-service and preservice workshops on a variety of topics to give teachers
the knowledge and skills needed to provide
environmental education to their students. These
workshops can be provided as credit and non-credit
courses through local intermediate units.
Environmental Education Centers
Several of our state parks offer expanded programs and
services for students and teachers. These
Environmental Education Centers (EECs) provide a
comprehensive, year-round education service for local
schools and communities. The centers' services include
field learning experiences for school groups, in-service
and pre-service teacher workshops, community
programs, areas for research, as well as serving as a
resource center for ecological and environmental
information. These environmental education centers
are: Jennings EEC, Kings Gap EEC, Nolde Forest EEC,
Jacobsburg EEC, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at
Presque Isle State Park, and Nescopeck State Park.
There are six state park environmental
education centers in the state, like the
Tom Ridge Environmental Center at
Presque Isle State Park. (Photo: DCNR)
For More Information
The primary purpose of Pennsylvania's state park system
is to provide opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor
recreation and to serve as outdoor classrooms for
environmental education. To plan your state park
adventure, go to:
h p://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/index.aspx.
A list of scheduled activities can be found on the
calendar of events at:
h p://www.apps.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar/list.asp.
All photos were taken by Charlene Reinhart except
where otherwise noted.
Follow us on Twitter!
The Wild Resource Conservation Program is tweeting about
important conservation-related topics like climate change
and habitat protection. Our Twitter feed will also be the first
place to find out about new Wild! Notes issues, our festivals
and other upcoming events. To become one of our
followers, go to Twitter and search for “PAWRCP.”
KeystoneWild!Notes 24
Plant Species Matters in the Distribution of Lepidoptera
Larvae in Migratory Songbird Habitat
This is a research paper done by:
Stephanie Moon, Emily Bellush and Jeffrey Larkin, Indiana University of Pa.
Art Gover, Kiah Desarro and David Mortensen, Penn State University
Rachel Wagoner, DCNR Bureau of State Parks
Reprinted with permission.
hrubland communities provide important habitat for many
wildlife species including several imperiled songbirds. However,
many of North America's native shrubland communities are
becoming dominated by non-native invasive shrub species. While nonnative and native shrubland communities both meet the structural habitat
needs of breeding songbirds, it is unclear if non-native species support
adequate caterpillar (Lepidoptera larvae) abundances—a major prey item
for breeding songbirds and their young. It has been well established by
researchers that abundance and diversity of caterpillars differ among plant
species. Thus, it is important to better understand how non-native and
native shrub species may differ with respect to their ability to support
adequate prey populations for breeding songbirds.
S
Pennsylvania Academic Standards
that apply to this article:
4.1.4. and 12.A. – Explain how
living things are dependent upon
others and analyze the
significance of biological diversity
in an ecosystem.
4.5.3. and 7.D. – Identify
organisms that are dependent on
one another in a given
ecosystem and explain how
diversity relates to viability of
ecosystems.
4.1.3. and 4.E. – Identify and
explain how changes in the
environment happen over time.
The golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) is an example of a
species that requires shrubland communities and serves as a bellwether
species for habitat management efforts. This species' scientific name
Vermivora (meaning “worm-eater”) is in keeping with its strong preference
for caterpillar prey. Since 1966, breeding bird survey data indicate goldenwinged warbler populations have declined an average of 2.3 percent
annually over the species' entire breeding range, and an alarming 6.7
percent annually in Pennsylvania. This decline largely correlates with
breeding habitat loss. Additionally, hybridization and competition with the
blue-winged warbler (V. cyanoptera) further contribute to golden-winged
warbler population declines. The species is currently being considered for
listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. As such, several state and
federal agencies have initiated efforts to increase the availability of quality
breeding habitat for golden-winged warblers. Understanding plant-insect
relationships and the comparative value of native and non-native shrubs
will be helpful in refining habitat management prescriptions.
Golden-winged warblers are a
In 2012, we conducted a study that compared caterpillar abundance among
several non-native and native shrub species in two protected areas in
Pennsylvania—Yellow Creek State Park and Bald Eagle State Park.
Specifically, we quantified caterpillar abundance on four native and two
non-native shrub species. The native species we sampled included
hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), arrow-wood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum),
silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) and gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa).
