Pictured above is a beautiful meadow on PHLT's Pomeroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve in Hamilton Township.
On July 24, Stewardship Manager Matt Schultz and Board Member Linda Snyder took a field trip to Fort Indiantown Gap.

What brings environmental folks to an army base? It just so happens to contain Pennsylvania's largest grassland, totaling over 5,000 acres.

Matt and Linda attended a volunteer training led by Project Wingspan , a program run by the Pollinator Partnership. Project Wingspan is creating a coalition of partners in an effort to enhance habitat across the Midwest to support our imperiled pollinators.

The volunteer-led, multi-state effort educates participants to identify and collect seeds from natural areas, promoting the regeneration of nearly 30 native species that monarchs and rusty patched bumble bees depend on. The seeds are sent to a lab and then cleaned and processed before being redistributed for planting in vital areas.

Matt is a team lead for both Lackawanna and Monroe Counties. With the help of PHLT volunteers, Matt and Linda plan to harvest seeds from plant communities on multiple PHLT properties. If you would like to volunteer, please contact us.
Thanks to a grant from the Monroe County Open Space Mini-Grant Program and generous assistance from Hamilton Township, a parking area will be created to enhance public access to PHLT's newest preserve.

The Pomoroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve comprises approximately 70 acres in Hamilton Township, including the McMichaels Creek.

After a few meetings and careful consideration, PHLT staff and Hamilton Township representatives met at the preserve today to finalize the location of the parking area and sign kiosk.

Less than one acre of meadow will be sacrificed for the parking area, with over 30 acres of meadow still providing wildlife habitat and stream buffer.

Hamilton Township also plans on mowing a trail on the property to provide runners and walkers an alternative to the popular Hickory Valley Road.

Future improvements to the Pomeroy Preserve include a kayak access with assistance from Brodhead Trout Unlimited.
PHLT in the Press

ForEvergreen Nature Preserve as an Outdoor Classroom

On Monday July 22, Tom Gregory from WBRE news stopped by ForEvergreen Nature Preserve to chat with Emily Rollinson and Benjamin Hawes, Assistant Professor and Graduate Student, respectively, from East Stroudsburg University.

Rollinson approached PHLT about utilizing ForEvergreen Nature Preserve as an outdoor learning lab for biology students conducting research on milkweed, monarch butterflies, and fireflies.

With PHLT's support and Stroud Township's approval, Rollinson and her students visited the property week after week throughout the summer, tracking information about the native species.

To learn more about their discoveries, you can watch the news story here.
PHLT Summer 2019 intern Ryan Lord
Recognizing PHLT's first intern

This summer, PHLT was grateful to have the assistance of its first-ever intern, Ryan Lord.

Ryan completed a dual internship with Pocono Heritage Land Trust and the Monroe County Planning Commission.

For the past ten weeks, Ryan has worked with PHLT Stewardship Manager Matt Schultz and Monroe County Environmental Planner Ryan Hill to develop trail maps of PHLT preserves, maps of Stroud Township and Pocono Township open space properties as well as trail maintenance and sign postings on several preserves.

Ryan will be returning to Salisbury University in Maryland to begin his Junior year as a Geography major. We appreciate all the hard work he put in this summer! Good luck, Ryan!

Join us for our Late Summer/Fall Events!

For more information, to register, and to view additional upcoming events,

Saturday, August 24
1:00-4:00 PM
4:30-6:30 PM
Brady's Lake Walk and Bike


Join PHLT volunteer Don Miller and Bill Leonard on a guided walk to the ruins of the Castle at Brady's Lake. Folks will learn about the unique history of this property.

Following the walk, there will be an optional bike ride from 4:30-6:30 PM on the railroad tracks.
Saturday, September 14
1:00-5:00 PM
PHLT Members
Picnic and Full Moon Paddle
Millpond #1

PHLT will be hosting a picnic and full moon paddle to celebrate our amazing members.
An optional pre-paddle picinic will take place before the after-dark paddle.
Pocono Heritage Land Trust | phlt.org