Join Us November 8th at Our Last 2012 Speakers Series - From Springs to Sprinklers

Want to learn more about water quality and quantity in our region?
Make sure you mark your calendars for November 8, 2012 Speakers Series!

 

 

 

News for Immediate Release Oct. 2, 2012

DCNR: Next South Mountain Lecture to Focus on Water Quality and Quantity in the Region

Harrisburg – The final lecture of the year in the South Mountain Speaker Series will focus on the challenges of conserving water quality and quantity in the region on Thursday, Nov. 8, in Memorial Auditorium at Shippensburg University.

“From trout fishing in our spring-fed creeks to the ice cold glass we enjoy on a hot summer's day, water is at the heart of our quality of life here in the South Mountain region,” said Allen Dieterich-Ward, an associate professor of history at Shippensburg University and the chair of the South Mountain Partnership committee on the speaker series. “Over the years, new demands on ground and surface water have created challenges for conserving these important resources.”

 

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a reception featuring displays by local watershed and advocacy groups.

At 7 p.m., Pat Bowling, a hydrologist with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, will describe water challenges and then join a panel of local experts to discuss ways to protect our water supply for future generations.

The panel will include Dr. Christopher Woltemade, a professor in Shippensburg’s Department of Geography/Earth Science, and Michael Christopher, manager of Washington Township, Franklin County.
 

This event is sponsored by the Adams, Cumberland and Franklin county conservation districts; Shippensburg University; DCNR; and the South Mountain Partnership.

This is the third year for the South Mountain Speakers Series, envisioned as a revival of the talks given by Joseph Rothrock in the late 19^th century as part of his work to preserve and restore Pennsylvania’s forests and natural landscape. The series is anticipated to return in 2013.

Sparked by DCNR’s Conservation Landscape Initiative, the South Mountain Partnership is an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding opportunities to conserve high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing the region’s economic viability.

 

For more information about the speaker series, visit http://southmountainspeakers.blogspot.com/ or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771.

Some of the earlier lectures in the speaker series can now be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthMtnSpeakers.

Media contact: Christina Novak, 717-772-9101

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Click here to download your copy of the press release.



Go Local for Health: September 18th, 2012

Join Us at Go Local for Health on September 18th, 2012

 

Join us at the Gettysburg Hotel for the Go Local for Health Summit, featuring a South Mountain Speaker as the keynote event. As keynote speaker, Gina Calhoun of the Copeland Center will discuss the link of mental health to healthy eating, exercise, and access to the outdoors. Gina's keynote will commence at 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. To register click here

Go Local for Health is a regional summit, to be held in September 18, 2012, uniting community leaders, stakeholders and the general public on the issues of affordable and accessible healthy eating and recreation opportunities in south central Pennsylvania. Rates of chronic diseases and related risk factors continue to increase locally and a comprehensive approach is needed to address them.

Go Local for Health attendees will be educated on current community efforts and national best practices, and participate in planning dialogues about promoting health regionally.

To learn more about the whole day summit, visit
http://golocal4health.blogspot.com/

News for Immediate Release: Keeping Fruit Healthy

News for Immediate Release
Sept. 4, 2012
DCNR: Next South Mountain Lecture to Focus on the Challenges of Keeping Fruit Healthy

 

Harrisburg – Efforts to keep fruit healthy in the orchards around the southcentral region will be the topic of the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Penn State University Fruit Research and Extension Center at 290 University Drive, Biglerville, Adams County.

 

At 1 p.m., David Biddinger, biocontrol specialist and researcher at the PSU Fruit Research and Extension Center, will discuss some of these challenges, followed by a tour of the FREC outdoor research facility.

“Fruit growers are constantly encountering new invasive species and diseases that threaten the health of the numerous orchards that dot the South Mountain area,” said Allen Dieterich-Ward, an associate professor of history at Shippensburg University and the chair of the South Mountain Partnership committee on the speaker series. “Participants will find out how scientists and growers combat these threats to the South Mountain fruit belt, and learn more about research programs during a tour of the center’s grounds.”

Head to the South Mountain Speakers Series Blog to read the full Press Release, here.

Or, download your own copy of the Press Release, here!

 

Keeping Fruit Healthy: Join Us on Saturday, September 8th, 2012!

 

What does it take to keep fruit healthy?

 

Fruit growers are constantly encountering new invasive species and disease that threaten the health of the numerous orchards that dot the South Mountain area. David Biddinger, biocontrol specialist and researcher at the PSU Fruit Research and Extension Center, will discuss some of these challenges. The brown marmorated stink bug has caused considerable crop losses for fruit growers, and populations of native pollinators have experienced massive declines.

 

Find out how scientists and growers combat these threats to the South Mountain fruit belt, and learn more about research programs during a tour of the Fruit Research and Extension Center’s grounds in Biglerville, Adams County.