The non-native species we sampled were autumn-olive (Elaeagnus
umbellata) and Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii). Analyses of our
data revealed that some native shrub species supported higher caterpillar
densities than both of the non-native species. Specifically, hawthorn,
arrow-wood viburnum and silky dogwood supported significantly higher
densities of caterpillars compared to autumn olive and honeysuckle (see
chart on next page).
good indication of quality habitat
and good management practices.
(Photo: U.S. FWS)
KeystoneWild!Notes 25
Average #of Caterpillars/10 g dry leaf weight
Plant Species Matters continued...
Native shrubs like this arrow-wood
viburnum (on top) support higher
caterpillar densities than non-native,
invasive shrubs like Morrow's
honeysuckle (on bottom).
(Photos: Vern Wilkins and Les
Given our findings, land managers should consider native and non-native
plant species composition when modifying shrubland habitats for wildlife.
These data support the Bureau of State Parks' operational goal of
increasing the proportion of native to non-native shrubs in early managed
shrublands. These results only describe the availability of food, but
observations in recently harvested forest plots in north central Pennsylvania
by Indiana University of Pennsylvania Master's degree student E.C. Bellush
support the hypothesis that birds do exhibit plant species preferences when
foraging, and that preferred plant species also host greater numbers of
caterpillars. The control and suppression of non-native shrubs, without
increasing the population of native woody species, will reduce the cover
required for nesting song birds, but will likely cause only a minimal
reduction of available caterpillar prey. As ongoing research allows us to
refine our knowledge of prey availability and foraging preferences of focal
songbird species such as the golden-winged warbler, it will be crucial to
direct the Bureau of State Parks' finite resources towards maintaining high
proportions of native woody species in quality sites and increasing native
species prevalence in more marginal sites.
Mehrhoff, www.forestryimages.org)
KeystoneWild!Notes 26
ild!Watch
by
Heidi Mullendore
Environmental
Education Specialist at
Canoe Creek State Park
State Parks are Better than TV
he campfire was crackling nicely within the
ring of weathered stones. Sprawled in lawn
chairs around the fire was a group of friends,
many of them colleagues in other state parks. On a
warm, humid evening in early summer, we sat under the
stars, swapping stories as the fireflies winked and
crickets accompanied us. It was one of those rare times
when we could relax in the busy season—the summer
months book-ended by Memorial Day and Labor Day
holidays. Represented were folks associated with
Pennsylvania state parks as well as folks who had grown
up visiting in and playing in parks across the state.
T
“I tell you,” said one burly guy, crunching into a hotdog
piled high with mustard and onions, “We are lucky to
have as many parks as we do. Other states just don't
have what Pennsylvania has.” He made an excellent
point—our state park system in Pennsylvania certainly is
a rarity—even achieving gold medal status within the
United States for what it offers.
Pennsylvania state parks were the dream of Maurice K.
Goddard, who became head of the Department of Forest
and Waters (the predecessor to DCNR) in 1955.
Goddard wanted there to be a state park within 25 miles
of every Pennsylvania resident. As a result, there are
now 120 state parks in Pennsylvania— a remarkable
legacy that bests almost every other state park system
in the United States.
One friend, who has been teaching in state parks for
more than 20 years, tipped her head and stared into the
flames. “Nowadays, most kids are afraid to leave their
backyards and can name more TV shows than critters
that live in Pennsylvania!” That got me thinking…what
does television have that we don't have? River
Monsters, the History channel, Animal Planet, fishing
and hunting shows—why, Pennsylvania state parks have
all that and more for people to see and experience!
As we sat with our feet up around the fire, we started
debating television shows, comparing them to our
stories from state parks. What we found was that
Pennsylvania state parks provide much more than the
average couch potato can find on all their premium cable
channels.
Do you think you pay big money to have to get a big
fishing experience? Ask Colorado native Dennis McGraw
and his son Dawson as they found success in their first
year of ice fishing in central Pennsylvania. They had
packed their gear and drove to Prince Gallitzin State
Park in Cambria County, dragging their ice fishing box
from the parking area, down the trail and onto the ice.
After setting up their tip-ups around a string of holes,
they proceeded to enjoy building an igloo. After a
couple of hours, their patience paid off when a 27-inch
walleye took the bait.
Colorado native
Almost every one of us at the camp fire had grown up
visiting state parks. When I was a kid in the early
1970s, I lived in rural northeastern Pennsylvania. At
that time, we spent our summer days roaming the
countryside until supper. We explored creeks, climbed
trees, visited our favorite rocks and searched for fossils.
Today's generation does not have some of the same
opportunities. Children don't roam across property
boundaries like we once did. Nowadays, to explore
freely people must get in the car to visit the state's
public lands.
Dennis McGraw
caught this whopper
of a walleye at
Prince Gallitzin State
Park.
Photo: Adam Katrancha
Keystone Wild! Notes 27
Wild! Watch “State Parks are Better than TV” continued...
Another angler ice fishing at Canoe Creek State Park,
southeast of Altoona, got the surprise of his life when
he caught a huge chain pickerel. It was unofficially
weighed and measured by the angler, who released the
fish. The pickerel was 33 inches long and weighed nine
pounds. The state record for a chain pickerel is eight
pounds 14.5 oz., so if the measurements had been
confirmed, the fish would have been the new
state record.
Could this pickerel have
beaten the previous state
record?
Photo: Craig Garman, PA FBC
Fishing shows such as River Monsters have nothing on
Pennsylvania state parks—we have everything from
migratory shad to freshwater eels, to prehistoric species
not many folks have ever seen, such as the primitive
predatory bowfins of Prince Gallitzin State Park.
If fishing isn't quite the adventure you're seeking, turn
the channel to adventure sports. Pennsylvania state
parks have it all, from hang gliding at Hyner View State
Park, to orienteering at Kings Gap Environmental
Educa on Center, to 5K races at any number of state
parks. Want something even more physical? Check out
Laurel Ridge State Park for serious backcountry hiking.
Laurel Ridge State Park, located in southwestern
Pennsylvania's beautiful Laurel Highlands, is primarily a
70-mile hiking and backpacking trail. The Laurel
Highlands Hiking trail runs from Ohiopyle to Seward on
the western side of Johnstown. This park provides
unique opportunities to get into the wild backcountry of
Pennsylvania. Although the park allows for excellent day
hiking experiences it also provides a chance to immerse
yourself in the backcountry with only the items you
brought with you. Backpacking can be a short overnight
journey or an extensive week long trip in the forest.
Either trip length involves self-reliance, resourcefulness
and knowledge of the wilderness. It may seem like
backcountry survival, but proper preparedness makes for
an amazing experience. Check out the park's programs
to learn to “Become a Backpacker.”
Tossing more logs onto the fire, another park naturalist
speared a marshmallow and held it over the coals. “A
lot of visitors might like high adventure, but even more
come to watch. We get people who come to visit to see
other adventurers.” Take the Half Gallon Challenge at
Pine Grove Furnace State Park, for example. This park
is the unofficial half-way point on the lengthy
Appalachian Trail, which runs between Georgia and
Maine. Each year, the hardy through-hikers stop here to
celebrate their success by taking the Half Gallon
Challenge. They trudge into the park store, plunk
money down to buy a half gallon of ice cream and eat
the whole thing! This is a people-watching favorite in
late May and June as calorie challenged hikers enjoy the
luxury of cold ice cream before continuing on the next
half of their arduous journey.
The hikers on the
Appalachian Trail stop
and enjoy a halfgallon of ice cream at
Pine Grove Furnace
State Park.
“Ha!” ranted a bearded colleague. “Sports, fishing,
hunting and adventure always get the big ratings on TV,
but what about the funky shows like Ghost Hunters, and
paranormal stuff? Everyone loves sports, but you know
no one can resist the truly weird—and we certainly have
our share. Those ghost hunter shows and paranormal
shows should see what we have.”
On July 31, 1966, two young couples and their children
from Jamestown, New York came to visit Presque Isle
State Park in northwestern Pennsylvania. After a day of
exploring, the couples drove their vehicle directly onto
the beach and became stuck in the sand on the east
side of Beach 6. One of the park rangers investigated,
and realized he needed a bigger vehicle to get them out,
so he headed back to the station with one of the men to
get the proper equipment.
Keystone Wild! Notes 28
Wild! Watch “State Parks are Better than TV” continued...
When they returned the park ranger found the others
were very upset. They said that they had seen an
object with bright lights fly over them and land in the
woods nearby. The police officer and the two men went
into the woods to investigate, leaving the women and
children in the car. While trying to search the dense
brush, the officer and the two men heard screams and
the rapid honking of the car horn. When they raced
back to the vehicle the two women were frightened and
nearly hysterical. Once the officer got everyone calmed
down, the women reported that an ape-like creature
appeared out of the woods and clawed frantically at
their vehicle. The creature fled when the men raced
back to the car. There were three triangular
indentations in the sand next to the car door. An
investigation followed, with the chilling details recorded
in the park's log book. To this day, the curious case
remains unsolved.
Other state parks have attracted their share of attention,
too. A couple hundred miles to the southeast is King's
Gap Environmental Education Center, near Carlisle. It
features a beautiful Italianate stone mansion atop the
mountain with a beautiful view of the valley. Mrs.
Cameron, wife of James Cameron, who built the
mansion in 1908, was 'stricken' in the mansion garden.
She later passed away in her upstairs bedroom. Since
that time visitors to the mansion have reported a variety
of strange occurrences—objects moving across the top
of dressers, hearing footsteps upstairs when the
mansion is empty, feeling that someone is sitting at the
foot of the bed. All happenings to date have been
friendly, leaving people with the impression that Mrs.
Cameron roams the rooms and corridors of the mansion
watching over her home and the people in it.
Many people believe that the King's Gap
mansion is haunted.
Photo: Friends of King's Gap
Many other state parks have had visitors report similar
stories of hauntings or sightings. For instance, in
Trough Creek State Park in south central Pennsylvania,
near Raystown Lake, the ghost of the daughter of the
iron master has been seen over the creek. In
Oil Creek State Park, in north-central Pennsylvania, five
cemeteries, various houses and a train station are
claimed to be haunted. Because the locations for state
parks frequently feature historical sites, a great many
sightings stem from state park buildings and kilns,
furnaces, bridges, and other structures. To the great
delight of park visitors, paranormal groups have shown
an interest in many sites, and ghost walks are
sometimes featured in state park programs.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, big fish and ghosts and UFOs,”
drawls a voice from the other side of the campfire.
“Even Kinzua Bridge State Park was featured on the
television show Finding Bigfoot in 2012. The 'crypto
zoologists' did not find Bigfoot, but there is more wildlife
in our parks than people realize. How many times have
we had visitors in our nature centers who are surprised
to find out we have elk, eagles, fishers, martens, otters
and other animals they thought only lived in other
states?”
One naturalist had the chance to visit the unique
lagoons and waterways deep in the interior of the
Presque Isle peninsula. It was eerie to be left alone in a
kayak on the dark and murky water at night-time. “I
paddled about 15 minutes at twilight, with no one else
around. It was so quiet as dusk settled in. I stopped to
rest and breathe in the fresh night air. Suddenly I heard
a loud, sharp crack that broke the water's stillness. I
looked over just in time to see the water rippling away
from point of contact. A minute later, from the other
side of my kayak, I heard the loud crack on the water
again. I whipped my head around in time to catch a
spray of water on my face but still saw nothing. In the
next instant I felt the plastic of the kayak bevel under
my feet as the creature swam underneath me. Clearly, I
was an unwanted visitor and was being given signs to
leave. Nervously, I began to make haste towards the
boat landing and ultimately, my car. I could not shake
the feeling I was being watched. Up ahead about 10
feet, I spied a dark, round lump swimming on the
surface of the water. Undoubtedly, a large body was
Keystone Wild! Notes 29
Wild! Watch “State Parks are Better than TV” continued...
hidden under water that was attached to that lump of a
head. I nervously felt around for my flashlight and
shined it on the swimming head. A set of yellow teeth
and round beady eyes looked back at me and then
disappeared once again underneath the water.“
At this point my colleague shook her head and laughed.
“Now I invite people to paddle with me to find out about
the ‘Creature of the Presque Isle Lagoon’. People
register for our nighttime paddles to see creatures like
this that they normally wouldn't see on their daytime
picnics in the park. “When visitors join park tours like
this, they can be in the park after dark, which is
normally against the rules.”
Rare and endangered
plants and animals
make their home in
Pennsylvania state
parks, like these
pitcher plants and
Massasauga
rattlesnake.
Photos: Wikipedia
Over the crackle of the flames, another staffer pipes up.
