Partnership Welcome & Update |
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The South Mountain Partnership works best as a network of people and organizations working toward common goals.
Our common goal? Making the future of our region better.
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What's in this Newsletter
SMP News
-Attend the Power of the Partnership Celebration
-Watch SMRC Highlights
-Nominate a Person or Project to Spirit of South Mountain
-SMP Photo Contest
-Volunteer with SMP
Partner News & Social Media Roundup
- Top Social Media Posts
-Tending Change on the Michaux
-Solar Roof Arrays
-Old Growth Forest Designated
-DNCR Feedback on E-Bike
-Employment and Funding Opportunities
Trainings, Workshops & Learning Opportunities
-Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional-Buffers Certificate Course
Calendar of Events
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Greetings!
As the summer heat warms up our region, the South Mountain Partnership has been cooking with fire! We received an impressive 17 grant applications with the closing of the SMP Grant Program and are gearing up for an exciting fall with our Power of the Partnership Event and launch of our State of the Region Project.
The Friends of the South Mountain Partnership (FOSMP) works to conserve agricultural, cultural/historical, natural, and recreational landscape resources to enrich the quality of life and sense of place for citizens and communities in the Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties of Pennsylvania.
The Friends of SMP have made it a priority to help spread the word about what the SMP is and why it is important to our region. The Friends of SMP have translated this mission into results by hosting both in-person and virtual events and launching the new South Mountain Partnership Flex Grant Program. This grant is 100% donor-supported with special emphasis on projects that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our region.
Sincerely,
Katie Hess and Julia Chain
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SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARTNERSHIP NEWS |
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Come celebrate the region with good friends, local food, and incredible views! The South Mountain Partnership hosts the Annual “Power of the Partnership” Celebration each year, with more than 100 people in attendance from throughout Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties. This year, we’re excited to announce the event has moved to a new format, offering a local food lunch menu, inspirational speakers, and more opportunity to connect and celebrate with friends and colleagues new and old. The event is the only regional event that highlights and celebrates the landscape, local products and cuisine, and the people that protect and promote this unique place. To include networking hour with a view, local food lunch, Speakers Secretary Cindy Adams-Dunn (invited) and Secretary Russell Redding (invited), awarding over $50,000 of grants and the "Spirit of South Mountain," plus additional activities. Tickets are $25 a person and include lunch.
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Become a sponsor! Support the only regional celebration of farms and farmland, historic places, water and air quality, wildlife and habitat, and parks, trails, and open spaces! Your sponsorship ensures that we can continue offering quality events and information to the South Mountain region.
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Watch our Science Summit Highlight Reel |
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The 2022 Science Summit was held April 29th 2022 at Big Hill Cider.
We are grateful that our event brought together nearly 130 landowners and land managers with student and academic researchers, local and state governments and agencies, and a host of organizations and individuals for this very important event!
Enjoy this video to get a sense of the fun [and learning] at this year's Summit.
Learn more about the Science Summit and SMP's Research Corps here.
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Spirit of South Mountain Nominations Open |
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Each year the South Mountain Partnership recognizes an individual, project, or organization that has made significant contributions to advancing a positive and sustainable future for the South Mountain landscape.
What qualities of the South Mountain Landscape does SMP seek to protect? Farms and Farmland, Historic Places, Natural Assets(water bodies, air quality, public health ), and Recreational Assets(trails, walkability, and open space). Submissions are due Sept 2nd by 5 PM.
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Snap Pictures, Win Prizes |
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South Mountain Partnership is seeking photos of the South Mountain landscape, events, agriculture, recreation, and people enjoying where they live. We are passionate about our home on the South Mountain. It is a special place with special views, plentiful water, orchards, families at play, abundant wildlife, hiking trails, history, fruits stands, and more. Help us bring our core messages to life through photography. We will be holding two rounds and both offer cash prizes! Click here to learn more.
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Now Recruiting Volunteers, Committee Members |
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We are recruiting new committee members and volunteers! This opportunity is especially great for young professionals, those wishing to build their resumes and professional networks, and retired individuals. If you strive to be a good communicator and a “doer” who takes action and gets things done, you may be a great fit!
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The following are some of the most popular social media news posts,
followed by partner-submitted news that you should know about.
Follow us for the latest news, upcoming events, and more!