Stink Bugs, Other Challenges Focus of Fruit Lecture

South Mountain Speakers Series continues with a new lecture Saturday in Biglerville

It's not easy getting apples and cherries and other locally grown fruit to roadside stands and grocery stores.

Just keeping the fruit healthy as it grows through the warm summer months in the orchards around Adams County and the South Mountain region comes with its own set of challenges, and many growers can attest there seem to be more and more of those challenges every year.

The difficulties fruit farmers face and how researchers are working to combat those problems will be the focus of a lecture 1 p.m. Saturday at the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center.

At the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series, biocontrol specialist and researcher David Biddinger will discuss the latest crop of challenges, ranging from the stink-bug infestation that has caused considerable crop loss, to the decline of native pollinator populations.

 Light refreshments will be served, and his lecture will be followed by a tour of the research facility.

"Fruit growers are constantly encountering new invasive species and diseases that threaten the health of the numerous orchards that dot the South Mountain area," said Allen Dieterich-Ward, chairman of the South Mountain Partnership's speaker series committee. "Participants will find out how scientists and growers combat these threats to the South Mountain fruit belt, and learn more about research programs during a tour of the center's grounds."

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources spokeswoman Christina Novak said this is the third year of the speaker series, hosted by the partnership, and more than 1,000 people have attended lectures, held throughout the region.

The series was inspired by the 19th century talks given by forest-management pioneer Joseph Rothrock, who worked to preserve and restore Pennsylvania's forests and natural landscape.

The next lecture in the series is set for Tuesday, Sept. 18 at the Gettysburg Hotel when Gina Calhoun of the Copeland Center will discuss the mental-health benefits of healthy eating, exercise and access to the outdoors.

The South Mountain Partnership is made up of various organizations and citizens that work to protect the region's natural and cultural resources.

For more information about the series, visit http://southmountainspeakers.blogspot.com, or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 717-258-5771.

You can check out some previous lectures at www.youtube.com/user/SouthMtnSpeakers.

IF YOU GO The next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center, 290 University Drive, Biglerville. Biocontrol specialist and researcher David Biddinger will discuss the challenges local fruit growers face. The lecture will be followed by a tour of the outdoor research facility.

South Mountain Outdoors 2012 - Labor Day Weekend, September 1st and 2nd

News for Immediate Release

Aug. 27, 2012

DCNR: Spend Some Time Outdoors in South Mountain Region for Labor Day Weekend

Harrisburg – A packed line up of free events at more than 30 participating sites to showcase the best recreational opportunities; natural beauty; the Appalachian Trail; and unique outdoor experiences throughout the South Mountain region of south central Pennsylvania will take place this Labor Day weekend.

“South Mountain Outdoors is for anyone interested in getting outside, whether you hike, paddle, fish, or are interested in conservation,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan said. “It gives adults and kids the opportunity to meet people who work in conservation and outdoor recreation and learn more about the amazing resources and recreational opportunities this region offers.”

South Mountain Outdoors will launch on Saturday, Sept. 1, marking the start of two days of biking, hiking, kayaking, fishing, history tours and cultural festivals across Cumberland, Adams and Franklin counties.

The guide to the weekend’s events is the South Mountain Outdoors Passport that can be downloaded online at http://southmountainoutdoors.blogspot.com/p/passport.html or picked up at participating locations.  

Participants can leave the passport at any of the noted locations to be eligible for a random drawing of prizes donated by participating South Mountain region sites.

Featured events on Saturday and Sunday for this second year of the festival in 2012 include: Bigfoot Boot Camp at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center; guided bike rides by the Harrisburg Bicycle Club and along the Cumber Valley Rail Trail; a walking tour of the Dickinson College Farm; an Appalachian Trail hike followed by sticky buns at Allenberry Resort Inn; backyard beekeeping hike at Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve; specials along the Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail; and more.

Labor Day also marks one of two days out of the year that anyone can fish in Pennsylvania without a fishing license.  Those interested in becoming an angler but who don’t have gear can visit Pine Grove Furnace State Park, located at the mid-point of the Appalachian Trail, for free loaner equipment on Monday, Sept. 3. 

South Mountain Outdoors is sponsored by the South Mountain Partnership, made up of private citizens, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government representatives in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, working to protect and enhance the region’s landscape.

The partnership was sparked by DCNR’s Conservation Landscape Initiative, an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding opportunities to conserve the high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing the region’s economic viability.

For full details of South Mountain Outdoors go to http://southmountainoutdoors.blogspot.com/ or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771.

Media contact: Christina Novak, 717-772-9101

Snakes and Bats- oh my! Join Use Sunday, August 26th For Our Next Speaker Series Event!

