Thanks: Mountain Bikers – Closing out 2025

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNewsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Thank you. Your generosity created an outstanding mountain bike race series that brought hundreds of people to our community and Yellow Creek State Park. It was a record-breaking summer!

This summer, we had over 350 racers, plus their families. We had kids on the swings, parents on their bikes, and entire families on the beach—participants ranging in age from 9 to 79! We had racers from New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. More locally, we always get a crew from Pittsburgh and State College, plus a whole lot of people from in between.

Because of your help, we are steadily bringing people into our community. And once here, we are working hard to make their visits fun and our park a place they want to return to, again and again.

Last spring, we installed a permanent bike repair station with a pump at a popular trailhead. Anyone can now add air to their tires, tighten a bolt or two, and know that we have many of their issues covered. We have also funded materials for rebuilding a deck on one of the park’s popular yurts and for replacing three dilapidated bridges along the trails, which we replaced ourselves. We encourage our racers to “make a weekend of it,” and the yurts and cabins are always a fun option for that.

We know that you could support any number of local groups, and that is why we are both proud and thankful that you chose our grassroots race series, which welcomes all and encourages our participants to engage in our community and all that it has to offer. We can’t wait to see what we can do next year!

On behalf of the YC Monthly and Friends of Yellow Creek,

Lynn Botelho

Recognizing Volunteers – IUP Cook Honors College

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNews, VolunteeringPosted on Comments are Disabled

From tree planting, to trail clearing, from running bike races to hosting sailing lessons, all of the activities and service the “Friends” provide to the Yellow Creek involve volunteers. As we look towards the end of the school year a special thanks to students from the IUP Cook Honors College who have stepped up to volunteer this season. We hope you have found it rewarding to give back to the park. Your help makes a difference. And we know you will continue to give back to your community, no matter where you end up after graduation.

Spring is almost here

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNewsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Dear Friends,

We look forward to working with you and the park staff to improve Yellow Creek State Park and to support programs and activities for all in Indiana County this year.

Stay tuned for more information on mountain bike races, community sailing, and volunteer activities including trail repair.

Donations are always welcome! They are tax deductible and your dollars stay local https://www.friendsofyellowcreek.org/join-foyc/

We are also always looking for additional project ideas and folks who want to volunteer, from invasive plant cleanup to helping to steer the board — we welcome your inquiries. Please mail friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.com

 

Volunteer Hours

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNewsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Dear Friends,

As the season winds down, we hope you all had a chance to spend some quality time at the park. Many of our members and others volunteered on projects, litter clean-ups, and facilitating outdoor fun on the trails and the water. Thanks to you all.

For those who have helped out, we would appreciate it if you would take the time to “log your hours.”

Each year, the Friends of Yellow Creek reports our activities to PA Parks and Forests, giving evidence of the number of individuals and time they devote to Yellow Creek and other parks and forests throughout the state.

Click here

 

Volunteers Needed – Sailing Base Cleanup

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNewsPosted on Comments are Disabled
Ahoy Sailors and Paddlers!
Help is needed with cleaning up our Sailing Base!  As we approach the end of the season, we will be clean and put away our boats, while completing some other minor projects in order to prepare our base for the winter.
The Sailing Base Cleanup will be Saturday, November 9th, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
We’ll provide food and plan projects based on the anticipated number of volunteers. We would appreciate your completing the poll below if you can attend.
If you find you can help out at the last minute, you are welcome to come even if you haven’t RSVPed.  Thank you for your willingness to help! Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Thanks to the Indiana Midday Rotary

by friendsofyellowcreek@gmail.comNewsPosted on Comments are Disabled

Thanks to the Indiana Midday Rotary for supporting the Friends of Yellow Creek. Rotary member Chris Buell delivered a check to FOYC representatives Cindy Rogers (Secretary) and Ken Sherwood (Co-chair).

The rotary grant will allow FOYC to build a bridge enhancing the multi-use trails at Yellow Creek.  Autumn is a great time to enjoy the trials on your mountain bike or on foot. The 14+ miles of single-track at Yellow Creek are appreciated by vistors throughout the region, maintained by FOYC and LHORBA volunteers.

See Indiana Midday Rotary on the web or Facebook  for information about meetings, membership and projects.