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Tending Change on the Michaux: Can Nature Be Improved On? The Ranger Perspective.
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Written in Partnership with DCNR Bureau of Forestry
"...Which brings us to the Michaux, the cradle of forestry in America. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has created the Bureau of Forestry to protect and manage this wild, natural resource. It is not an easy job, and there are many user groups with varying needs and expectations. And then, there is the ecosystem that adapts, while we scramble to “improve” something that existed for billions of years before we came along…
So, we juggle priorities, using controlled burns, select cut timber management, invasive pest control, wildlife reintroduction and hunting management. And recreation access for many different user groups, road maintenance, timber sales, and education programs. The forest management can be broken down into 3 main facets: timber sales, outdoor recreation and forest/wildlife health or habitat enhancement. As it turns out, what might be best practice for one facet is not best practice for another, and there is difficulty in maintaining the balance.… Read more here.
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Solar Rooftop Arrays- What about Warehouses? |
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Written in partnership with Cumberland County Planning
"The average size for new warehouses constructed in the South Mountain region is 500,000 – 1,000,000 square feet. This is a large footprint of developed area and combined with stormwater facilities necessary to manage the impervious surfaces, these facilities can occupy significant acreage...
...If communities do not embrace planning for where these installations are to be situated, and facilitate placement of facilities on developed sites, solar development may significantly impact viewsheds and remove land from agricultural production across the state. Read more here.
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Old Growth Forest Designated! |
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The Beartown Woods Natural Area is 27 acres within the 85,500-acre Michaux State Forest and is a relic northern hardwood forest; species found in this forest include sugar maple, yellow birch, American beech, and eastern hemlock. This site also runs along the Appalachian Trail. | Want to check it out for yourself? Parking is available here.
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The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced a new proposed internal policy on the use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) on DCNR lands. The policy when adopted will allow e-bikes to be used on DCNR-managed trails where traditional bikes are allowed.
Written comments on the draft e-bike policy are welcome, and can be summited to RA-NR_PolicyOffice@pa.gov by Aug. 31.
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Employment and Funding Opportunities |
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South Mountain Job Board and Scholarships |
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The environmental educator is responsible for delivering established programs of The Institute at the K–12 grade levels and developing creative new programs into the future. The primary role of this position is to work outdoors with school groups and the general public.
The MMEE Scholarship may award up to $500 per year to students interested in attending an eligible environmental education program.
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Due September 30, 2022
Since 2018, the Wild East Action Fund has supported a variety of land protection and organizational capacity building projects that have accelerated the pace of conservation within the Appalachian Trail landscape. This funding opportunity is available to conservation organizations, including nonprofit partners and public agencies, that support the mission of the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership.
Open from July 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022
Applications are now being accepted for the York County Open Space and Land Preservation Grant Program with a deadline of September 30th. A grants workshop is scheduled for August 10th at 1:00 PM
Administered through DEP, the Environmental Education Grants Program provides funds to support a wide range of environmental education projects including meaningful, hands-on programs for students, teacher training workshops, and community conservation projects for adults.
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Trainings, Workshops & Learning Opportunities |
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The certificate course is comprised of a series of videos, webinars, and in-person field workshops. Scholarships Available! All three sessions occur in September and the in person workshops occur in Gettysburg, PA
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Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
- August Sundays: 7, 14, 21, 28
- September Sundays: 4, 11, 18, 25
The back terrace of the Cameron/Masland Mansion is a lovely place to enjoy the view and an even lovelier place for a gentle, beginners’ paced hatha yoga experience. Be there every Sunday morning for a donations accepted experience.
August 10 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The York County Open Space and Land Protection Committee will be hosting a workshop (via ZOOM) on Wednesday, August 10 from 1-3PM. The workshop will review the Open Space Grants Program, the Marcellus Shale Legacy Funds, and various grant opportunities through DCNR. The York County Open Space Grant Program and the Marcellus Shale Legacy Funds are open to York County municipalities and non-profits.
August 20 @ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Woodsy Owl Weekend Volunteer Day, August 20, 2022, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Volunteers will assist with projects
in the Organized Group Campground (OGT). Volunteers will have a picnic lunch provided by the Friends of Pine
Grove Furnace State Park and receive two nights of free tent camping at the Ironworkers Organized Group Camp.
The two nights of camping are on August 19 and 20, 2022. Preregistration is required.
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