FRiends of Cook FOREST
STATE PARK
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Mission Statement:
Continuing the legacy of preservation and conservation of Cook Forest State Park. |
First Day Hike - Canceled
Cook Forest State Park Programs Update
As per the Cook Forest State Park website:
COVID-19 Mitigation UPDATE 12/4/2020: Effective Sunday December 6, 2020
All in-person programs are canceled until further notice. This cancelation will impact First Day Hikes.
More information will be provided on First Day Hikes. Virtual programs will be offered.
Check the calendar of events https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/ for scheduled programs.
Enjoy your own First Day Hike:
(Out of State Visitors - please see state website for the latest quarantine procedures. Currently thru 1/15/21, as per Governor Wolf, the PA Department of Health aligned its quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19 with the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This guidance provides an option for a 10-day quarantine without testing or a seven-day quarantine with a negative test on or after day-five of quarantine.)
As per the Cook Forest State Park website:
COVID-19 Mitigation UPDATE 12/4/2020: Effective Sunday December 6, 2020
All in-person programs are canceled until further notice. This cancelation will impact First Day Hikes.
More information will be provided on First Day Hikes. Virtual programs will be offered.
Check the calendar of events https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/ for scheduled programs.
Enjoy your own First Day Hike:
(Out of State Visitors - please see state website for the latest quarantine procedures. Currently thru 1/15/21, as per Governor Wolf, the PA Department of Health aligned its quarantine guidance for people exposed to COVID-19 with the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This guidance provides an option for a 10-day quarantine without testing or a seven-day quarantine with a negative test on or after day-five of quarantine.)
- Your family can plan your own hike! Walk your neighborhood, a local park or state park. Please check the current park guidelines to be in compliance (such as having a mask 'at the ready' in case you meet other hikers along the way.)
- Keep warm and jump on the treadmill! But don't despair! Here is a 40 minute video from the Clarion Chapter of the North Country Trail Association's monthly hike from 2-10-18 in beautiful Cook Forest State Park! Take a four mile journey through the silence and solitude of Pennsylvania’s largest old growth forest north from the Log Cabin. Pass through 8-10" of freshly fallen snow, beneath hemlocks and rhododendrons. The temperature was 3°F at the start of the hike and rose to 37°F by the end (but you'll be nice and warm!). The trees still held quite a bit of snow, and as the temperature warmed, they dropped more and more snow from the branches. You'll hear the videographer (Michael Ciccone) huffing & puffing along the way, and maybe a little humming-you'll feel like you're there among friends...except for the being cold! Toss a beanie on for added fun! Video: First Day Hike...At Home
Sensory Trail Project
Update & Raffle Winners
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Sensory Trail – A Great Beginning
During the Fall Chainsaw Carver’s Round Up in September, Mary Beth and Mike Doyle of the Friends of Cook Forest raffled off a Bird Feeder, built and donated by Bill Mealy of Piscataqua Drive, Leeper PA, and a Nut Tree, created and donated by Mary Beth Doyle. The proceeds at the Round Up totaled $644. The raffle continued during the Gingerbread Tour. Thanks to Misty Stanley and the Sawmill Center for the Arts Board of Directors, the Friends were able to participate at both events. At the Gingerbread Tour, we raised $991, with an additional two donations of $100 each, the grand total is $1,835 to date. These funds will be utilized for the building of the Sensory Trail. The Doyle’s are pleased to announce that Sue, of Brackenridge, PA, won the bird feeder, while the winner of the nut tree is Jamie and Savanah (with Corbin – service dog) of Forest Hills, PA. You can help us achieve our goal with your donation. Read our latest newsletter article about the project here. **Thank you to those who have donated to this very worthy cause and to the Sawmill Center for the Arts for allowing us to participate in their events. |
Mary Beth Doyle with nut tree winners Jamie, Savanah and Corbin (service dog).
Mary Beth & Mike Doyle with birdhouse winner Sue.
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Sensory Trail Project
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The Friends of Cook Forest have taken on a new project - turning the 0.2 mile Paved Trail into a "Sensory Trail". This ADA-accessible trail loop winds through a mature hardwood forest. It can be reached via the water tower access road near the entrance of the Sawmill Center for the Arts.
Plans include repaving, adding a guide rope the length of the trail, braille/raised letter signage, frequent benches for resting and more. You can help us achieve our goal with your donation. Read our latest newsletter article about the project here. |
Example of a braille/raised letter sign from another park
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STATE PARK OPENING GUIDELINES:
DCNR's opening guidelines can be found here.
(Please follow the link above for latest information.)
DCNR's opening guidelines can be found here.
(Please follow the link above for latest information.)
Crossing one bridge at a time campaign
Become one with the Forest...
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The Clarion River and the Forest Cathedral are the stars of the show here at Cook Forest, and the Friends of Cook Forest take full advantage of the natural wonders of our park! In fact, our number one priority is an all out assault on the Hemlock woolly adelgid that threaten the beautiful hemlocks of the Forest. The Friends Group joined in a community search for locations of Hemlock woolly adelgid in Cook Forest. We found them, and it became an important part of The Cathedral documentary being filmed at the time. The films production and viewing around the state helped earn Cook Forest State Park the '2018 Pennsylvania State Park of the Year' Award. |
Breathtaking adventures
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Plan your Cook Forest Visit! The Friends of Cook Forest are happy to provide you with a 7-day forecast so you can be prepared for all kinds of weather-whether hiking, camping, canoeing, cross country skiing, biking or any of the other wonderful outdoor activities available at the Park! And the don't miss the Clarion River water level below-especially if your plans include kayaking or canoeing, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey (updated hourly).
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The Forest is CALLing.
WILL YOU ANSWER?
Join us as a member, volunteer or VISITOR!
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