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Down a Lazy River
July 10, 2014
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 It's Wet & Wild Week in the Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge - time to find yourself in or on some water. "Wild" is in the eye of the beholder - for some of us, a downstream float with a few ripples is quite enough, thank you. For others, nothing short of the the Lower Youghiogheny's Class IV whitewater will do. Fortunately, with over 80,000 miles of rivers and streams, Pennsylvania's got you covered.
The Pennsylvania River of the Year page on DCNR's website is a great place to start to look for your adventure on the water. The "posters" page gives the list: from this year's winning Schuylkill River back through the Monongahela in 2013, the Stonycreek in 2012, the Delaware in 2011 and on back through to the Clarion in the 1980s, there's plenty to celebrate.
"Doc" Goddard famously believed that a park wasn't a park without a lake, so you'll find plenty of them in our state parks; Pennsylvania's state forests boast over 5,000 miles of streams themselves. So, okay. You have a busy week ahead of you. Paddles up!
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The Benfers had a family reunion at home; Marci and friends did a float trip; Jen and her family were on vacation with college friends. Pam rode her bike (what else is new?) - so July 4 weekend couldn't have been better if we'd paid someone!
What's on the schedule this weekend? Send your photos to the inbox or submit them to the Facebook group. (You are a member, right? It's a private group so join in!)
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Speaking of the inbox, we're taking a poll this week: what's your favorite diner and/or ice cream stop on your way to the park? Let us know!
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PPFF On the Move
This Saturday night marks the second of three Music in the Gap concerts we helped to sponsor at Cowans Gap. Come on out to see the Positronic Cats (and Pam and husband Bill). The show starts at 6:00 PM)
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Teddy Bear Picnic
Today is Teddy Bear Picnic Day! Grab your favorite kid, your favorite kid's favorite stuffed bear (unless, of course, you have one of your own) and a picnic hamper and head for the forest."If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise."
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Health Watch
Moving water can be scary and dangerous. Accidental drowning can happen anywhere there is water, and is the seventh leading cause of death in children under the age of 14. Many who drown know how to swim, but may have ventured beyond their ability, lost control or suffered cramps. The following are some safety tips to reduce the likelihood of drowning in public waters—look on the internet to reduce risks for home pools.
- Always use the buddy system, no matter your age.
- Don’t rely on swimming lessons—they help, but they do not drown proof an adult or child.
- Don’t rely on plastic arm floats for children. Wear proper personal flotation devices (PFD) for the water based activity in which you are involved. Even experienced swimmers benefit from PFDs when engaged in boating activities.
- When swimming at lakes or beaches, swim parallel to the shore so that if you become tired or develop cramps, you are close to shore.
- Know the area in which you are swimming - know the drop offs, the hazards, the water temperature (and undertows and rip currents at beaches).
- Enter the water feet first to prevent injury from diving in shallow waters.
- Avoid water during an electrical storm.
- Be prepared in case an accidental drowning occurs. Learn CPR, have phone (if you have a signal) to call for help,
 Here's our Lisa in her brand new kayak and all the right gear, including a PPFF logo hat, available in our online store (where we're having a "buy one, get one free" sale on our logo hitch covers). We want your adventures to be wet and wild with nothing but happy stories to share.
What the heck! Share your happy stories and we'll pick a random winner of one of those very hats!
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