7/3 Important Update: The Weekly Walk with a Naturalist on Wednesdays from 8-9:30 at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve is on hiatus until further notice! We hope to see you again in a few weeks and will update here when walks have resumed.

What We Do

Central Pennsylvania Conservancy protects land and natural resources, while increasing public recreation opportunities, expanding conservation areas, and improving habitat connectivity.

Private landowners – the Conservancy works with landowners to protect their properties from development through Conservation Easements
Partner Organizations & Agencies -we collaborate with nonprofit and public partners
As a local land trust, CPC works with landowners to permanently protect high conservation value properties through land acquisition, conservation easements, or transfer acquisitions that add to existing public lands.
We work to save the unique landscapes that define our region while identifying specific opportunities to protect ecological, recreational, and cultural value.
We maximize impact by establishing good partnerships with peer organizations and regional initiatives, state conservation agencies, and local government. It takes many strong partners to accomplish our mutual goals!
CPC aims to build on past successes, grow our land protection and stewardship program, pursue diverse funding opportunities to advance our mission and partnerships and expand our role as a conservation leader in our region.
CPC’s land protection directives and projects are overseen by a Land Protection Committee and the CPC Board of Directors. Projects are selected according to established conservation priorities.

CPC’s long-term vision is to create a local network of permanently protected and preserved lands by fostering a community committed to conservation and acquiring key lands and easements.

The following end goals drive CPC’s work and engage our members in support of our mission:

Protected mountain ridges will provide scenic views, wildlife habitats, and ecosystem functions throughout the region.
Prime farmland will remain vital and fundamental to the local economy.
Regional water resources will continue to provide life-giving nutrients and vitality to the landscape and the people who live there.
The region’s cultural heritage will be a valued and prominent part of the community fabric.
Recreational opportunities will be available on protected lands throughout the Central Pennsylvania region.

Conservation Stories

Strickler Easement

The Strickler Easement is positioned against the West-Branch Conococheague Creek and is crossed by Johnston Run, a coldwater tributary. The farm is just one mile from Mercersburg, a historic town of 1500 and home to Mercersburg Academy. Route 16 connects the community with Interstate 81, just 15 minutes away.

Fort Halifax Park

Beginning in 2004, Central PA Conservancy and community members rallied to save what was, most recently, the historic Yeager Farm. Together, more than half a million dollars was raised to complete the acquisition.

Diakon Wilderness Center Easement

The Diakon Youth Services Wilderness Center sits on a 169-acre wooded property, surrounded by PA State Game Lands 305 on three sides and the Appalachian Trail Corridor on its eastern boundary.