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.”