“I was leading a kayak paddle on Beltzville Lake and we
were on our way back towards the launch point. One of
the participants looks down and says 'what is this
creature in the water? It looks kind of like spit!' The
creatures were freshwater jellyfish, which tend to be
found in no wake zones. They do look a bit like
someone spit in the water.”
“Freshwater jellies?” questioned another, “Seriously?
This sounds like something you'd only find on the
National Geographic or Animal Planet channels.” With
that, the conversation shifted to unusual wildlife
sightings from parks across the state. Freshwater
jellyfish do exist in many state parks, from Beltzville to
Cowans Gap, Promised Land to Tuscarora and more.
In addition to jellyfish, you can see freshwater eels, or
alien-like gelatinous masses called Bryozoans, and even
algae balls that are formed by wave action in some state
park lakes. Bald eagles are nesting at Prince Gallitzin.
Ospreys frequent Pymatuning and Goddard state parks,
among others.
Almost every park has some endangered animal or
plant. Cowan's Gap State Park has state endangered
glade spurge plants. Canoe Creek has uncommon
yellow lady slippers that thrive in limestone soils.
Black Moshannon has the carnivorous pitcher plant
deep within its bog habitat. Jennings Environmental
Educa on Center has the endangered Massasauga
rattlesnake and Trough Creek State Park has the
endangered Allegheny big mouse, also known as the
wood rat. Canoe Creek has endangered Indiana bats.
As anyone can guess, state parks have their share of
nature. But even enthusiasts of the History Channel
can visit state parks to get their fill. Visit
Buchanans Birthplace in south central Pennsylvania.
Buchanan's father operated a store and helped prepare
early travelers and pack trains for their trip over the
daunting Tuscarora Mountain. Today you can drive
Route 16 through Cove Gap and over the mountain
easily—but think about making this trip with pack
wagons pulled by a mighty team of oxen. The trip was
so severe that horses couldn't make the trip! Or travel
north to Lake Erie to Presque Isle. After the Battle of
Lake Erie of 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry anchored his
ships in Little Bay (now known as Misery Bay). His men
were so sick they were left on the ships in quarantine.
Legend has it that as the men would die, they were
placed in their sleeping bags, a cannon ball at their feet,
and the bag was stitched closed with the last stich going
through the sailor's nose. This ensured that they were
truly dead. The bodies were carried across the ice of
Keystone Wild! Notes 30
Wild! Watch “State Parks are Better than TV” continued...
Little Bay to a separate body of water now called
Graveyard Pond. A hole was cut into the ice and the
bodies were dumped in the water. How many were
buried in the pond is unknown, if any. Legend has it
that these sailor soldiers can be seen wandering Presque
Isle searching for their ship and commander Oliver
Hazard Perry. Little Bay's name was changed to Misery
Bay due to the intense suffering of the sailors and
soldiers during the particularly severe winter of 1813-14.
Archaeological
remains can be
found at many
state parks, like
this old iron
forge at
Greenwood
Furnace.
Photo: DCNR
In central Pennsylvania, Greenwood Furnace contains
some of the best preserved remains of a 19th century
iron smelting furnace. The archaeological remains have
helped bring to life much detail of the life of a worker at
the furnace. One story involves the Confederate Army
General Robert E. Lee's visit to Greenwood Furnace after
the Civil War. His first cousin, Reverend H. Lee III, was
said to have slept in the mansion and worshipped in the
church. In the 1860s industrialist Andrew Carnegie even
had connections to the site. Indeed, Pennsylvania state
parks have deep ties throughout history, through
railroading, timbering, pioneer days, wars, limestone and
iron furnaces, and much more.
As the night became darker and the logs burned down,
our group got quieter. So many of us have ties to our
state parks, as visitors or staff. We had traded stories
and experiences, and concluded that the 120 state parks
in Pennsylvania had much more to offer than all the
hundreds of television shows available.
“Just think of this,” said one long time state park staffer.
“Imagine a single grain of sand, small and insignificant.
This grain of sand was born out of a rock. Eroded,
tumbled, smoothed by its travels down the river to the
temporary resting place in an eddy. You can commune
with this grain of sand and many others on the soft
beach of river sand. You can lose yourself among the
millions of grains around you and become the beach.”
Each state park has nature, history, sports, art,
adventure and much more. Lose yourself in
Pennsylvania state parks and you'll take more home with
you than you expected.
