Our 10th Anniversary Commemorative Pin is Ready!

The not-for profit Friends of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area unveiled the newest fundraiser pin in the LizTech Jewelry collection this weekend at their annual meeting.

“This is our 10th anniversary year and the uniquely designed pin is a great way for us to celebrate and raise funds to support the national park,” said Gail Wershing, president of the Friends group. The pin, priced at $60.00, is the only one designed by LizTech for any of the national parks.

The pin is designed by LizTech on Crystal Street, East Stroudsburg, PA. Each one is handmade in their workshop using antique and vintage stones. The design features gold Hemlock trees, green mountains, blue for the Delaware River, a brown jewel acorn, shining sun, a bald eagle and the park service arrowhead cut into the side of one of the mountains. Each pin comes with a folded Chinese carton for gift giving.

LizTech has the pin available in their gallery at 95 Crystal Street.

Purchasers also may contact the Friends at 570-426-2435, ext. 2510, or email info@friendsofdewa.org to obtain an order form.

The mission of the Friends of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, an independent, non-profit volunteer organization, is to support the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational resources of this national park which surrounds 40 miles of the Delaware River from the Delaware Water Gap to the New York State border.

They accomplish this by: Raising funds to support the park’s education and stewardship programs for which park funds are not available; increasing awareness of our national park and the Delaware River; and providing community connection, expertise, advocacy and inspiration for the park

Information about the park and all of its programs can be found at www.nps.gov/dewa.

Click here to print an Order Form .

Annual General Member Meeting, Dec. 7, 2008

The Friends of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will offer a presentation about the Peters Valley Craft Village at their 10^th anniversary annual meeting Sunday, Dec. 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the Bushkill Visitor Center.

The public is invited to join in the anniversary program and celebration following the election of 4 directors. Jimmy Clark, executive director of the renowned Peters Valley Craft Village, will talk about the arts and artists of Peters Valley and the history of the founding of the village, now a part of the National Park Service holdings.

Nominated as directors are: Gene Crawford, Montague, NJ; Jacqueline Garges, Bushkill, PA; Michelle Marone, Dingmans Ferry, PA; and William Toriello, Glen Spey, NY.

The Bushkill Visitor Center is located on Route 209 on the Pike/Monroe county line, just south of the blinking light at Bushkill Falls Road. Refreshments will follow the election and the presentation. For information about the meeting Dec. 7, call the Friends’ voice mail at 570-426-2435, ext. 2510.

The focus on Peters Valley at this meeting is part of the Friends’ year-long effort to spotlight New Jersey features in the 70,000-acre national park. The mission of the Friends of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, an independent, non-profit volunteer organization, is to support the cultural, historical, natural, and recreational resources of this national park which surrounds the Delaware River from the Delaware Water Gap to the New York State border.

The Friends group with the aid of special donors this year again funded the opening of the Bushkill Visitor Center on Route 209, Bushkill, PA weekends and holidays from Memorial Day and continuing into October. The donors this year were: Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, Shawnee Inn and Lehman Township. Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau also provides a staff person to provide commercial information about the area to park visitors. Almost 6,000 visitors stopped at the Visitor Center this summer. Overall, the Friends gave close to $20,000 in services and donations to the park in 2008.

The ten-year-old non-profit park conservancy with more than 100 members also supports the funding of a series of five lectures and two Family Fun Days in the park each season from May to November. The free programs are arranged by the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area interpretive staff.

Information about the park and all of its programs can be found at www.nps.gov/dewa.