Clean up the Michaux – November 24-30
The week of November 24 will be busy in Michaux State Forest. With some time off, we’ll all be spending time in our favorite place, especially if you are #optingout on Friday the 29th – and of course firearm season for deer opens Saturday the 30th. While you are out in the forest during this week, why don’t you bring along some plastic bags and pick up any litter you see? Take a photo of the results of your trash pick up and share them to our Facebook event page or via e-mail to friendsofmichauxstateforest@gmail.com and you’ll be eligible to win a prize from either the Friends of Michaux or the Friends of Pine Grove Furnace (your choice)! Help us raise awareness about littering in the Michaux and promote a #leavenotrace philosophy. If you find a major dump site or come across something that looks dangerous, please take a GPS location, a photo, and send that to fd01@pa.gov so that DCNR staff can tackle it.
Update on the Long Pine Connector Trail
We had a great turnout on Sunday October 13, and we are pleased to report that cutting of the Long Pine Connector Trail is complete! That means this trail is officially open for use. It’s still a little uneven in a few places and some finish work is needed, but it’s great to add a new trail to Michaux State Forest! (Photos courtesy of Jeff Leininger.
The whole gang 
Trail work 
Great technique 
Nice trail!
Trail work day – SUNDAY October 13
For our next trail work day, we will be partnering with Carlisle Area Composite Racing MTB Team to continue work on the Long Pine Connector Trail! (Maybe we’ll finish it??) Note that all participants should complete a DCNR conservation volunteer application. To help us know the approximate head count, please RSVP to friendsofmichauxstateforest@gmail.com.
DATE: October 13, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
MEETING PLACE: Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area, 675 Milesburn Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
WORK DESCRIPTION: Trail construction. We hope we can FINISH the connector trail that joins Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area to Greenwood Rd. The connector will allow trail users to bypass Milesburn Rd and avoid associated traffic and dust while providing access to the greater Flat Rock trail system. Construction of the trail began last year.
OTHER INFORMATION:
• Hand tools will be provided but if you have favorite tool you are welcome to bring it. We’ll be using hoes, pick mattocks, cutter mattocks, fire rakes, wheelbarrows, and shovels.
• Wear appropriate clothing and boots/sneakers (no flip flops ).
• Water and snacks will be available but please bring a water bottle to refill.
• Rain or shine, may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
• If you are able to participate, please RSVP to friendsofmichauxstateforest@gmail.com with your name and number of volunteers (including yourself) so we may prepare enough supplies.
Trail work day – we are almost done!!
Thanks to everyone who came out for our trail work day on September 21. It was a warm sunny day for trail work. While we had hoped to complete the trail with one more work day, we didn’t quite get there – but we are so close to completing this trail!
Scrub oak seed collecting
The Friends of Michaux had the opportunity to collect scrub oak seeds. Like the chinquapin, the the scrub oak is an important wildlife species for black bears, white-tailed deer, small mammals, game birds, and songbirds. It is a small, scrubby oak that is adapted to early successional or recently disturbed areas in the forest, and is a fire-adapted species. The seeds we collected will be going to nurseries for germination.
Allegheny chinquapin seed collecting
A small group from the Friends of Michaux spent a beautiful Sunday morning on August 8 harvesting seeds from a grove of allegheny chinquapins (Castanea pumila). These small trees are related to the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), a tree that is now virtually extinct from North America due to the chestnut blight. Like its larger relative, the chinquapin has great value for wildlife and foresters seek to increase its numbers in Michaux State Forest. The seeds we collected on Sunday will go to nurseries for germination.
Trail work day – September 21
For our next trail work day, we hope to FINISH the Long Pine Connector Trail! Note that all participants should complete a DCNR conservation volunteer application. To help us know the approximate head count, please RSVP to fd01@pa.gov.
