Friends of Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve

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Friends of Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve

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85 acres of protected wetland and natural area in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.

The meadow supports a rich diversity of plants, wildlife, and fungi while providing opportunities for education, research, and quiet appreciation of nature.

11/04/2026

Exciting updates from the Fungal Diversity Survey at Happel’s Meadow!

Our ongoing fungal survey is turning up some interesting finds, and DNA sequencing is helping us learn a little more about what's growing at the Meadow.

So far, 149 of our 868 observations have been DNA sequenced, with quite a few interesting results. Two specimens were so unusual that they had to be added to iNaturalist.org under provisional names because their identities aren't yet clear. They could be entirely new species or species that have never been DNA sequenced before. We'll continue studying these specimens and collecting more data in hopes of identifying them in the future.

A couple of other noteworthy finds:

Lindtneria: 2 species with just 3 observations documented in Pennsylvania.

Hyaloscypha: 4 species with only 8 observations documented in Pennsylvania.

These findings are a good reminder of how much we still have to learn about the fungi growing right here in our own backyards. Even in a small area like Happel's Meadow, there is so much to find and so many discoveries waiting to be made. DNA sequencing allows us to take a closer look at species we might otherwise overlook or have difficulty identifying.

For those unfamiliar with the project, we use iNaturalist, a community science platform, to photograph, document, and track the fungi found at Happel's Meadow. These observations help us build an ongoing inventory of the Meadow's fungal diversity, identify species, and keep track of what we're finding over time. We also collect and preserve specimens for further research, including DNA sequencing, which can help distinguish species that look nearly identical.

This is where community science really comes in. Every observation adds to what we know about the Meadow, whether it's part of a research survey or a photo taken by someone out enjoying the trails.

We encourage you to follow our project on iNaturalist! And next time you're out walking at Happel's, snap a few photos of anything interesting you come across and upload them to iNaturalist. You don't have to know what it is to contribute. Your observations can help us better understand and document the biodiversity right here at Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve.

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/happel-s-meadow-biodiversity-survey

10/22/2026

Looking for a way to enjoy this beautiful fall weather? Come take a walk at Happel’s Meadow!

Our trails have recently been cleared and maintained, so now’s a great time to get out and enjoy them before they’re covered in leaves again! Take a little time to slow down, enjoy the fall colors, and see what you might discover along the way.

Whether you’ve visited us before or haven’t had a chance to stop by yet, we’d love to see you out enjoying the meadow!

10/16/2026

Happy National Mushroom Day! With all the rain there are plenty of fresh fungi to check out, these Amanita mushrooms were under the spruce tree along the driveway.

09/23/2026

We recently had a great group of Environmental Science students from Mount St. Mary’s University out at Happel’s Meadow for a mini iNaturalist.org BioBlitz!

Ashley Laman, a member of the Happel’s Meadow Wetland Preserve Advisory Committee and an iNaturalist Ambassador, led the class through the preserve after they had learned about iNaturalist in their classroom. Students explored the meadow in small groups, documenting plants, birds, insects, fungi, and other organisms they encountered along the way.

They also learned about Happel’s Meadow, its history, and the different wetland habitats found here, while paying attention to things like water levels, vegetation, invasive species, and signs of wildlife.

It was a fun, hands on way for students to experience biodiversity documentation and citizen science in action. Their observations are now part of the growing iNaturalist record for Happel’s Meadow and will help us continue learning more about what lives here.

A big thank you to the students and their professor, Eric, for spending the afternoon exploring Happel’s with us!

⭐ Are you an educator, student, or researcher interested in using Happel’s Meadow as a place to learn, teach, or conduct research? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us to learn more about the preserve and how you might get involved!⭐

09/19/2026

American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) spotted hanging out between the boards of our lower bridge.

08/04/2026

This past weekend, the Northeast Mycological Federation (NEMF) held its annual foray at Penn State Mont Alto. The event brought together mycologists, scientists, and nature enthusiasts from across the Northeast for three days of guided fungus surveys, lectures, workshops, and scientific research.

On Friday, Ashley Laman, representing both NEMF and the Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve Advisory Committee, led a group of 44 participants through Happel's Meadow to photograph, document, and collect fungi for research.

The survey was incredibly productive! Using iNaturalist, participants recorded 275 observations representing 125 suspected species of fungi, lichens, and slime molds. Many of the collected specimens will be DNA sequenced to confirm their identities, helping expand our understanding of the Preserve's remarkable biodiversity.

The group included lichenologists, professional mycologists, field researchers, foresters, geologists, mycological club presidents, representatives of the Northeast Rare Fungi Challenge, the NEMF Vice President, the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators, and many dedicated professionals and community naturalists.

We're honored that Happel's Meadow continues to be recognized as an important place for biodiversity research and conservation. Every survey helps us learn more about the incredible diversity of life that calls this special wetland home.

07/26/2026

Fresh stone has been added to the Happel's Meadow driveway and parking area!

It's a great time to stop by, enjoy an easier drive in, and explore the trail and wetland. We hope to see you out at the meadow soon!

07/22/2026

Catalpa worms are having a boom year at Happel's Meadow! 🐛

If you visit Happel's, keep an eye on the Catalpa trees! There are two large trees along the driveway and a smaller, sideways-growing one near the beginning of the trail. Chances are you'll spot these amazing caterpillars.

Catalpa worms (Ceratomia catalpa) are native to the Northeast and feed exclusively on the leaves of Catalpa trees. After spending the summer eating, they'll burrow into the soil at the base of their host tree to overwinter as pupae. Next spring, they'll emerge as beautiful Catalpa Sphinx Moths.

These caterpillars are a real boom-and-bust species. They may be scarce or completely absent for a year or two, then suddenly appear in huge numbers. Judging by how many we're seeing this season, 2026 is definitely a boom year!

Have you spotted any around the preserve? We'd love to see your photos in the comments!

07/01/2026

Despite a rainy start to the morning, the weather cooperated just in time for a wonderful nature walk at Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve this past Saturday!

A huge thank you to retired biologist Becky Loncosky for leading such an engaging walk along the John Birely Memorial Upland Trail. As expected, Becky did a fabulous job sharing her knowledge of the trees, shrubs, and unique ecology of the preserve. We all came away having learned something new.

We were thrilled with the turnout! Our participants were curious, asked great questions, and truly appreciated the opportunity to explore the preserve together. The trail was especially beautiful with the Rosebay Rhododendrons in full bloom, and the rain left the woods looking lush and full of life.

The good news is Becky has already agreed to return for a fall walk! This time she'll explore one of autumn's most beautiful mysteries, why and how leaves change color. We'll share details as the date gets closer, so stay tuned!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a great morning. We can't wait to see you on the trail again this fall!

06/02/2026

We are excited to share that the Northeastern Mycological Federation (NEMF) has selected Happel's Meadow Wetland Preserve as one of the foray locations for their 2026 annual foray in Mont Alto!

Each year, NEMF brings together professional, academic, and citizen mycologists, along with mushroom enthusiasts from across the Northeast, to explore local forests, document fungal diversity, attend educational talks and workshops, enjoy mushroom tastings, and share their passion for fungi.

We are honored to welcome this incredible group to the meadow and can't wait to see what fungal treasures they uncover. Happel's Meadow's mix of wetlands, woodlands, and diverse habitats makes it a fascinating place to explore, and we're eager to learn from the discoveries made during their visit.

For more information visit https://www.nemf.org/

Address

14356 Buchanan Trail E
Blue Ridge Summit, PA
17214

Website

https://www.washtwp-franklin.org/happels-meadow-wetlands-2/, http://www.happelsmeadow.org/

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