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Central Pennsylvania Conservancy Quarterly E-News
July - September 2023
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Welcome back to our quarterly newsletter for the months of July through September. Central Pennsylvania Conservancy has been busy this last quarter and we are excited to share what we've been doing and what's coming up! |
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What's been happening at CPC? | |
Thanks for a successful 2023 Ironmaster's Challenge! | |
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On Sunday, September 24, the 14th annual Ironmaster's Challenge went down at Pine Grove State Park and took participants through 9.3 (for the 15k) or 31 miles (for the 50k) of some of the most rugged terrain around. The challenge was taken to an entirely new level with the steady flow of rain all day and a lack of creamer and sugar for the coffee, but this did not deter those who dared to show up! Thankfully, the temperature wasn't too low and everyone came through in good condition. We commend everyone who came to appreciate our beautiful bioregion, celebrate grit and determination, and support conservation. This race is our biggest fundraiser to support our land protection and preservation efforts in south central Pennsylvania, so everyone's presence and support means the world to CPC and the Ironmaster's Challenge planning team.
A special thanks goes out to our volunteers, over 80 of whom we could not have made this a reality without their help! We had some new faces join us and lots of Ironmaster's Challenge volunteering veterans, so things ran as smoothly as they could! This includes wonderful folks from Select Medical, HRG, Keystone VHF Radio Club, and Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (SATC). Also a shoutout to our sponsors, F&M Trust, Pennsylvania
American Water, Select Medical, Boles Metzger Brosius & Walborn, Troutman Pepper, Boyer & Ritter, HRG, and West Shore Family Dentistry. ...and because cold beer is the thing a good lot of folks appreciate after they've trekked those kind of distances, a really special thanks goes out to Evergrain Brewing, Appalachian Brewing Company, and Boston Beer Co. for pulling through at the last minute with donations of beer. This event is truly a community effort and it is heartening to experience the energy, comradery, and excitement of such an undertaking. Join us again next year for the 15th running of the Ironmaster's Challenge as either a volunteer or race participant, and check out some photos below from the day.
Results from both races and more photos can be found at https://ironmasterschallenge.com/
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Volunteers working hard at registration! | Congrats to Anthony Becker, the 50K Overall Winner! | Everybody tuning in for the pre-race meeting! The race was on five minutes after this! | |
Congrats to the 15K Overall Winner, Eddie Pantoja! | The picnic was a little more subdued and we had to nix the awards ceremony due to the rain, but everything was still wonderful! | Congrats to Laura Kepich, who placed first in her age group in the 50K! | |
Landscape of the Letort by Rob Shaw. Goldenrod, a favorite and crucial nectar source for pollinators abounds! | |
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Letort Spring Garden Preserve
The Letort Spring Preserve’s abundant clean water and rich soils have supported a deep and diverse cultural history for thousands of years, beginning with indigenous populations, through the colonial and industrial revolution areas, and into the modern day as a public nature preserve. The interrelationships between the land and human populations underlie everything at the preserve and our vision for the property is one of restoration and recovery, for both wild and human populations. This summer, our Letort Steward Jesse Price has been hard at work stewarding native plant communities at the Letort while also building a human community of caring and nature exploration in the greater Carlisle area! Below are testimonials from just a few of the wonderful people we’ve had out to Letort this summer. We hope their words inspire you!
“The Carlisle Arts Learning Center's CONNECT program is a community-engaged creative summer camp … At Letort Spring Garden Preserve, the students contributed to land-based creative projects. They contributed to intricate log-mound habitat sculptures that capture carbon and provide shelter for all kinds of critters and organisms, and they planted 29 sapling trees. It was a memorable experience, and they are excited to bring their families and friends back to check out the projects as they change and grow!”
- Mo Geiger, Carlisle Arts Learning Center
“The partnership between Carlisle Construction Materials and the Conservancy is blossoming! Many of us at CCM feel strongly about supporting our communities in the environment, the same qualities I see reflected in the wonderful staff at the Central PA Conservancy. My hope is this has a ‘force multiplier effect’ – that we can support the mission while growing the movement. So, join the Conservancy, and a growing group of volunteers on Saturdays, to plant, serve, maintain, learn, and take in the beauty of Central Pennsylvania!”
