Land Stewardship

Audubon Mid-Atlantic’s Healthy Forests Guide
Homegrown National Park

Civic Engagement

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCILS
Environmental Advisory Councils (EACs) are one of the most effective ways to advance municipal conservation efforts, and you can establish one in your community! EACs are appointed by local elected officials to advise them and other municipal boards on a broad range of environmental matters. There are over 150 EACs in Pennsylvania, and 18 along the Kittatinny Ridge.

BIRD TOWN PENNSYLVANIA
Bird Town Pennsylvania works in partnership with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote community-based conservation actions to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife, and people.

A.T. COMMUNITIES
There are 51 communities along the Appalachian Trail’s (A.T.) corridor that have been recognized in the A.T. Community™ program. These towns and cities are assets for everyone who uses the A.T., providing food, supplies, recreation, history, volunteer opportunities and so much more. Find special events and promotions, plan your own A.T. adventures—whether for an afternoon or for multiple days — and explore everything these communities have to offer. There are many benefits to joining the network, including access to educational resources, national and regional recognition of tourism programs, and opportunities for grant funding. In 2021, ATC distributed funds to community projects in Virginia and West Virginia through Community Impact Grants.

Municipal Officials

CONSERVATION GUIDEBOOK FOR COMMUNITIES ALONG THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Act 24 requires municipalities along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) to take action to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the Trail and to conserve and maintain it as a public natural resource. This Guidebook identifies seven characteristics of communities that are most likely to be effective in addressing issues associated with the Trail. It provides a checklist for municipalities to use in making their own assessments of how well the Trail experience is conserved in their community and offers sample zoning standards and other resources that municipalities can use to incorporate Trail and natural resource protections into their ordinances.

MUNICIPAL TOOLS AND MODEL ORDINANCES
Visit the CONSERVATIONTOOLS.ORG library hosted by the PA Land Trust Association to view a set of municipal resources available to communities along the Kittatinny Ridge corridor.

NATURE-BASED PLACEMAKING
A nature-based place recognizes and embraces natural assets as a generator for economic activity. NBP is about the connection and collaboration among civic, tourism and business focus areas. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has engaged Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) to develop a strategy that will address these opportunities and provide communities with the ability to develop them to their fullest potential.

PENNSYLVANIA LAND CHOICES
Pennsylvania Land Choices seeks to build connections to natural resources, communities and the planning process. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of State Parks, in partnership with other organizations and agencies such as the Wild Resource Conservation Program (WRCP), is working with teachers, community leaders and students throughout the Commonwealth through an award-winning program called People Land and Community Education (P.L.A.C.E.). P.L.A.C.E. uses a variety of educational resources, including the 250-page education guide called Pennsylvania Land Choices. The PA Land Choices Education Guide provides a foundation of activities and information for teachers in grades 6 through 12 (although the activities can be adapted for elementary and college-level students as well). The curriculum is also used in professional development workshops offered through state parks across Pennsylvania.

Local Organizations

BERKS NATURE
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP
HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY
LEBANON VALLEY CONSERVANCY
LEHIGH GAP NATURE CENTER
MANADA CONSERVANCY
NATURAL LANDS TRUST
POCONO HERITAGE LAND TRUST
WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY

A.T. Clubs

Allentown Hiking Club
Bake Oven Knob Road to Tri County Corner

Appalachian Mountain Club – Delaware Valley Chapter
From Wind Gap at PA 33 to Little Gap near Danielsville, PA

Batona Hiking Club
Fox Gap at PA 191 to Wind Gap at PA 3

Cumberland Valley Appalachian Club
Darlington Trail on Blue Mountain to Center Point Knob

Keystone Trails Association
Little Gap to Lehigh Furnace Gap (Ashfield Road)

Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club
Lehigh Furnace Gap to Bake Oven Knob Road, AND Tri-County Corner to Rausch Gap Side Trail

Susquehanna Trail Club
Rausch Gap Side Trail to PA 225 north of Harrisburg

York Hiking Club
PA 225 to Susquehanna River

Mountain Club of Maryland
Susquehanna River to Darlington/Tuscarora trail and Center Point Knob to Pine Grove Furnace State Park (PA 233)

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
233 South of Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA to Rockfish Gap in VA

Audubon Chapters

Appalachian Audubon Society
Conococheague Audubon
Lehigh Valley Audubon Society
Quittapahilla Audubon Society