Keystone Wild! Notes 31
Pennsylvania State Parks
ild!
Beltzville
Chapman
Hillman
Milton
Nockamixon
Prompton
Shikellamy
Swatara
Bendigo
Codorus
Keystone
Moraine
Ohipyle
Pymatuning
Sinnemahoning
Tobyhanna
Bucktail
Evansburg
Kooser
Nescopeck
Patterson
Ravensburg
Suquehanna
Tuscarora
Caledonia
Gouldsboro
Lackwanna
Neshaminy
Point
Shawnee
Susquehannock
Tyler
Keystone Wild! Notes 32
Answers on page 10.
Go Visit a State Park Near You!
Color
Me
ild!
Park map
Ranger hat
Did you know that there is a state park within 25 miles of
almost every citizen in Pennsylvania? Can you help Cosmo and
Terra find the following items as they enjoy a day at a state
park beach?
Walking stick Hiking boots Fishing rod
Binoculars
Picnic basket Kayak
Keystone Wild! Notes 33
Weed It & Reap
Weed It & Reap
Black swallow-wort
Have You Seen This Weed?
Text and illustration by
Jessica Sprajcar
Land Conservation Specialist,
Department of Conservation &
Natural Resources
Bureau of Forestry
Rural and Community
Forestry Section
Black swallow-wort
Aliases:
Black swallow-wort is a twining
vine with dark purple, fivepetaled flowers. (Photo: Leslie
Mehrhoff, www.invasive.org)
Cynanchum louiseae, Cynanchum nigrum,
Vincetoxicum nigrum, Louis' swallow-wort, Black dog-strangling
vine
Last Seen:
Twisting its way around farm fields,
woodlands, riverbanks and roadsides in parts of Pennsylvania,
New York, New England, Wisconsin and California.
Description:
A twining vine with pairs of 3 to 4 inch-long
oval-shaped leaves. Five-petaled, dark purple to almost black
flowers appear in June or July. Slender, tapered seed pods
release downy seeds, like its relatives the milkweeds, from midsummer through fall.
Hard to swallow... When black swallow-wort, and its
invasive cousin pale swallow-wort, enters an area it has been
shown to ruin habitat for ground nesting birds and insects like
monarch butterflies, as well as chase out threatened native plant
species. No one is quite certain how widespread the plant is in
Pennsylvania, so be on the look out for it. For information on
how to stop this invader, go to
.
.
Keystone Wild! Notes 34
Use Order Form on Page 38
ild! Buys
Show Your
Wild Side!
SALE!—Many Items Limited—SALE!
COSMO'S WORLD T-SHIRTS
The WRCP logo is on the front (see above) and
Cosmo and Terra are on the back (at right). The
T-shirt is 100% cotton, pre-shrunk and available
in both Tangerine and Natural.
Children's sizes: M, L -- $15
X $10
Adult sizes: S, M, L -- $17
X $10
WRCP Logo Long-sleeved Faded Blue
Denim Shirt
Men's sizes: 3XL -- $25
X $20
Ladies' sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL -- $25
X $20
This 100% cotton shirt features double-needle
stitching and a button-down collar. WRCP logo
is embroidered above the patch pocket (no
pockets on ladies' shirt).
WRCP Logo T-shirt (Youth)
The WRCP logo is embroidered
on a 100% cotton T-shirt
available in Sand.
Youth sizes: S, M, L -- $10
X $5
Quantities of these
shirts are limited.
Quantities of these apparel
items are limited. Before
ordering, please call
Jennifer Girton, at 717-7873212 or email at [email protected]
to make sure that we have
your size.
Keystone Wild! Notes 35
Use Order Form on Page 38
ild! Buys
Show Your
Wild Side!
PRICES
Colorful Embroidered
Patches to Wear
or Collect
2009 Massasauga Rattlesnake --$4 (+ .24 tax)
2009 Cosmo's World Patch -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2008 Presque Isle Festival -- $4 (+ .48 tax)
2008 Serpentine Barrens -- $4 (+ .24 tax)
2007 Northern Flying Squirrel Festival -- $4 (+.48 tax)
2007 Rachel Carson Centennial -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2006 Wine-capped Stropharia Festival -- $4 (+.48 tax)
2006 Yellow Morel -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2005 American Kestrel Festival -- $4 (+.48 tax)
2005 American Kestrel -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2004 Allegheny Crayfish -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2003 Spreading Globeflower -- $4 (.24 tax)
2002 Red Eft -- $4 (+.24 tax)
2001 Luna Moth -- $4 (+.24 tax)
1999 Wood Thrush -- $4 (+.24 tax)
1998 Dogwood -- $4 (+.24 tax)*
1997 Bog Turtle -- $4 (+.24 tax)*
* Limited quantities
Keystone Wild! Notes 36
Use Order Form on Page 38
ild! Buys
Show Your
Wild Side!