- Andrew “Raz” Razanauskas, Carlisle Construction Materials
|  | A gorgeous photo of Thread Leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) flowers at our Letort Spring Garden Preserve in Carlisle by Howard Batchelor | |  |
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“This spring, DIAKON partnered with CPC at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve to install a native pollinator garden for this public space. The project, funded by the PPL Foundation, allowed students to improve local habitat with plants they themselves had a hand in growing. These are meaningful and connected experiences, and I am delighted to have a partner as open and flexible to finding common ground as CPC.”
- Kim Patten, DIAKON Youth Services
While looking forward to another year of community-building and engagement the Conservancy is proud to announce its acceptance of a grant award of $12,750 from the South Mountain Partnership, which will help us to enhance the public’s experience of the Letort Spring Preserve!
This generous grant award will help Conservancy staff to rehabilitate two areas of the former watercress farm, a loading dock and old porch foundation, into observation platforms for birding and nature observation. The project scope has many benefits for the Conservancy and the public, as it addresses current safety concerns surrounding the remnant structures, enhances visitor experiences by providing new perspectives and amenities, all while expanding the areas that Jesse and volunteers can install new native plant gardens!
|  | Students working hard to get the native planting by the springhouse done at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve! Thank you to our amazing community partners at the Diakon Wilderness Greenhouse! | As of 7/3, Weekly Wednesday Walks with a Naturalist are on hold until further notice. We look forward to getting these going again some time next year! | |
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Juniata County Preserves
With the arrival of cooler fall weather, mosquitos and no-see-ums are finally starting to bug off, and birds are beginning their migrations south, which means now is the perfect time to visit Greg's Woods and Port Royal Wetlands in Juniata County if you haven't! Stewardship Specialist Brennan Ka'aihue has spent the summer sprucing up trails, removing invasive species, gathering seed for propagation and sewing, teaching the interns stewardship in the context of these places, removing trash from old dump sites, and building relationship with preserve neighbors.
Greg's Woods is a very special forested wetland (and 10 acre ridge!) and can be accessed along William Penn Highway in Mexico, PA. Park along the fence at the Mexico Ballfield, at coordinates 40.540186, -77.355701, across the street from Mexico Market. The trail entrance is at 40.540919, -77.355425, and can be accessed by following the fences of the ball field. Please respect the preserve's neighbors and avoid trespassing on their property. A memorial plaque in honor of the preserve's namesake and a nice view of part of the wetland can be found at 40.540738, -77.355790.
In the fall, you'll be able to enjoy the gorgeous changing leaves (Blackgum is really popping right now!) as the ecosystem begins to tuck itself in for the winter. How much water is in the wetland depends on how much rain we've received, so going a couple of days after a storm is nice! There is a nearly complete loop trail to explore, and we are working on determining the viability of adding another on the ridge in order to accommodate spring wildflower walks.
In July, a DCNR botanist came out and we searched for a Species of Special Concern. Much to our excitement, we were able to locate several healthy populations of this species! For this reason, the trail system through the wetland area has been downsized in order to provide a protective buffer area for the plants, and no longer circles the entire preserve. We are working on updating the map and informational signage on site to reflect what we've learned over the last year. This site is a rare, intact wetland ecosystem and you'll be sure to love it like we do!
Port Royal Wetlands is just a minute down the road and also awaits your visit! Park in the lot at 40.555376, -77.364030 and the berm trail begins at 40.555299, -77.364078.With the varied habitat and pond on site, this is a popular spot for migrating birds, especially waterfowl. Over the summer it was added to Cornells' eBird program as a hotspot, so if you are into birding or want to be, you can now use eBird to track what birds you see at the site! You can also download the Merlin Bird ID app for identifiying species you may hear or see! Then, when you know what you've witnessed, you can log it in eBird. Recently, our Stewardship Specialist spotted 8 beautiful Wood Ducks that were too quick to snap a photo of, as well as a Painted Turtle (also too quick!). There are also some beautiful wildflowers along the berm, which is a short trail that goes along two sides of it. We are still evaluating the feasibility of making it into a loop due to the very wet terrain. Like Greg's Woods, this site also receives regular trail maintenance and invasive species removal. Check out the photo gallery below for what's been spotted over the summer at Greg's Woods and Port Royal Wetlands!
