Something for everyone

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Dalton Smith | One of the many sights of Raccoon Creek State Park, Pa.  

HOOKSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES

03.15.2015

Story by Spc. Miguel Alvarez 

354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

HOOKSTOWN, Pa. - The frigid temperatures in southwestern Pennsylvania manage to keep most people inside, but some know Raccoon Creek State Park has something to offer all year round.

Located about a half an hour outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the park – founded in 1945 – offers the region the opportunity to explore the outdoors with the 7,752-acre park and a 101-acre lake.

“Just because it’s winter you don’t have to hibernate,” said Paul Friedline, a volunteer for Raccoon Creek State Park. Friedline and other volunteers helped prepare for a maple syrup class for 20 participating visitors.

People volunteer at the state park to help folks feel comfortable and get them outdoors by educating them about the different activities they can participate in at the park, according to Friedline.

Snowshoeing, winter camping, bread making, wilderness survival training, ice fishing and hiking offer opportunities for recreation in the winter months.

The park features a large amount of resources such as knowledgeable workers to provide an exceptional outdoor experience for visitors, according to Friedline.

Patrick Adams, from Huckstown, Pennsylvania, has worked at the park for 15 years. As an environmental educator, he leads the maple syrup course and enjoys giving people a connection to the land through a process passed down for hundreds of years.

He hopes more people will continue to visit, support and realize the land was an important piece to our ancestors and is equally important for the local community and future generations.

“The park has something to offer anyone who comes,” said Adams.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 22:39
• Story ID: 157453
• Location: HOOKSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, US