Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge
Launched in 2008, the Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge raises funds for state parks and forests through individual or team outdoor challenges, while also building awareness of the exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities available here
in Pennsylvania.
Get outdoors on behalf of state parks and state forests by participating in the Great Pennsylvania Outdoor Challenge! The GPOC brings together individuals, businesses, outfitters, organizations and corporations who understand the value of public lands. Between September 10th and October 10th, 2010, help us to virtually hike, bike, walk, swim, ride, or paddle the approximately 30,000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania.
There are lots of GPOC Events on our Calendar (entries in purple in September and October). Visit our partner, Get Outdoors PA, for even more opportunities in the outdoors. Please note that some events may have a cost associated with them above and beyond the GPOC registration fee.
New This Year!
We’ve added a new category—Puppy and Me—to accommodate our four legged friends (of any age) and their humans. Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests are canine-friendly, and it’s time we celebrate the beauty of being outdoors with our pups. All Puppy and Me proceeds support developing dog friendly areas in state parks and state forests.
Dogs in the Outdoors Photo Contest
One of our GPOC events is a Bark in the Park at Colonel Denning State Park on October 2nd. Enter our photo contest to be judged at Bark in the Park for fame and fortune (or at least some nifty prizes). Click HERE for more information and guidelines. Click below to see last years winners.
Premiums and Prizes Available to Individuals
All participants who raise $1,000 or more will be listed as Park and Forest Ambassadors and receive a complimentary invitation to the 2011 PPFF awards banquet.
All registrants receive the 2010 GPOC bandana – a wearable checklist of the parks and forests. Visit one, check it off. (That doesn’t mean you can’t go back and visit again!)
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All puppy participants receive their own special 2010 GPOC dogdana to wear with pride in support of the parks and forests.
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For every $100 that you raise, your name will be entered into a prize drawing for great gifts from our outfitter friends and sponsors
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Raise $125, receive a GPOC t-shirt (You’ll do it—give us your size)
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Raise $250, receive a GPOC t-shirt and a PPFF hat
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Raise between $500 and $999, receive a gift basket of PA Preferred products, a GPOC t-shirt and a hat
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Raise between $1,000 and $2,499, receive a gift card for a weekend of camping in a Pennsylvania state park, plus your hat
and t-shirt
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Raise between $2,500-$4,999, receive a lifetime membership to PPFF, a gift card for a weekend cabin rental in a state park and your hat and t-shirt
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Raise $5,000 or more, receive a lifetime membership to PPFF, a gift card for a weekend at the new Nature Inn at Bald Eagle, and your hat and t-shirt
In addition to our fundraising champions, the person (both adult and youth) who covers the most miles will receive an engraved plaque, a state park gift card for a weekend of camping, and a complimentary invitation to the 2011 PPFF banquet.
What to shoot for? In 2009, high miles in the youth category was 14-year old Savanna Lenker with 43 miles.
Our top five adult mileage trackers were: Jerry Walls—230 miles, Stephanie Strub—173.5 miles, Douglas Turner—131 miles, Gail Schlichtkrull 128 miles, Jessica Strand 124.8.
Walk 25 miles as Puppy and Me and we’ll enter you into a special dog-friendly prize drawing.
Get started today! Here’s how—
1) Register online at www.active.com/donate/gpoc2010 or by mail using the form in the summer issue of Penn's Stewards. Online registrants can develop a free personal fundraising web page where you can tout your accomplishments and enlist the help of your friends and family in meeting your mileage and/or fundraising goals.
2) Set a fundraising goal and decide where you would like
the money to go—
To the work of PPFF
To your favorite state park, state forest or Friends Group
To the project nearest and dearest to your heart
— For trails
— For environmental education
— For native plantings or invasive plant control
— For preservation of Civilian Conservation Corps structures
Note: 15% of all funds donated to these categories will be retained by PPFF for managing the funds and covering operation costs. Active Network retains 6.5% as a usage fee.
3) Set a mileage goal. Begin fundraising. Raise funds online through your own page or using our fundraising collection form. Download our mileage tracker (in Excel to track your miles on your computer or .pdf to write them by hand). Ask friends, family members, coworkers and people with whom you do business to make a contribution. Remind them that every dollar stays right here in Pennsylvania to make our parks and forests even better!
4) Build a team! It’s more fun to take the challenge together so build a team and help spread the word. Gather your friends, coworkers, family and outdoor club members and form a GPOC team! Be creative! Have fun! Build awareness about your favorite park or forest or activity while raising funds to make improvements. Teams must consist of at least three persons. The top fundraising and mileage teams will each receive an engraved plaque. There will also be prizes for the wackiest event, the best team shirts (take lots of pictures), and the greatest percentage of employees participating (for work place teams.)
At the end of the Challenge on October 10th, send your completed mileage tracker to Membership/Volunteer Coordinator Pam Metzger for prize eligibility.
Coins For Conservation at Metro Bank
As part of the GPOC, you can bring your loose change to any Metro Bank and say you would like it to be donated to Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation.
Sponsors:
Blue Mountain Outfitters (www.bluemountainoutfitters.net)
Kittatinny Canoes (www.kittatinny.com)
Oswald Cycle Works (www.oswaldcycleworks.com)
REI (www.rei.com)
Shank’s Mare Outfitters (www.shanksmare.com)
Susquehanna Outfitters (www.susquehannaoutfitters.com)
Wilderness Voyageurs (www.wilderness-voyageurs.com)
