Since the Fall of 2023, the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy (CPC) has been working with landowners Jim, Jay, Joseph, and James Mowery to preserve their family’s 261-acre forested property near Newville, PA. Nestled …Read More
The KRCL is excited to introduce the 2025 Business on the Ridge summit stories video collection! Aligned with our Conservation Plan goal to support nature-based economic development, this project has been a …Read More
The recently launched Appalachian Trail Community Conservation Collaborative is an exciting new initiative led by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) dedicated to amplifying local voices and supporting community-led conservation efforts while strengthening …Read More
Raptors soaring over Pennsylvania’s ridges, ablaze with fall colors, is an autumn experience you won’t soon forget. Fall migration is once again upon us, and October is the best time to witness …Read More
Each season in Cumberland Valley offers a wide range of experiences, but this region truly shines in the fall with festivals, food, foliage, and more. Whether you’re seeking a breathtaking view, want …Read More
Later this summer, communities will have the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring to benefit as part of the first-ever Appalachian Trail Community Conservation Collaborative pilot. What is the Appalachian …Read More
Mass bird mortality events have occurred in recent years in major cities and have captured national headlines. In October 2023, over 2,500 birds were killed at McCormick Place on the Lake Michigan …Read More
Pennsylvania boasts 28 designated Water Trails which serve to link outdoor recreation with water conservation efforts and community engagement along our remarkable streams and rivers. Water Trails vary in length from 14 …Read More
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s PA Farmland Raptor project is expanding its reach after securing a grant through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to expand the project into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This effort …Read More
Building the business case for green investments among key decision-makers is a critical but often challenging step in advancing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects. The solution? The recently launched GSI Impact Hub …Read More
This year, National Trails Day falls on June 7th, and as always it serves as a great opportunity for folks to reflect on the trails they love most and the work that …Read More
Calling All Birdwatchers (and anyone who likes birds!) The Manada Bird Brains Team is at it again this year; taking a bird walk to see what’s out there during the June bird …Read More
Since Bushkill Township’s award-winning Open Space Program began in 2005 it has preserved close to 2,000 acres. The program preserves land through Conservation Easements and Fee Simple purchase. Over the years, four …Read More
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, like many sites along the 185-mile-long Kittatinny Ridge, considers the continued threat of non-native vegetation its top forest stewardship challenge. Its award-winning stewardship staff see the signs annually, having …Read More
Amphibians are all around us and are often found in unexpected places like vernal pools! Some great examples of vernal pools are found in natural and wild lands in State Forests. Recent …Read More
On a dreary, wet night in early spring, dozens of volunteers can be found armed with headlamps and clipboards scouring the roadways of French Creek Sate Park. They are looking for amphibians …Read More
Manada Conservancy wrapped up 2024 with the signing of two conservation easements on eight parcels owned by the Laudenslagers, marking a grand total of 575 acres that the family has protected with …Read More
Women play a vital role in global conservation, contributing to the protection of biodiversity, ecosystems, and sustainable resource management. From pioneering scientists like Rachel Carson, whose Silent Spring ignited the modern environmental …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge is known for its rugged, rocky terrain, continuous forests, and impressive biodiversity; features that make it the perfect home for one of Pennsylvania’s threatened mammal species, the Allegheny woodrat. …Read More
On November 8, 2022, voters in Carbon County, PA overwhelmingly approved a $10 million bond issue—the Carbon County Water, Farms, and Land referendum—to support farmland preservation and natural lands conservation. Eighty-two percent …Read More
Pennsylvania has a rich and storied conservation history. From bald eagle and elk reintroductions to the creation and management of wildlife habitat on more than 1.6 million acres of public land, the …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge is recognized as a globally significant migration flyway and Pennsylvania’s largest Important Bird Area (IBA). At least 16 species of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures, and more than 150 …Read More
As autumn takes hold over Pennsylvania, the skies continue flutter with the wings of migrating wildlife. The Kittatinny Ridge plays a vital role as a migration highway for a variety of species, …Read More
Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area in Middle Paxton Township near Harrisburg, PA was donated to the state in 1999 by real estate developer Alex Boyd. Containing over 1,000 acres along the …Read More
Pennsylvanians are fortunate to have a vibrant and successful model for conserving and preserving natural and cultural assets. Housed within the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR), the Conservation …Read More
Fall is a great time of year to be outside in Pennsylvania, especially along the Kittatinny. The leaves are changing, the air is cooler, and, of course, the raptors are migrating. While …Read More
Residents of Harrisburg, PA know the Kittatinny Ridge well. Its rugged peaks are a valuable source of natural system services, and those seeking outdoor adventure frequently hike the forested trails of nearby …Read More
Cruising along the rugged, snowy slopes of the Kittatinny Ridge, Gilson snowboards feel right at home. Perhaps that is because they are handcrafted from the timber of local Pennsylvania hardwoods. Or perhaps …Read More
Most people have fond memories of their childhood years spent on playgrounds. But for those with mobility struggles, finding opportunities for play can be challenging. And while new parks are typically constructed …Read More
When the New Jersey Zinc Company in Palmerton, PA finally closed in 1980, it left behind a barren mountain of polluted land. Eighty years of zinc smelting had propelled metallic contaminants in …Read More
Shared with permission from the DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Fridays archive. Our recent March and early April “yo-yo” weather pattern has me admittedly yearning for brighter, warmer days. Like the emerging …Read More
May is a busy time of year for bears! Many bears are up and about, leaving their dens for good. Cubs are learning how to climb up (and down) trees, how to …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape is a critical habitat for migrating birds such as the golden-winged and cerulean warblers. At Audubon, we take a hemispheric, full life-cycle perspective, meaning that we don’t …Read More
Recent studies suggest that North America has lost 2.9 billion birds over the last 50 years, including 17% percent of birds that rely on eastern forests. One such species is the neotropical …Read More
With eyes on the warming climate and increasing food insecurity, neighborhood gardens are becoming a saving grace for urban communities. Consider the physical and mental health benefits of easy access to green …Read More
Trees have been around since the beginning of time. They are vital to our shared ecosystem and provide critical functions of absorbing and storing carbon that help combat climate change while also …Read More
In 2010, supported by a $1 million Opportunity Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) completed a 200,000 sq.-ft. expansion of its …Read More
The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s presence at Middle Creek began in 1929 with the addition of 1700-acre State Game Lands 46. By the 1960s Eastern Pennsylvania waterfowl hunters, who had been traveling to …Read More
Birds are important members of a functioning ecosystem. They control pests, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and some are even members of the environment’s clean-up crew. They also provide endless hours of entertainment …Read More
Shared with permission from the DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Fridays archive. As days begin to lengthen and thoughts turn to spring, one of the earliest signs of the forest reawakening are …Read More
Shared with permission from the DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Fridays archive. March weather is known for its extremes from bitter cold to well-above-normal temperatures. You might think these weather swings would …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge is recognized as a globally significant migration flyway and Pennsylvania’s largest Important Bird Area (IBA). Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watch is a 125-acre rock outcrop situated atop the Kittatinny Ridge …Read More
Birds are a vital part of our ecosystem and bring beauty and joy to our environment. They eat over 400-500 tons of insects a year, disperse seeds, provide pollination services and keep …Read More
Many residents of Pennsylvania are fortunate to catch frequent glimpses of Bald Eagles throughout the year, often flying over highways and urbanized areas, highlighting the dramatic recovery of our national symbol. However, …Read More
Since the 1990s the Kittatinny Ridge has been recognized as one of the preeminent corridors for North American raptor migration, concentrating more birds than any other corridor in eastern North America, excepting …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge is recognized as a globally significant migration flyway and Pennsylvania’s largest Important Bird Area (IBA). At least 16 species of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures, and more than 150 …Read More