“Fierce Friends” to be Topic of Next South Mountain Lecture Series in August

Harrisburg – Snakes and bats will be the topic of the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series on Sunday, Aug. 26, at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Carlisle.

State wildlife biologists Aura Stauffer and Jim Chestney will offer a free lecture entitled “Fierce Friends” beginning at 2 p.m. 

“Snakes and bats are a duo of mysterious, elusive creatures that are sometimes misunderstood but play an important role in the ecology of the South Mountain region,” Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Richard Allan said. “This is the story of their beneficial relationship with humans and their fierce fight for survival.”

The biologists will describe the natural history and precarious future of these unique animals, based on a regional study of their critical habitats. 

Several native snakes, including venomous species, will be displayed during a question and answer session at the end of the program.

This is the third year for the South Mountain Speakers Series, envisioned as a revival of the talks given by Joseph Rothrock in the late 19^th century as part of his work to preserve and restore Pennsylvania’s forests and natural landscape.  Rothrock, a Pennsylvania native, was a pioneer in forest management in the United States and is often referred to as the state’s “Father of Forestry.”

South Mountain Partnership

Quarterly Meeting

August 22^nd, 2012

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm (Cultural Resource track may extend until 5 p.m.)

The Adams County Agricultural and Natural Resource Center in Gettysburg, PA

Here is a brief overview of the Meegting Agenda:

1:00 pm 1:45 pm Welcome and Updates

- ATC/ Partnership Transition- Kim

- Partner updates

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm Break

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm 1st Track Set

- South Mountain Tourism Track (Part 1):

The South Mountain Partnership has several tourism on-going initiatives. Help us strengthen these initiatives by getting involved and giving us feedback on how we maintain them long term.

- Heritage Plan Team Track (This is a continuation of a June 6th meeting):

- Conservation Track:

3:00 pm - 3:10 pm Track changes (some groups tracks stay in same room)

3:15 pm - 4:30 pm 2nd Track Set

- Tourism: South Mountain Tourism Track (Part 2):

- Heritage Plan Team (Continued)

- Conservation Track:

4:30 pm Meeting Ends (Cultural Resource track may extend until 5 p.m.)

Click the button below to download a copy of the full-length Agenda

Cold Water Conservation in the South Mountain Region

Recently the Partnership held a webinar on cold water conservation in the region.   This webinar hosted was hosted by the South Mountain Partnership and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy aims to engage and educate organizations working in cold water conservation.  The webinar will offer ideas on how government agencies, land trusts, anglers, landowners and others can work together to implement land conservation projects on coldwater streams.

Below are presentations from the webinar workshop:
South Mountain Partnership Cold Water Webinar



South Mountain Cold Water Conservation Webinar: Trout Unlimited- Cold Water Conservation in the South Mount...

South Mountain Cold Water Conservation Webinar: Fishing Access, PA Fish and Boat Commission

Attention! Press Release for Upcoming Speakers Series Event!

News for Immediate Release June 25, 2012
Bank Barns are Focus of South Mountain Speaker Series Lecture in July

Harrisburg – Bank barns of the Cumberland Valley will be the topic of the next lecture in the South Mountain Speakers Series on Thursday, July 19 at the Community Center in Norlo Park, Guilford Township, Franklin County.

Bank barns are barns that are often built into the side of a hill, or bank, so that both the upper and lower levels of the barn are accessible at ground level.

Dianna Heim, author of the book "Cumberland Valley Barns: Past and Present," and Phil Schaff, local barn photographer and reseasrcher will offer a free lecture beginning at 7 p.m. at the center, 3050 Lincoln Way East.

Heim and Schaff will talk about area barns; how development has impacted the farms on which they stand; their remaining numbers; the results of a statewide barn survey; and the 'green' heating and cooling methods of barns.

"Barns are the reason the agricultural productivity of south-central Pennsylvania grew, flourished and became the basis of ever form of industry in southcentral Pennsylvania," said Allen Dieterich-Ward, an assistant professer of history at Shippensburg University and the chair of the South Mountain Partnership committee on the speaker series. "In addition to establishing the region's economy, these houses of labor are part of our cultural heritage."

Pennsylvania has 182 farms and barns listed on the National Register of Historic Properties.

This is the third year for the South Mountain Speakers Series, envisioned as a revival of the talks given by Joseph Rothrock in the late 19^th century as part of his work to preserve and restore Pennsylvania’s forests and natural landscape.  Rothrock, a Pennsylvania native, was a pioneer in forest management in the United States and is often referred to as the state’s “Father of Forestry.”

This event is sponsored by the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living at Wilson College, Guilford Township and the South Mountain Partnership. The South Mountain Partnership is a group of private citizens, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government representatives in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, working together to protect and enhance the landscape.