Read All About It—In Wild! Books
WILDFLOWERS OF
PENNSYLVANIA
This book is for all who enjoy
nature and would like to
become more acquainted with
wildflowers. It will help the
observer to identify the plants
seen on a spring, summer or
fall hike in a natural area. The
book uses photographs of the
plants, as photos reveal much
more detail than can be found
in drawings.
Price: $20 (+ $1.20 tax)
OUTSTANDING MOSSES
AND LIVERWORTS OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Botanist Susan Munch brings
us the first full-color field
guide for mosses in the MidAtlantic region. The guide's 89
pages contain detailed color
photographs allowing for easy
ID of many of the most
common, yet striking, mosses
and liverworts. No microscope
is necessary. The guide is
suitable for both professionals
and non-botanists.
Price: $20 (+ $1.20 tax)
POCKET GUIDE TO
PENNSYLVANIA SNAKES
and POCKET GUIDE TO
PENNSYLVANIA FROGS
AND TOADS
WRCP teamed up with the
State Museum to produce
these affordable and
informative little books that
provide photos and natural
history information about all
of the state's serpents, frogs
and toads.
Price: $4.72 (+ $.28 tax) each
NEW! POCKET GUIDE TO
SALAMANDERS OF
PENNSYLVANIA AND
POCKET GUIDE TO
LIZARDS AND TURTLES
OF PENNSYLVANIA
Once again WRCP has
teamed up with the State
Museum to create affordable
and informative mini books
that provide photos and
natural history information
about all of the state's turtles,
lizards and salamanders.
Price: $4.72 (+ $.28 tax)
each
Keystone Wild! Notes 37
Use Order Form Below for All Orders
Show Your
Wild Side!
ild! Buys
ITEM DESRIPTION
QUANTITY
PRICE
SALES TAX
CONSERVE WILD RESOURCES LICENSE PLATE: Please send me a form ___
KEYSTONE WILD! NOTES: Please enter my web subscription_______
DON ATI ON to WRCP:
W R CP : If you wish to receive athank-you
thank-yougifts,
gift, for
for $15
$15 choose
or moreeither
you will
DONATION
ITEM TOTAL
Total Order
Postage
Invasive
Fungi
DVD.
Donate
$25 and
and up,
up, receive
receive both!
both! Add
Add donation
donation amount:
amount:
receive
Fungi DVD
DVD.or
Add
donation
amount:$25
InvasiveaPlants
Plants
DVD
or
Fungi
DVD Donate
TOTAL
ENCLOSED*
Please make check payable to:
*Please make check payable to “Wild Resource Conservation
“Wild
Resource Conservation Program”
Program”
SHIP TO: Name
Street Address (No P.O. Boxes)
City
State
Phone
Email
Zip
MMail
ail form
formto:
to:WRCP,
PO
Box
8764,
WRCP
Harrisburg,
/
400 MarketPA
St.,17105
6th floor
Info:
(717)
Harrisburg, PA 17105
787-3212
or 787-3212
Info: (717)
[email protected]
or email: [email protected]
To Order Merchandise:
PA State Sales Tax
Shipping Fees
Print out and fill in the form
above. Mail with check payable to
Wild Resource Conservation Program.
and add Pa. sales tax and appropriate
shipping fees. For more information,
call (717) 787-3212 or e-mail
WRCP is responsible for collecting
6% Pennsylvania sales tax on most
items we sell, excluding apparel.
The amount owed on each item is
noted next to the item price.
Total amount of order
$0 - $10.00
$10.01 - $20.00
$20.01 - $40.00
$40.01 - $70.00
$70.01 - $100.00
$100.01 or more
Postage Fee
$2
$4
$5
$6
$7
$8
Keystone Wild! Notes 38