DATE: September 21, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
MEETING PLACE: Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area, 675 Milesburn Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
WORK DESCRIPTION: Trail construction. We hope we can FINISH the connector trail that joins Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area to Greenwood Rd. The connector will allow trail users to bypass Milesburn Rd and avoid associated traffic and dust while providing access to the greater Flat Rock trail system. Construction of the trail began last year.
OTHER INFORMATION:
• Hand tools will be provided but if you have favorite tool you are welcome to bring it. We’ll be using hoes, pick mattocks, cutter mattocks, fire rakes, wheelbarrows, and shovels.
• Wear appropriate clothing and boots/sneakers (no flip flops ).
• Water and snacks will be available but please bring a water bottle to refill.
• Rain or shine, may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
• If you are able to participate, please RSVP to fd01@pa.gov with your name and number of volunteers (including yourself) so we may prepare enough supplies.
Trail work day a success!
Thanks to everyone who came out to our August 10 trail work day! We had over 50 volunteers who put in over 150 hours of work on the Long Pine Connector trail, and together we made fantastic progress. Now there’s only a small stretch to complete along with some finish work, and we are motivated to get this trail done. Stay tuned for another work day soon!
Still in progress but almost done. 
Cutting the trail. 
Cutting the trail. 
Collecting fill for leveling. 
The finshing crew! 
Cutting the trail.
Volunteer work day – August 10
Since our July work day was cancelled due to heat, this will be the first official Friends of Michaux service project and we hope you can join us! Note that all participants should complete a DCNR conservation volunteer application. To help us know the approximate head count, please RSVP to fd01@pa.gov.
DATE: August 10, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
MEETING PLACE: Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area, 675 Milesburn Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
WORK DESCRIPTION: Trail construction. We will continue building the connector trail that joins Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area to Greenwood Rd. The connector will allow trail users to bypass Milesburn Rd and avoid associated traffic and dust while providing access to the greater Flat Rock trail system. Construction of the trail began last year.
OTHER INFORMATION:
• Hand tools will be provided but if you have favorite tool you are welcome to bring it. We’ll be using hoes, pick mattocks, cutter mattocks, fire rakes, wheelbarrows, and shovels.
• Wear appropriate clothing and boots/sneakers (no flip flops ).
• Water and snacks will be available but please bring a water bottle to refill.
• Rain or shine, may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
• If you are able to participate, please RSVP to fd01@pa.gov with your name and number of volunteers (including yourself) so we may prepare enough supplies.
Save the date – August 10, 2019 Work Day
Our July 20 volunteer work day has been rescheduled for August 10, and on that day we’ll be tacking not one, but TWO projects: trail construction and barberry removal. More information coming soon!
Volunteer work day – July 20, 2019 – CANCELLED
This work day has been cancelled due to heat advisories.
Summer is heating up and we would like to inform you of an upcoming Michaux State Forest volunteer work day. This will be the first official Friends of Michaux service project and we hope you can join us! Note that all participants should complete a DCNR conservation volunteer application.
DATE: July 20, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
MEETING PLACE: Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area, 675 Milesburn Rd, Fayetteville, PA 17222
WORK DESCRIPTION: Trail construction. We will continue building the connector trail that joins Long Pine Run Reservoir Parking Area to Greenwood Rd. The connector will allow trail users to bypass Milesburn Rd and avoid associated traffic and dust while providing access to the greater Flat Rock trail system. Construction of the trail began last year.
OTHER INFORMATION:
• Hand tools will be provided but if you have favorite tool you are welcome to bring it.
• Wear appropriate clothing and boots/sneakers (no flip flops ).
• Water and snacks will be available but please bring a water bottle to refill.
• Rain or shine, may be canceled in the event of severe weather.
• If you are able to participate, please reply to this email with your name and number of volunteers (including yourself) so we may prepare enough supplies.
If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Blevins at mblevins@pa.gov. Hope to see you all there!
Friends group is formed, May 30, 2019
On May 30, 2019, the Friends of Michaux State Forest was officially formed as a chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation.
Friends of Michaux State Forest 