The partnership was sparked by DCNR’s Conservation Landscape Initiative, an effort to engage communities, local partners, state agencies and funding opportunities to conserve the high-quality natural and cultural resources while enhancing the region’s economic viability.

The series will continue with “Fierce Friends: The Story of Snakes and Bats” on Aug. 26 at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County.

For more information about the speaker series, visit http://southmountainspeakers.blogspot.com/
or call the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 717-258-5771.

Some of the earlier lectures in the speaker series can now be found on Youtube at

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthMtnSpeakers.

Media contact: Christina Novak, 717-772-9101

Don't Miss Out On This Upcoming Speakers Series Event !

Mark Your Calendars! July 19th, 2012 at 7:00 pm!

SAVE THE DATE AND REGISTER...

Partnership-wide Meeting  Thursday, March 29th, 2012 1 P.M. - 4:30 A.M. at the Shippensburg University Conference Center Note: These meetings are open to any citizen or organization interested in learning more about the Partnership or being actively involved in what we do. Registration is required but is typically free.  We hope you can join us!

Agenda:

1 p.m.  Partner-wide MeetingUpdates                      Open partner sharing / updates (open to any organizations that have a major update).    Major Projects For 2012: Learn about some of the major projects of the Partnership in 2012 Learn how you can engage or participate in these projects 1:30- 2:20 p.m. /   "State of the State"              Hear from a panel of state agencies on state updates that will have impacts on the South Mountain Region, topics may include: Recreation, trails, and greenways (direction and funding) Planning assistance for local governments The implications of House Bill 1950 (Marcellus Shale Impact Fee) Heritage/ historic funding Agricultural updates Panel will include:   - Lauren Imgrund, Director of Recreation and Conservation, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources  - Jean Cutler, Director of the Bureau for Historic Preservation, Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission   - Lela Reichart, Agriculture Marketing Division Chief, PA Department of Agriculture - Kim Wheeler, Community Planner, Department of Community and Economic Development 2:20- 2:30 p.m. /               Break / Networking      2:30- 4:30 p.m. /   Partnering With Colleges andUniversities  in the South Mountain Region:          2:30-3:00 p.m.  /   Getting the Most Out of An Internship Opportunity  Speaker Kim Long, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Shippensburg University will discuss how to hone your skills in attracting interns and provide you with resources to help you along your way.  She will help you understand the common pitfalls for organizations and how Shippensburg internship program works.    3:00- 3:45 p.m. / Engaging With Higher Learning Institutions In Service Learning Projects  Hear from surrounding colleges and universities how to partner in effective learning service projects from the beginning of the to completion.  Panel of speakers include:    -  Shalom Staub / Associate Provost of Service Learning, Dickinson College -  Keith Jones Pomeroy / Program Manager, Agapé Centerof Messiah College -  Sean Cornell / Professor, Earth Sciences Department, Shippensburg University 3:45- 4:30 p.m. /  University & College  "Speed Networking"_________________________ Be a part of a meet and greet session where you can meet university staff and professors who are interested in engaging with local organizations on projects and/ or potential internship opportunities.   4:00- 4:30 p.m. /    Mini-Grant Workshop                  Hear about the most current grant opportunity from the Partnership.  Learn the basics for applying.  Deadline is July 31st, 2012. The South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant program, administered by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), has been awarded grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and will be accepting grant applications until the program deadline of July 31, 2012. This program provides grants that communities and organizations can use to preserve and promote their natural and cultural assets. In 2012, $100,000 in grants will be available with a required 1:1 match.  The application is available for download. The ATC and DCNR encourage any municipality, registered Pennsylvania non-profits, or learning institution to begin considering projects that may fit the grant criteria. Projects must be located in Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, or York counties.  Go towww.southmountainpartnership.org   for an application and many other grant resources .

South Mountain Mini-Grant Round Has Opened!

The South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant program, administered by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), has been awarded grant funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and will be accepting grant applications until the program deadline of July 31, 2012. This program provides grants that communities and organizations can use to preserve and promote their natural and cultural assets.

An in-person and online grant workshop will be available to those interested.  An RSVP is required to attend either of these workshops and can be done by clicking on the button to the right or calling Kim Williams at the ATC office at 717.258.5771.  The workshop will lay out details of the program and application and allow participants to ask questions.  The two grant workshop details are as follows:

• March 29^th, 2012 Workshop: The first workshop will be in-person at the South Mountain Partnership’s quarterly meeting on March 29^th at 3:30 p.m. at the Shippensburg University Conference Center and will last under an hour.
• May 23^rd, 2012 Workshop: This online webinar will be similar to the March 29^th workshop but will allow participants to access the workshop from a computer.  The workshop will begin at 4 p.m. and will last under an hour.