Event

Cookie Mining in Blossburg: A Sweet Look at History and Land Use 

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Blossburg’s coal mining past got a tasty twist at the recent Cookie Mining workshop, presented by the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (NPC), the Tioga County Conservation District (TCCD), and the Blossburg Memorial Library. Together, these partners welcomed 34 excited “miners” to learn about the region’s coal history through chocolate chip cookies! 

Cookie mining in action! Participants took on the challenge of extracting chocolate chips while learning about coal, land use, and reclamation.

A Tasty Take on Local History

Erica Tomlinson from the Tioga County Conservation District started things off with a short talk about coal mining in the area. Then it was time to mine some cookies. First, there were no rules—just dig out the chocolate chips however you could. Then, new rules were added to show what responsible mining looks like. Toothpicks and paper clips became pickaxes and shovels. While some kids hoped for bigger tools, they soon got the hang of these smaller, more careful methods. 

Reclamation and Responsible Mining

The activity led to some great conversations. Older kids talked about “reclamation,” the process of fixing land after it has been mined. Everyone discussed the importance of cleaning up after your work and trying to limit the damage. 

Once the mining was over (and the cookies safely set aside), the group enjoyed fresh chocolate chip cookies from Farmer Dave at The Farmer’s Table. They were a big hit and well worth the wait! 

Once the mining was over (and the cookies safely set aside), the group enjoyed fresh chocolate chip cookies from Farmer Dave at The Farmer’s Table.

Rivers, Coal and Crafts: Highlighting the Tioga River Restoration

This event is part of the ongoing Rivers, Coal and Crafts series, made possible by grant funding from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), the Jones Foundation, and Friends of the Blossburg Memorial Library. 

The series, coordinated by NPC, TCCD, and the Blossburg Memorial Library celebrates the Blossburg community and shares information about the Tioga River’s ongoing restoration. 

Through hands on workshops, craft projects, and storytelling, participants of all ages are learning about the decades-long impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) on the Tioga River, and how local partnerships are working together to restore the health of the river and its surrounding landscape. 

Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) discharges have polluted the Tioga River for more than a century. Now NPC and our partners working together to restore the health of the Tioga River.
Event

NPC’s Annual Clinton County Dinner

Please join us for NPC’s Annual Clinton County Dinner!
When: September 10, 2019
Where: Stella A’s Bar & Grill (219 E Main St, Lock Haven, PA )
What: Socializing at 6:00pm; Dinner 6:30pm; Program following dinner

The evening will include dinner at Stella A’s Bar & Grill, and feature a presentation on the Bald Eagle Valley Trail by Kate de Silva, Clinton County Planning Director.

The Bald Eagle Valley Trail
The BEVT is a planned 11.5-mile walking/hiking/bicycling trail that will ultimately run from Castanea to the Jersey Shore Trailhead of the Pine Creek Valley Rail Trail. Named for the ridge-and-valley Appalachian Mountain area through which the trail passes, the Bald Eagle Valley Trail is a project of Clinton County Government, with partners in Castanea, Wayne, and Pine Creek Townships, the Clinton County Solid Waste Authority, and the Clinton County Visitors Bureau.

Kate will give a “show and tell” update on development progress of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail—what’s open to the public and what’s still in the works! She’ll also touch on the 2019 Middle Susquehanna Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan that encompasses wider trail planning efforts across seven counties.

The cost is $30.00 per person.

Reservations can be made online (please select “Dinner Reservation” in the Donation Designation dropdown) through the donation page of the NPC website, by calling the NPC office at 570-323-6222, or by mailing a check to the NPC office.

Checks should be payable to: Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Payment can be mailed to:
NPC
PO Box 2083
Williamsport, PA 17703

Reservations are due by September 2, 2019. Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds after this date.

Event

NPC’s Annual Tioga County Dinner

Please join us for NPC’s Annual Tioga County Dinner!
When: September 3, 2019
Where: The Deane Center (104 Main St., Wellsboro)
What: Socializing at 6:00pm; Dinner 6:30pm; Program following dinner

The evening will include dinner at the Deane Center, catered by The Red Skillet, and feature a presentation by Tim Morey, Natural Resource Specialist, PA DCNR.

“Engaging Youth in Conservation”
Tim will highlight key recreational resources such as the Pine Creek Gorge and the dark skies of Cherry Springs, and more specifically, what’s being done to engage today’s youth in conservation through recreation, education, and service.

Tim grew up on Pine Creek and the surrounding parks and forests, graduating from Galeton High School and then later from Lycoming College with a degree in biology.

The cost is $30.00 per person.

Reservations can be made online, (please select “Dinner Reservation” in the Donation Designation dropdown), by calling the NPC office at 570-323-6222, or by mailing a check to the NPC office.

Checks should be payable to: Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Payment can be mailed to:
NPC
PO Box 2083
Williamsport, PA 17703

Reservations are due by August 26, 2019. Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds after this date.