With 150 lakes and 170 river miles to explore, it’s no surprise that the Pocono Mountains is a paradise for paddlers of all sorts. Whether you prefer kayaking, canoeing, rafting, tubing, whitewater rafting, or stand-up paddleboarding, there …Read More
Pennsylvania supports over 2,000 species of native plants, many that grow along the 185-mile stretch of the Kittatinny Ridge, and all are threatened by invasive species. These introduced plants quickly take over, …Read More
The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) corridor may harbor more rare, threatened and endangered species than any other National Park Service unit. By protecting rare species, and biodiversity in general, the ecosystems in which …Read More
Sitting atop the Kittatinny Ridge, tucked away in Lebanon and Dauphin Counties, is the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center (FTIG). This installation is an essential part of the Kittatinny Ridge …Read More
Manada Conservancy’s first conservation easement project of the new year is a beautiful mountain property straddling two watersheds and part of the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape. The protected property, totaling 97 acres, …Read More
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC) recently conserved a 16-acre farm in Union Township, owned by Albert Minnich. The farm, located next to Swatara State Park and a large campground, has been in …Read More
A short drive from the hustle and bustle of our state’s capital, a mama black bear and her two cubs are spotted by landowner Rob Fritchey as they roam freely through his …Read More
From the formation of fossil fuel deposits to the tectonic ballet that gave us the Appalachian Mountains, geologic events occurring hundreds of millions of years ago made the Keystone State what it …Read More
Protected property adjacent to the Appalachian Trail, Near Allentown The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania and Delaware is delighted to announce that it has acquired 127 acres of forestland in West Penn Township, …Read More
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, in partnership with The Conservation Fund and Berks Nature, has acquired 22 acres of land adjacent to its Acopian Center for Conservation Learning. The undeveloped cropland will be incorporated …Read More
By a vote of 5-0, the Plainfield Township Supervisors on Wednesday supported a sweeping ordinance (see attached) that will create better protection for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) and the resources …Read More
Conserving more beauty in the Kittatinny Corridor In 2007, Manada Conservancy placed a conservation easement on the 41-acre heart of a unique swamp ecosystem on the north side of Peter’s Mountain in …Read More
By the time you read this, the mountain laurel will be finished blooming. But as of this writing, it is decorating our woodlands with its pale pink flowers, convoluted stems, and glossy …Read More
“Moore Township to recognize Appalachian National Scenic Trail and inventory township’s natural resources, agricultural lands, and environmentally sensitive areas on revisions to its official map.” Please see full article on page 3 here.
“I’ve lived in Carbon County since second grade and have a deep passion for outdoor recreation. As a child, I went on many adventures with my family, usually “roughing it” in the …Read More
“I’ve always been an outdoor enthusiast. After college, I got involved in the conservation field. I would always find myself traveling to Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains on weekends and vacations to enjoy my …Read More
If you’re like me, you grew up hearing about and seeing signs for the Kittatinny Ridge and the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) without realizing that that we live and travel regularly within this …Read More
Our third annual “Bird The Ridge” event was our best yet! The outing took place on May 9th, at the peak of bird migration season and just as bird breeding season was …Read More
Kurtis Sensenig introduces us to the agricultural heritage of the Capital Area while hiking the Appalachian Trail along the Kittatinny Ridge, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Local land use planning and conservation-oriented ordinances are critical …Read More
Will he get to the shelter before the storm hits? Join Kurtis Sensenig as he hikes the Appalachian Trail along the Kittatinny Ridge in the Susquehanna Water Gaps of Pennsylvania, from Hawk …Read More
Learn more about why the A.T. is such a special part of America as Kurtis Sensenig hikes to the Delaware Water Gap, an Appalachian Trail Community on the Kittatinny Ridge in Pennsylvania. Following Leave No Trace …Read More
When you decide to take a walk in the woods, maybe for leisure, escaping the monotony of daily life, or desiring a great adventure, the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is at your disposal. …Read More
The Kittatinny Ridge traverses a 185-mile course through Pennsylvania, from the Delaware River to the Mason Dixon Line. Its waters supply hundreds of streams and rivers and 13 lakes and reservoirs. For …Read More
Twenty-five years ago I traded my Upper Michigan roots for the fast-pace and seemingly jaded existence of the mid-Atlantic. Jobs beckoned my husband and me, so I left behind jack pines, real …Read More