Conservancy Connections
Meet the Welches | Board Members
Pat and June joined the TLVC Board this past fall. They are longtime residents of Lebanon County, originally from State College, and raised their family in the South Annville area. Pat is a newly retired family physician, and both have been active volunteers in the community.
What inspired your interest in nature? Being from State College, Pat was surrounded by the beauty of that valley. Being a fly fisherman, he’s always been inspired by the ever-changing landscape of PA streams from early spring to late fall. June grew up with three older brothers in an active outdoor family that enjoyed hiking, fishing, biking, swimming in local streams, skiing, etc., which afforded all that nature had to offer.
Where is your favorite outdoor spot in Lebanon County? As avid birders, one of our favorite outdoor spots is Middlecreek where we look forward to the return of the snow geese and tundra swans each spring. A hidden gem is the Quittie Creek Nature Park which is close to our home and provides a spot of tranquility and is a testament to what conservancy can accomplish. We enjoy riding the rails to trails on nice days. And, in all honesty, our favorite outdoor spot is the beauty of our own back yard.
What can Lebanon community members do to protect land in Lebanon County?
We’d encourage Lebanon community members to get involved with our organization TLVC, and other local environmental groups such as Trout Unlimited, PennFuture, Conservation Voters of PA, among others. They could attend local township meetings to keep abreast of plans for land usage. We’d urge residents to reach out to local and state representatives with concerns and ideas for any upcoming legislation that would have environmental impact in our county. And to always keep in mind to be good stewards of the land. As Woody Guthrie sang, ‘This land is your land, this land is my land.’
|