Central Pennsylvania Conservancy

10/29/2026

Yesterday morning, we had the remainder of the team from REI Store #227 join us for a group volunteer event. Our primary task was processing buckets upon buckets of wildflower seed heads that had been gathered earlier in the month during the United Way Day of Caring, separating and sifting them into a native wildflower seed mix that includes black-eyed Susan, wild bergamot, lanceleaf coreopsis, American senna, mountain mint, and more native species from around the preserve.

We’ll be giving out some of this mix at future outreach events, and several of today’s participants filled their own seed packets to bring a little slice of the Letort back to their own backyards! Some of the team who wanted a more physical challenge also joined me to remove old tree tubes and stakes towards the North end of the preserve, improving the view along the meadow trails there.

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Join us for our last Community Volunteer Day!
📅 November 12, 2026
⏰ 9:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Letort Spring Garden Preserve

Register here:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/november-community-volunteer-day/

10/28/2026

10/28/2026

This past Saturday morning, we celebrated our collaboration with The Trout Gallery and commemorated their current exhibit Branch: Trees in American Art with the dedication of two trees donated by The Trout Gallery just uphill from the parking lot at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve.

After a quick ribbon-cutting ceremony, Stewardship Director Jesse Price led a short tour of the preserve’s woodland area highlighting habitat construction projects that we’ve been using to rebuild a dynamic food web at the site, including two hibernacula (one installed just a month prior thanks to this partnership and volunteers from Dickinson College) for small reptiles, amphibians, and mammals to overwinter.

It was a perfect morning to gather and reflect on the power of community partnerships like this with faculty, staff, students, and parents from the college!

10/24/2026

Thank you to the wonderful REI staff who came out to the Letort Spring Garden Preserve and participated in our Volunteer Day!

In one day, volunteers...
🌱 Planted Christmas Fern and Blue Flag Iris in the rain gardens
🪏 Split and potted up Golden Ragwort out of the shade living pollinator garden
🪵Surface existing trails with woodchips

Be sure to stop by and check out all of therecent stewardship improvements at the Letort!

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Next Community Day Details:
📅 November 12, 2026
⏰ 9:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Letort Spring Garden Preserve

Register here: https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/november-community-volunteer-day/

10/22/2026

Mark your calendar for the KTA Benefit Yard Sale on Saturday, October 31, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Scott Farm in Carlisle!

Hosted by the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club (CVATC), this yard sale will feature camping, hiking, biking, skiing, fishing, and paddling gear, hand tools, outdoor equipment, trail guides, books, vintage furniture, and more.

Proceeds will benefit the Keystone Trails Association (KTA) and renovations at the Scott Farm Trail Center. While public grants have helped get renovations underway, additional private funding is needed to meet matching requirements and support planned improvements.

When: Saturday, October 31, 9 AM–4 PM
Where: Scott Farm Trail Center, 301 Bernheisel Bridge Road, Carlisle, PA

Rain date: Sunday, November 1, from 9 AM–4 PM.

Thank you to CVATC for organizing this fundraiser in support of KTA and Pennsylvania’s trails!

Do you have gear to donate? Email Haley at [email protected]

10/21/2026

𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿!

📅 November 7, 2026
⏰ 10:00am - 1:00pm
📍 2300 Peters Mountain Road Halifax, PA 17032 United States

Join Peggy Fogarty on November 7th to enjoy fall on Peters Mountain!

This moderately difficult 6-mile rocky trail walks along Peters Mountain ridge and along the Appalachian trail. Attendees will enjoy scenic views of the Halifax area, beautiful forests, and historic landmarks.

We recommend wearing orange, supportive hiking boots, and layers. Be sure to bring snacks and water and trekking poles as well.

Register here. 👇🏼
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/hike-with-the-director/

10/20/2026

Here's your sign to visit Port Royal Wetlands!

We're excited to share a newly designed map for one of our Juniata County preserves. Port Royal Wetland's map can be found online and at the preserve.

Be sure to stop by and explore this hidden gem.
📍Smith Rd, Mifflintown, PA 17059

Learn more about Port Royal Wetlands and view our new map here. 👇🏼
https://centralpaconservancy.org/port-royal-wetlands/

Have you been to Port Royal Wetlands? Share a photo of your adventure in the comments.

10/15/2026

𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲
with The of Dickinson College

📅 Oct 24, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 1110 S Spring Garden St, Carlisle, PA 17013, USA

Join The Trout Gallery and the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy for a special tree dedication ceremony celebrating the planting of three new trees at Letort Spring Garden Preserve.

This event is part of the community outreach program accompanying Branch: Trees in American Art, The Trout Gallery’s current exhibition exploring the cultural, ecological, and artistic significance of trees in American life.

The newly planted trees symbolize the partnership between art and environmental stewardship, as well as our shared commitment to preserving and enhancing local natural spaces.

Following the dedication, participants are invited to enjoy light refreshments and hear an update on current projects and future plans for the Preserve from Jesse Price, Land Stewardship Director with the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy.

We hope to see you there!

10/13/2026

We had beautiful weather for our monthly hike last weekend at Waggoner's Gap!

Participants walked about a mile out and back through a 106-acre acquisition which was added to the Game Lands 230 in 2008 and expanded on the protected land at Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch.

Our walk took us to the Charlie Irvin Shelter, which was built on the property by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club through a trail easement that CPC granted them prior to the transfer. The view from the shelter was extraordinary, and many people stayed after the walk to check out the Hawk Watch as well.

Thanks to all who attended.

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Join us for our next monthly event: 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿
📅 November 7, 2026
⏰ 10:00am - 1:00pm
📍 Peters Mountain
🥾 Moderately difficult 6-mile rocky trail

Learn more and register today:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/hike-with-the-director/

10/09/2026

On Saturday morning, a group from across disciplines at Dickinson College joined us to learn about some of the habitat-building projects we undertake at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve and lay the foundations for our second constructed hibernaculum. Later this week, volunteers at our monthly Community Volunteer Day and the United Way Day of Caring added layers of natural materials for insulation and water resistance.

After that, the variably-sized gaps between rocks and organic matter in the hibernaculum will provide a relatively warm, dry, and safe environment for many of the Preserve’s denizens to overwinter – from frogs and salamanders to chipmunks and even solitary native bees!

Thank you to everyone involved in this special project.