By Jim Wylie, Membership Chair, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter
On a beautiful Saturday in early August, 2025, about 100 outdoor enthusiasts converged in Valley Forge National Historical Park for a day of biking, hiking, food, fun and education about the stress that all US National Parks, including Valley Forge, are feeling in the wake of budget cuts, interpretive display reviews and tremendous uncertainty about how they can effectively fulfill its mission.
National Park Service Mission: “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations”
Protecting Our Parks
While we enjoyed our lunch and rested from the morning’s rides and hikes, we heard from several speakers about the urgency of lifting our voices, engaging with organizations that support the parks that many of us take for granted and to consider contributing our time and money to these organizations.
Here are a few quotes from the day:
“The Outdoor recreation economy in Pennsylvania is thriving. I have heard so many stories from friends and loved ones about the worries they hold about their future. Will they still have a job in the coming months, will they have to take on the workload of others who are not as lucky?”
Sarah Corcoran, Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter, Deputy Director
“Valley Forge, PA’s first state park, became a national park on July 4, 1976. It became a national park for three reasons: - To tell the story of the Continental Army’s winter encampment under George Washington’s leadership. - Its open space in a densely developed area. For people and as a natural area that supports a healthy ecosystem for animals and plants. - Citizen stewardship. Valley Forge was created by citizens. Today the Valley Forge Park Alliance represents the citizens who love the park. We advocate for it and work with the park rangers to protect its important resources from threats.”
Molly Duffy, Valley Forge Park Alliance, Executive Director
“Extraordinary places like Valley Forge don't just happen. Protecting and maintaining our nation's incredible public lands, outdoor spaces and natural heritage isn't done on accident - it requires sustained leadership, stewardship and vigilance on the part of the general public and elected officials alike. The long-term protection of irreplaceable natural and cultural resources is now at stake.”
Belle Sherwood, PennEnvironment, Climate and Clean Energy Associate
“Although the future of our national parks is in limbo, at the state level of Pennsylvania, our state forests and state parks with the Department of Conservation and Natural resources are protected and funded by our citizens and not at risk of being lost. Our funding we get from the federal government does get cut, and our outreach programs suffer, at our core our public lands will always be public lands.”
Kayla Kehres, Pennsylvania DCNR/Forestry Division, Forester
“Parks have always had, and continue to have, wide bipartisan support. Not only that, our national parks are deeply loved. Last year, once again America's national parks continued to have record breaking visitation. NPCA is calling on Congress and the administration to halt further cuts, lift the hiring freeze and fully restore lost positions. This crisis was a choice. But it can still be reversed. It's time for lawmakers who swore to protect our national parks to act now, before the damage to our parks and our nation's legacy is irreversible.”
Renee Reber, National Parks Conservation Association, Mid-Atlantic Climate and Clean Water Program Manager
What We’re Asking For (national Sierra Club statement)
We’re calling for the full restoration of funding to the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other community-centered outdoor and conservation programs. These aren’t just line items in a budget: they're the backbone of safe, welcoming public lands, healthy neighborhoods, and local economies. |
We're pushing back against the cuts from DOGE, the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill", and proposed FY26 budget which has/will gutted hundreds of millions in federal funding for critical work like:
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We’re calling for the immediate rescission of Interior Order 3431. This order undermines the Department of the Interior’s duty to steward not just our shared landscapes, but the layered histories they hold. It encourages the removal of exhibits, signage, and stories that reflect the full, often difficult, American story; favoring erasure over truth at a time when honesty and inclusion are more essential than ever. |
Share your photos, bumper stickers, short videos and posters with the national Sierra Club National Park Service Support Campaign. <link coming soon - check back later>
Exploring and Learning
Local Sierra Club Outings Leaders organized 5 hikes in the park aimed at outdoor education and appreciation for the natural beauty and history of Valley Forge. 3 of the hikes included expert guides to help explore the birds, insects and vegetation that can be found in (a part) of the park.
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| Hike to Mt Misery - Photo by M Bowers | Bird walk participants learned from Mary Ellen Heisey from Valley Forge Park Alliance - Photo by P Jordan |
Enjoying Our Company
The Southeastern PA Group (SPG) provided a picnic lunch for about 100 participants who came to learn about why parks and public lands in general need our support.
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| Kids by the creek looking for fish food - photo by Emily Abendroth | Enjoying a summer picnic lunch in the shade of some tall trees - photo by Emily Abendroth |
The Philadelphia Bicycle Club and the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited helped to organize 5 different rides in the morning - all converging at the Wayne’s Woods picnic area. About 35 cyclists participated and were glad to get rehydrated after riding from Philadelphia, Media and Oaks.
Families enjoyed the fun as well.
The Bottom Line
A great event organized by Sierra Club and several organizations that support public lands and our National Parks. We were able to engage with folks that were not familiar with Sierra Club, our mission to explore, enjoy and protect our natural resources and what our local volunteers are focused on.
A few other photos and videos you might enjoy:
- Thank You National Park Rangers (4 sec video)
- What's Your Favorite National Park? - Sue and George Edwards
- We Need More Rangers - Howard Sherman
- Canine Enthusiasm for National Park Rangers - Delane Cachia
- It's My Pleasure - Matt from VF Park staff
- Just the volunteer crew - all 40 of us