by Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director
As a human, you depend on Pennsylvania's forests for the clean air you breathe, for the clean water you drink, and for the wildlife habitats that support your local ecosystem.
As a hiker, you depend on the trails in your forests for peace, for rejuvenation, and for sustaining your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Author Edward Abbey, from Indiana, Pennsylvania, once wrote, "Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread."
At Keystone Trails Association (KTA), we understand how much you value Pennsylvania's trails, and the wilderness surrounding them. Every day, we work hard to protect what small piece of 'wilderness' still exists in Penn's Woods, for we know that it is as fragile as it is precious and irreplaceable.
Our volunteer Trail Care program provides opportunities for you to give back to the trails, by helping keep them inviting and navigable for all hikers. By providing Pennsylvanians with accessible, well-blazed, and well-maintained trails, you are helping KTA build a public consensus that protecting forests is important for humans and habitats alike.
In addition, our efforts to preserve our wooded havens from gas drillers and other external threats continue to strengthen. With your support, KTA has become a force multiplier, enabling thousands of hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to participate in our statewide advocacy efforts (like our May 6th rally) each year.
Our Trail Care and Advocacy programs are just two examples of what we are doing on your behalf - and on behalf of the trails you love - in Pennsylvania.
We love Penn's Woods, and the thousands of miles of hiking trails they house. We know you do, too. We are fortunate to have an engaged Board, dedicated staff, terrific volunteers, and a small band of generous supporters like you, who are committed to our mission of providing, preserving, protecting and promoting hiking trails and hiking opportunities.
We're writing today to ask you to make a contribution of $50, $100 or more this month. By helping fund our statewide trail maintenance and advocacy efforts, your contribution will help us continue to keep our forests the sanctuary they are today. Your support will help us preserve Pennsylvania's trails and their wilderness experience for our children, grandchildren, and for generations to come.
Please CLICK HERE to make an online contribution, or send a check to KTA, 101 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Thank you for your commitment to hiking trails, and for making Keystone Trails Association a financial priority in your life this year. Together, we are KTA.