PENFIELD – Officials at the Parker Dam State Park have announced programs for Sept. 4-6.
Friday, Sept. 4
How Neat Is That?:
6 p.m. – Campground
Come find the park naturalist as he traverses the campground with his wagon full of neat nature stuff to explain why nature is the way that it is, so that you can learn how neat nature is too.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Drive to Blackwell Splash Dam
10 a.m. – outside Park Office
Blackwell Dam was the next splash dam downstream from Parker Dam, and there are still traces of the operation to see. We’ll also explore the Laurel Run Lumber Co. sawmill site. Carpooling is encouraged; about 3 miles.
Log Drive
2 p.m. – Beach
Bring your beach buckets to help haul water for our scaled-down splash dam on the beach. Learn about how folks used to move logs before logging trucks. We will drive our miniature logs to the boom at the lake shore.
Beaver Dam Trail
4 p.m. – Beach House
Travel through varying habitats where you may see signs of diverse wildlife. Part of the trail follows a historic railroad grade; learn a bit about the park’s history along the way. This two-mile loop covers easy terrain.
The Pennsylvania Forest
8 p.m. – Campground Amphitheater
Join us as we look into Pennsylvania’s historic forests through the eyes of Jim Nelson, former Director of the state’s Bureau of Forestry. Jim accurately depicts an encouraging tale of Pennsylvania heritage for the viewer.
Sunday, Sept. 6,
32nd Annual Woodhick Games
Lumberjack Skills Demonstrations – PA Professional Lumberjack Organization:
12 p.m. and 4 p.m. – Woodhick Games Field
Many specialized skills made a woodhick valuable in the forest. Their hard work and skills were put to the test each day as they faced one of the most dangerous jobs of their time. Today, the stakes aren’t quite as high, but the skill level is. Watch as members of the PA Professional Lumberjacks demonstrate their skills and explain how what they do was useful in the forests to the earlier woodhicks.
32nd Annual Woodhick Games:
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Woodhick Games Field
Register for free at the table in the grove above the Cabin Road (look for the banner) so that you can participate in the Woodhick Games. Then, test your traditional woodhick skills against other amateur woodhicks in six different events: log rollin’, cross-cut sawin’, seed spittin’, ’shoe pitchin’, doo-doo droppin’, and hatchet throwin’. Best score will win you an event; best overall score in your division will give you the coveted title of Woodhick or Woodchick of the Year. There’s a Junior division for those who are 12 and under.
Note: If you win an individual event, or one of the Woodhick of the Year divisions, you must be at the Woodhick Awards program at 6 p.m. to receive your prize.
Arrival of Smokey Bear
1 p.m. – Woodhick Games Field
Smokey Bear will be in the park for a while to greet the competitors, their families, and other park visitors. He is always recruiting for anyone that will help spread the word about being careful with fire. Be sure to go up and say hello.
Woodhick Camp Demonstrations
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Woodhick Games Field
Watch the blacksmith as he shows off his skills with iron. Other woodhicks will be demonstrating the skills used in the woods and along the waters. Look also for the tools-of-the-time display, the camp cook’s tent, and the traditional beans to be removed from the bean-hole – you can even give them a try.
Log Birling Demonstration
5 p.m. – Lake Shore, below the Woodhick Games Field
When driving logs downriver, balance was a skill you must possess, or face deadly consequences. The stakes aren’t as high, but bragging rights are on the line when woodhicks face off in the sport of birling. Come watch and cheer them on.
2015 Woodhick Awards
6 p.m. – Woodhick Games Field
The competitors have given it their all, now it’s time to reward them. The winners of each event will be awarded their prizes; however, winners must be present to receive their treasures. Then, we will crown the 2015 Woodhick, Woodchick, Jr. Woodhick, and Jr. Woodchick of the Year. Bring your lawn chair and applaud the efforts of all of the ‘hicks and ‘chicks who competed this year.