If you have any interest in coming out to these amazing spots to help take care of them, please reach out to Stewardship Specialist Brennan Ka'aihue by emailing brennan@centralpaconservancy.org
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Bottle Gentian at Port Royal Wetlands, what a nice surprise! | Forested wetland at Greg's Woods! While this newsletter builder doesn't permit a large enough resolution to really appreciate it, that just means you have to go see it for yourself. | Interns Genesis and Emily look pretty excited to be learning about identification, seedkeeping, and propagation at Greg's Woods! | Wingstem showing off at Port Royal Wetlands. It is a host plant for 17 different lepidopteran species, which means those species specifically need it for their young to survive! | One of our native clematis', Devil's Darning Needles, is really putting on the ritz at Port Royal Wetlands. | Unidentified little red mushrooms shining in the sunlight at Greg's Woods | Great Blue Lobelia at Port Royal Wetlands. One of our favorites! | DCNR Botanist Rachel Goad examining some sedges at Greg's Woods. We found what we were looking for! | | |
Intern Emily Leach learns how to run the forestry trimmer like a boss at our Port Royal Wetlands preserve | The pond at Port Royal Wetlands looking beautiful on a sunny September day. There's also more water in it than we've yet seen! There's lots of fluffy white flowers, our native clematis, still in bloom along the berm, along with New York Ironweed, Joe Pye, Wingstem, and various Goldenrod species. | Panicled leaf tick trefoil at Port Royal Wetlands. It's in the pea family and its chain-like seedpods will definitely stick to your clothes! | We have a nice population of native Box Turtles at Port Royal Wetlands. This species unfortunately is in decline across the state due to habitat loss and poaching for the pet trade. | This is the invasive Asian Beauty fungus, seen at Greg's Woods. It looks a lot like our native Hericeum species. |
| Do you know what this specimen at Greg's Woods is? | | | How gorgeous is the canopy and light reflecting on the wetlands of Greg's Woods? Truly a magical place! | Who needs good photo composition when you've got the Aster/Goldenrod color combo going? | | |
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Cameron, our Land Protection Specialist extraordinaire, decided that since he's still plugging away on the minutiae of the same projects from springtime that he'd spare us the repetitive update for this newsletter. If anything, this shows just how long it can take to get land protected! Know that he is working hard to get projects like the 900+ acres of Camp Tuckahoe solidified under an easement, along with helping local landowners get their land protected. All of this work is thanks to your support! If you missed our last newsletter and want to know what exactly he's still working on, check it out here!
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Above photo of a native Geranium at the Letort SGP by Howard Batchelor. Thanks for sharing Howard! | |
Have any photos to share that you've taken at our preserves? We'd love to see them and share them with your permission and photo credit. Email them to brennan@centralpaconservancy.org to be featured on our social media channels! | |
Special Feature: Kittatinny Ridge
In the heart of the Appalachian Mountains lies a natural treasure that commands awe and reverence—the Kittatinny Ridge. This majestic geological formation, often referred to as the "Blue Mountain," is more than just a stunning backdrop to our region's landscape. It plays a vital role in our environment, wildlife habitat, and even our everyday lives. Protecting land throughout the Kittatinny Ridge is one of CPC's highest priorities for these reasons. Join us as we embark on a journey to discover the importance of the Kittatinny Ridge.
A Geologic Marvel
Stretching approximately 185 miles from Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley to the Mason-Dixon Line in Maryland, the Kittatinny Ridge is a remarkable geological feature that has stood the test of time. Formed over 400 million years ago during the collision of tectonic plates, this ridge boasts towering peaks, lush valleys, and a diverse array of flora and fauna.
A Crucial Link for Migration
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Kittatinny Ridge is its role as a natural highway for migratory creatures. Each spring and fall, countless species of songbirds, raptors, and insects follow the ridge along their annual journeys.