Event

Fishing Skills Instructor Training set for January 31st

Fishing Skills Instructor Training,                 
January 31, 2019 from 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm,    
Keiper Recreation Center, Williamsport

Partnering for Conservation

NPC is partnering with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), Lycoming College’s Outdoor Leadership and Education Program, and Lycoming College’s Clean Water Institute to hold a Fishing Skills Instructor Training on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at Lycoming College’s Keiper Recreation Center. Check-in begins at 5:30pm with the program getting underway at 6:00pm. Pre-registration is required using the link below.

PFBC offers introductory programs in fishing and conservation of Pennsylvania’s waterways. These programs provide very basic fishing skills and background information.

Goals of the Program

The goals of the programs are to:

  1. To teach basic skills, equipment, techniques and the safety of freshwater fishing in Pennsylvania.
  2. To develop an understanding of the state’s aquatic ecosystems.
  3. To foster an appreciation of the state’s aquatic resources.
  4. To encourage the wise use of the state’s water resources.
  5. To create an awareness of aquatic invasive species (AIS)

Enrichment of Attendants

After training volunteer Fishing Skills Instructors provide programs and assist in educating people about:

  • types of fish found in Pennsylvania
  • fish habitats
  • safety while fishing
  • outdoor manners and protecting our water resources
  • basic fishing skills, fishing equipment, and practice using them
  • knowledge on aquatic invasive species

Register today as space is limited. Registration deadline is January 20th.

https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136237

 

Event, Uncategorized

What’s the best gift you can give?

The gift of the great outdoors! We are promoting REI’s Black Friday event #OptOutside. Instead of spending time indoors shopping, get outdoors and enjoy the bounty of the Pennsylvania wilds making memories and seeking adventure!

It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do just as long as you #OptOutside. And here’s a link to a local trail guide that REI has set up just for you! Seasoned hiker? Click on the difficult terrain. New to hiking, no worries they have you covered! You can pick your location, your activity and your desired level of difficulty. It will even tell you how long your chosen trail will take you to cover. Easy peasy!

Now get outside and connect to the gifts of the great outdoors!

You can help protect the water, land and resources of the region by making a donation to the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy. Donate today and your tax deductible donation will preserve the land for you and future generations to enjoy.

Event, On the Blog, Organizational News

Raise the Region 2018

NPC is participating in the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania (FCFP)’s Raise the Region® 2018. FCFP, in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, will be launching a 30-hour fundraising event beginning on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 6:00 PM through midnight on Thursday, March 15, 2018. You can support NPC with an online gift, and your gift will be stretched by a generous contribution from Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships.  All gifts are tax deductible, are made to the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, and will be acknowledged by FCFP for tax purposes.

 

You can donate by visiting the Raise the Region website and selecting Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy (this text should link).

 

Conserv. Easem. Visit, Conservation Project, Event, Interesting Facts, On the Blog, Uncategorized

Raise Up Land Conservation

Beginning at 6:00pm on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania’s Raise the Region 2017 will allow you to make a donation and have your donation “stretched.” By using their online portal, you’ll make a donation to FCFPP earmarked for NPC. The Foundation will then “stretch” your donation using funds from the Alexander Family of Dealerships and others.

To make a donation during the event visit our online giving page at “Raise the Region.”  Please note, the link won’t work until 6:00pm on March 8, 2017 and will stop working at 11:59pm on March 9, 2017.

Event

110 Turn Out for Stream Field Days

Stream field days IMG_1364were a huge success!  Over 110 people attended one of the field day sessions held between August 5-8 on Turtle Creek, Union County.  The field days were sponsored by NPC, Union County Conservation District, DEP’s northcentral office, and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The field days focused on the in-stream habitat work and Agricultural Best Management Practices being implemented on three farms along Turtle Creek, Union County to decrease sedimentation and erosion.  The project length along this agricultural siltation impaired stream measures 1.1 miles.

DEP biologists had been to the three farms in May to gather pre-construction macroinvertebrate (bug) data.  This data will be used to monitor the stream improvements seen as a result of the construction. The tour provided everyone with the opportunity to “see” the difference in the bug community on an actively grazed farm, one with 5 years of streambank fencing protection, and one with 20+ years since livestock impact.

IMG_1328Susquehanna University’s Susquehanna River Initiative, Dr. Jon Niles and five of his students attended Wednesdays sessions and provided an electro-fishing demonstration.  The week before construction Mike Bilger, also with the susquehanna River Initiative, completed 100 meter electrofishing surveys and documentation on these three farms prior to construction.

Thank you to all the partners who helped make the field days happen!

Event

Kayak Trip Set for July 13, 2014

2013 squirt 3We’re teaming up with Canoe Susquehanna again this summer to paddle from Montoursville to Muncy.  On Sunday, July 13, 2014 we’ll paddle the 9+/- miles from the Montoursville boat launch to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission access at the Muncy river bridge.

The cost is $55.00 per person if you need to rent a kayak (this includes the paddles, life jacket, use of a super soaker of your choice, and transportation), and $45.00 per person if you are planning to bring your own kayak (the fee includes use of a super soaker of your choice and transportation for you and your kayak). Reservations are required. You must make them through Canoe Susquehanna.  Email Mail@PaddleHappy.com or phone 888-524-7692 (local: 570-524-7692) to book your spot!

To visit Canoe Susquehanna’s page click here.

Proceeds will benefit NPC’s land protection program.