Hello DCNR colleagues, A few weeks ago I visited Codorus State Park for the first time with State Parks Director Dave Kemmerer, Regional Manager Mary Lorah and Park Manager Warren Werntz. I quickly realized why so many people love Codorus. Warren showed us a picture of the 5+ foot fish that was caught in Lake Marburg! I met several volunteers who regularly participate in and manage park events and also visited the store run by the Friends of Codorus State Park, whose work is so critical and appreciated at Codorus. I also participated in Governor Corbett’s three-day kayak trip in and around the Juniata River. I paddled the first day with Jason Albright from Forestry and Mike Piaskowski from our Bureau Recreation and Conservation. We battled a few (maybe more than a few) rapids, but we all emerged safely and had a great time. At the lunch stop at Huntingdon Park, we heard about the good work of the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Corp., other groups active in the region, and the role Recreation and Conservation has played in that community. I was able to fit in a tour through Bald Eagle State Forest with State Forest Director Dan Devlin, District Forester Amy Griffith and Rebecca Oyler, our “new” Director of Policy. Having never been to this district, I was struck by its beauty, as were many others visiting that day for tubing, hiking and other great outdoor sports! Amy told us about all the groups with whom she and staff work in the management of the district, one of the largest in the state forest system. The next day was capped off by the Governor’s and First Lady’s visit to Bald Eagle State Park and the Nature Inn. They had a great time that day with several children from the community on a geo-cache adventure. Great fun! These trips showed me once again how involved we are in communities and how involved communities are involved with us. In 2012, people volunteering at state parks and forests gave about 170,000 hours of their time. We also have 42 friends groups assisting our parks with everything from buying equipment to helping us with needed repairs. While we gladly accept and appreciate the assistance, we are also always at the ready to assist, from our Bureau of Recreation and Conservation helping hundreds of communities and groups as they work on parks, land conservation, trails and more; to our parks staff assisting in community events and schools in environmental education; to our forestry staff assisting in wildfire suppression and forest conservation and management – to give just a few examples. DCNR is part and parcel of our communities and you are all -- each and every one -- leaders in conservation and recreation in Pennsylvania.