Bird enthusiasts and scientists flock to the ridge to witness this avian spectacle. The narrow ridge acts as a funnel, concentrating the migratory flow and providing crucial stopover points for these weary travelers. Without the Kittatinny Ridge, many species would face more treacherous and perilous journeys. The more intact ecosystems we can keep together in contiguous blocks, the more these migratory species can focus on getting to where they need to go without struggling to find necessities like food, water, and shelter.
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Photo of a typical view on the Kittatinny Ridge, by The Nature Conservancy | |
Conservation Efforts
Recognizing the importance of the Kittatinny Ridge, conservation organizations such as Central PA Conservancy, government agencies, and local communities have come together to protect and preserve this natural wonder. Efforts include land preservation, habitat restoration, and monitoring of wildlife populations.
Conservationists are working diligently to ensure that the ridge remains a thriving corridor for migratory species and a haven for biodiversity. Their dedication ensures that future generations can continue to witness the awe-inspiring migrations that grace our skies each year.
Natural Benefits for Communities
Beyond its role in wildlife conservation, the Kittatinny Ridge provides invaluable services to our communities. It acts as a vital source of clean water, with its forests helping to filter and regulate the flow of streams and rivers. These waterways are not only essential for drinking water but also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as fishing and kayaking.
Furthermore, the ridge's forests sequester carbon and contribute to cleaner air. They offer a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life, providing outdoor spaces for hiking, bird-watching, and nature exploration.
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A Call to Appreciate and Protect
As we take in the breathtaking vistas and marvel at the diverse wildlife that call the Kittatinny Ridge home, let's remember the significance of this natural wonder. Its role as a migratory corridor, its contributions to clean water and air, and its status as a haven for biodiversity highlight the importance of preserving this treasure for future generations.
Whether you're a hiker, birder, or simply an admirer of the great outdoors, consider getting involved in conservation efforts for the Kittatinny Ridge. Support local initiatives, learn about the migratory species that rely on the ridge, and share the importance of this geological marvel with your community.
In doing so, we can ensure that the Kittatinny Ridge continues to inspire and amaze, reminding us of the deep connection between nature and our own well-being.
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Drone photo of the Letort Spring Garden Preserve by Stewardship Specialist Brennan Ka'aihue | |
According to Gaining Ground, every 30 seconds we lose a football field sized piece of natural land to unplanned development.
From the ridgetops to the valleys below, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy protects the places we need and love by partnering with willing landowners across the country who wish to permanently protect their land for future generations, transferring hundreds of acres to state agencies for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth, and caring for our four public access preserves. Every acre we conserve keeps carbon sequestered, cleans the air and water, enhances soil health, protects crucial ecosystems and the species that call them home, and at our public preserves, provides the community opportunities to increase fitness and decrease stress by connecting with the world around them.
We can't do this important work without your support and hope that you'll join us in protecting land for future generations with a one-time or monthly donation.
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Call for Volunteers
Every second and fourth Saturday of the month, you can help make a difference in your community at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve by conducting hands-on earth care.
You could find yourself...
- Planting native species
- Participating in "urban archaeology" cleanups
- Building and maintaining trails
- Managing invasive species
- Learning identification and hands-on stewardship skills
- Collecting + propagating native seed
- and so much more!
You can show up and join us on any of the dates listed below (park in the meadow at 1110 S. Spring Garden Road and meet at the barn), or apply using the link below if you'd like to get more information first. All volunteers will be required to sign a waiver to participate. Please contact our Letort Steward Jesse Price with any questions at 717-241-4360 or jprice@centralpaconservancy.org
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Letort Volunteer Work Days
October - November: 1 pm to 4 pm
- October 14 + October 28
- November 11 + November 25
After 11/25's volunteer day, we'll be taking a break until the second Saturday of March and look forward to seeing everyone again! We may have a trash clean up day planned for January, so keep an eye on our Facebook for updates and details!
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Thank you for reading and supporting our work to protect and preserve land in south-central Pennsylvania! | | | | |
