Our Fall Walk and Talk Series covered three counties, and had us exploring trails, streams, and more! These walks were great opportunities to learn about the work of partner's while also having fun outdoors. Special thanks to our attendees and our three hosts; Adams County Trout Unlimited, South Mountain Trolley Greenway, and Michaux State Forest.

We will hold our Winter Partnership Meeting January 20, 2023 at Penn Twp Firehall in Newville, PA. Don't miss this exciting event to kick off to the new year.

Agenda will include the unveiling of a new South Mountain Partnership Logo and Website, important funding opportunity presentation, and update on our State of the Region Project.

Save the date, registration opens soon!

Ploughman Cider has generously selected the South Mountain Partnership as the beneficiary for this incredible party! Be sure to join us December 10th as we jam to great music, eat, drink, and be merry all while celebrating the bounty of the South Mountain!

DCNR and the Partnership are collecting information (metrics) from our Partners to understand your 2022 accomplishments within our South Mountain landscape/region. Please share information about projects that the SMP was involved with or helped to facilitate or get started. Accomplishments will be collected under six main resource areas: Natural, Cultural, Social, Rural/Agricultural, Recreational, and Economic.

Please enter them into our public data input form. We will randomly draw 2 metrics submissions for a special South Mountain surprise prize.

Questions? Contact Tyler Semder at 717-772-4762 or tsemder@pa.gov.

For some, winter may be a time to slow down and hibernate, but at South Mountain Partnership we are busy building for the future! In keeping with our mission of “Conserving Landscape Resources to enrich the quality of life and sense of place of the South Mountain region’s citizens and communities”, The past few weeks have been packed with activities to help inform us about how to improve South Mountain’s public health and environment by engaging with key stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds! Read the full update here.

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!

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!

Pennsylvania state forest campsites now online!

Test Adam's County Water

Trail Cams in the Michaux

Of the four distinctly unique season we experience in Pennsylvania, winter is a season often associated with rest. Many insects spend the winter as nymphs or pupae waiting for the warm weather to emerge as adults. Perennial plants draw sugars and nutrients underground to form of roots, bulbs, and corms where these resources are stored until spring. This feeling of rest is most notable when snow covers the ground and even dampens sound. I always want that moment of quiet and stillness to last as long as possible. Living in a town, it’s an ephemeral feeling. No sooner does snow fall than scraping snow shovels can be heard down the street.

Snowfall always reminds me how much of the forest is still active even in the winter. Out in the forest, the tracks of rabbits, coyotes, deer, and other wildlife are imprinted in the snow. Beneath the snow some insects and rodents remain active throughout the winter, creating a maze of tunnels that last just as long as the snow. Out in Michaux State Forest, the tracks of wildlife are quickly followed by the alternating prints of boots, the parallel lines of skis, the thin treaded line of a bike, or the tracks of snowmobiles.

Heavy snow might be the only time of year that Michaux State Forest gets a brief moment of rest... read more here.

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable shared "The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released updated national statistics and state-level data that recognizes the critical role the industry plays in supporting economic growth in the United States." Pennsylvania's statistics show the outdoor economy valued at almost $14 billion. Read more here.

Capital RC&D was recently awarded a $73,943 grant from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grant program to demonstrate new soil carbon monitoring and management tools and technology on multiple farms in South Central Pennsylvania. An associated goal is to measure the amount of carbon that can be sequestered by farmers for possible participation in carbon markets.

To learn more about the project, partners, or Capital RC&D, visit www.capitalrcd.org/carbonmonitoring Photos courtesy of Teralytic, manufacturer of the wireless soil probes utilized in this project. 

The Region is bursting with Craft Shows, Markets, and Holiday Events. Check these listings to plan an outing with your family!

1. Craft Shows, Markets & Holiday Open Houses in Cumberland Valley
2. Events in Franklin County
3. Holidays in Gettysburg 2022 – A Special Schedule of Events
4. Holiday events in central Pa.: From York County trees to Adams County gingerbreads