Giving thanks this holiday season

As I enjoy this season of changing leaves, I’m prompted to consider what makes the Lebanon Valley special and a great place to live. Lebanon County has so many opportunities for recreation and enjoying nature. We are blessed with many community parks, networks of trails, Swatara State Park, Middlecreek Wildlife Refuge, and the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail. These recreational havens not only connect us with nature, but also serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting these natural spaces.

In the Lebanon area, you might get the sense that everyone knows each other. It’s easy to find common connections. These relationships, cultivated at school, in our neighborhoods, in the workplace, or at church, lead to strong bonds that define our sense of community.

View our 2023 year in review

It’s this sense of community that provides support for TLVC in the form of dedicated members, donors, volunteers, and board members. Farmers and landowners who make the decision to conserve their land help to create a more sustainable community, support clean air and water, and provide animal habitat.

The month of November is a time when many of us reflect on what we are thankful for. As we come together in gratitude, let us continue working collaboratively toward a common goal: safeguarding the beauty of Lebanon Valley for generations to come. Thank you to all of our members, business sponsors, volunteers, donors, and community partners who support TLVC and our events and initiatives throughout the year. -Courtney Reimann, Land Protection Director

Quittie Watershed interns present findings

Interns for the Quittapahilla Watershed Association (QWA) recently presented their findings from stream morphology surveys and on-the-ground agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in relation to some of the main tributaries of the Quittapahilla watershed in Lebanon County, including Gingrich Run, Killinger Creek and Snitz Creek. TLVC, a partner and sponsor of QWA, administered the 2023 summer internships, held by Hannah Horengic and Ilyssa McLaughlin, both students from LVC. The students presented a brief overview of their research during a QWA meeting in October. Their stream assessments included livestock access to a creek, severe bank erosion, water-treatment discharge, as well as several sizeable sinkholes. Read more in this article from PA Environmental Digest.

What can I do with these pumpkins?

Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Pumpkins and gourds decorate our homes in the fall, but have you ever wondered how to dispose of them once the holidays are over? Don't throw them in the trash! Here's a great article from the NWF blog with tips on how to recycle them! Note: please don't feed wildlife pumpkins that have been bleached or painted.

We're grateful for the response of donations, memberships, volunteers and sponsors! Your support makes it possible for us to work with landowners to save their land from development and to give back to our community by developing parks and providing educational opportunities. Thank you! -Courtney

Thanks to our newest members and renewing members

for caring about our local environment!



Anthony Asper | Beverly Barr | Barbara & Keith Kuhlengel

Preservation Leader: Leon and Patricia Houser Foundation 

Are you a member? Consider joining us and helping with our mission in the Lebanon Valley. Individual memberships are $100, business memberships start at $1,000, and student memberships are FREE! View our membership brochure.

Courtney Reimann, Land Protection Director

Proceeds support our mission in the Lebanon Valley. THANK YOU!

News Links

• Who will plant all those trees?: PA DCNR

• Pa. has updated how it defines an ‘environmental justice area.’...: SpotlightPA

• 200+ Schaefferstown properties included in new National Register historic district: LebTown

• Acres of protected land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed hits 9.1 million: ChesapeakeBay.net

• FeederWatch - Count Feeder Birds for Science: The Cornell Lab

• Greenland’s Glaciers Melting Twice as Fast as They Were 20 Years Ago YaleEnvironment360

Activities & Resources

• Nov 18, 10 am CLA Holiday Parade, downtown Lebanon

• Nov 25, 6:30-8:30 pm Isaac Meier Homestead to host Kerzenlicht Nacht: article by LebTown

• Dec 1, 5:30 pm Christmas Slow Ride: Lebanon Bicycle Recycle

• Dec 3, 1:30-5 pm Christmas Open House (free admission): Lebanon County Historical Society

• Dec 4, 1-10 pm: Longwood Gardens Holiday Lights

• Dec 8 & 9: annual Christkindlmarkt: Historic Schaefferstown

• Local group focused on the natural beauty and enjoyment of Governor Dick: Friends of Governor Dick

• Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for status on PA conservation efforts

• Enjoy the great outdoors! Info at Visit Lebanon Valley and follow our Facebook page for ideas/videos. Visit the park's website prior to venturing out for up-to-date visitor information/guidelines.

November 2023 | www.TLVC.org | 717.273.6400 | DONATE

The Lebanon Valley Conservancy works to protect the cultural, historical and environmental resources

of our region. We are committed to collaborating with our community to ensure equitable access

to all of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations.