Read the full article "Author Francie Nolde explores her complex relationship with her famous aviator mother" by The Harvard Press
Thanks to the contributions of many, this Barn is being saved. It will remain as a feature of our community for years to come! We’re pleased to report that Dave Horst and his crew continue to make great progress restoring the historic Nolde Forest PA bank barn!
Please join us as we raise the necessary funding to make critical structural repairs to the historic PA Bank Barn c. 1830 so that it may continue to remain as an important piece of the region’s rich legacy for generations to come. An investment in Nolde Forest is an investment in your future. Natural sounds and natural quiet are critical components of the natural environment. Natural quiet is vital for wildlife survival so that they can locate predators and prey and communicate. Similarly, humans benefit from the sounds of nature, which can promote and facilitate a variety of health benefits. Furthermore, research has demonstrated that when people reduce human-caused noise in natural areas, they can experience more wildlife, decrease stress while increasing opportunities for restorative health, and accommodate more visitors into a given protected area — without feeling as crowded.
 Attention Professional Photographers: It is DCNR Policy that all individuals conducting business on state park property must acquire a permit. This includes photoshoots taking place at Nolde Forest.
In order to obtain a photoshoot permit, please contact the park office during business hours. Permits take up to 4 weeks to process, so please plan ahead! Permits are good for a year, though photographers are required to call the office in advance of their photoshoot to schedule a date and time to make sure that there will be no conflicts with scheduled educational events or other permitted activities. (This is also to ensure that you don't tell your clients to meet you in a parking lot that is closed at the end of the day) Individuals who conduct business without permits will be asked to immediately cease their operation and may be fined. Can you imagine growing up in the Nolde Forest Mansion, and playing in the newly planted forest? Frances Dean Nolde is the youngest of the Nolde children and did just that! She’s written a book about her childhood and mother Frances Dean Wilcox Nolde — a remarkable woman, actress, pioneer pilot, and winner of an early transcontinental all-women's air race!
Francie’s book is for sale at the Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, and all proceeds support The Friends of Nolde Forest. Learn more about Nolde Forest and the family whose foresight helped preserve the forest for future generations, like us, by visiting her website: www.FrancieNoldeBooks.com. The book makes a wonderful gift for strong women in your family, and all those who hold a special place in their hearts for Nolde Forest. The Friends of Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center are currently undertaking a fundraising effort to support environmental education and preserve the natural, cultural and historic resources of the 725-acre Nolde Forest. The Friends of Nolde Forest, a non-for-profit, 501 C3 established in 2005 to support Nolde Forest, along with community support, have been instrumental in numerous projects that help make Nolde Forest a welcoming, safe, and accessible place for school students and families. Current fundraising initiatives are designed to make repairs to historic infrastructure including the 1830s Pennsylvania Bank Barn, support paid high school internship positions, and enhance outdoor teaching. The Friends of Nolde Forest have set their sights on raising $100,000 between now and February 1st, 2023.
Center Manager Brent Erb said, “The Friends of Nolde Forest are instrumental in supporting the educational programming and operation of Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. Fundraising events such as this are paramount to our continued successes as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s first environmental education center. The volunteerism efforts are truly remarkable! The Friends of Nolde Forest and volunteers demonstrate their dedication and support for this place that is beloved by school students and families from throughout our community.” A reprioritization of our communities lifestyles and leisure activities, along with a renewed interest in both in-person and informal environmental education programming has led to increased interest in Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center. David Pray, a Friend of Nolde Forest and volunteer added, “This fund-raising campaign calls upon our community to help us support Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center’s mission of “providing opportunities for enjoying healthful outdoor recreation and serving as an outdoor classroom for environmental education for present and future generations. As we give thanks this holiday season, we humbly ask for your support. An investment in Nolde Forest is an investment in our children.” For more information and to make donations through our secure site, please visit: www.paparksandforest.org Checks can also be made payable to The Friends of Nolde Forest and mailing it to: Attn—Friends of Nolde Forest, 3025 New Holland Road, Reading, PA 19607
A message and request from Sarah @ Nolde Forest EE Center. Greetings Nolde Friends and Volunteers! I hope you are all in good health and have survived the rain from Ida. I am writing because I would like to request the help of a handful of individuals to help pull stilt grass from the plantings around the Mansion and McConnell Hall. If you are not familiar, Stilt Grass is an invasive plant that was brought here as packing material in the 20s and 30s. It is extremely easy to pull (no digging or tools needed!) but it grows easily and produces 1,000s of seeds each year. The easiest control measure is to pull it when it begins to flower but before it goes to seed. This happens quickly and I believe this week (from now until about Sept 12) is the optimal time to remove it from the areas. Here is a photo of the plant in question. You’ll notice that each blade of grass has the very distinct silver stripe down the middle of the leaf. This is THE defining characteristic that makes it very easy to ID when mixed in among other plants.  Here are some websites for more ID and information:
JapaneseStiltGrass FS1237: Japanese Stiltgrass Control in the Home Lawn and Landscape (Rutgers NJAES) If you are willing and able to assist in pulling this plant over the week or so, please respond to spresogna[at]pa[dot]gov and let me know. We are not assigning a formal time to meet and pull as a group, as there are no tools or other equipment to hand out. Instead, we are asking for those who are willing to simply stop by when it suits them best, and to work in their designated area for as long as they can. Based on the response, I will assign you an area to work on, but most areas will be close to the mansion. I am happy to sign volunteer hour forms for any school or work requirements as well. Honor system! Once you begin to recognize Stilt Grass you will see that it has taken over large swatches of our lovely park. While it might seems overwhelming, by working in small sections each year, I hope that we can begin to move out and tackle larger areas in subsequent years. And of course, you are always welcome to rip out stilt grass when you see it on your hikes in the forest. As long as the grass has not set seed, it is safe to simply pull and leave the plant where it lays. It will not reroot and quickly composts. If you have any further questions, please ask! I hope that some of you are able to assist us this week and take advantage of the cooler weather. Sarah Presogna | Environmental Education Specialist Supervisor Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks | Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center 3025 New Holland Rd | Reading, PA 19607 spresogna[at]pa[dot]gov |
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©2021 Friends of Nolde Forest
The Friends of Nolde Forest is a chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation. |