Events

Join us on the last Saturday of February to enjoy a beautiful hidden gem in Dauphin County.  This guided photo hike led by Tim Bennett will include 3.5-mile figure-eight loop hike through DCNR State Park land. This is a moderately difficult and paced hike with 700' of elevation gain to the ridgetop and the Appalachian Trail. Sturdy hiking shoes, microspikes, and trekking poles are highly recommended.  It is the last day of small game hunting season for most species, so please wear orange. You do not need to bring a camera- we will be using our phones to capture photos.  Throughout the hike, Tim will provide pointers and tips to attendees on how to best capture nature photos and great outdoor images.   About Time Bennett: Tim Bennett is a hiker, backpacker, photographer, and wilderness paddler who has long dreamed of adventure. Following a distinguished career as an internationally recognized author and educator in ophthalmic imaging, he set out to chase his biggest adventure dream: retracing his late father’s 1937 footsteps on Vermont’s Long Trail. The unlikely adventure that followed is chronicled in his debut memoir, One Mountain After Another. His writing has appeared in the Long Trail News and on the backpacking site, The Trek. Leveraging decades of teaching and public speaking experience, he shares his personal hiking journey and the history of long-distance hiking trails to local and national audiences. When not off chasing wilderness adventures, he lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and dreams of where the trail might lead him next.   CPC and Ibberson Conservation Area: This 93-acre tract, located in Halifax Twp, Dauphin County, was preserved by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy in 2015 then later transferred to Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to be preserved for public use and enjoyment.  It is now part of the Memorial Lake State Park Complex, managed by Park Manager Courtney Troutman.  

Come meet with Central Pennsylvania Conservancy staff on South Mountain for a moderately-paced, 2.5-mile loop hike Wednesday at 4pm!  Learn how public and private organizations work together to preserve local land, and explore some trails and protected lands symbolic of these important partnerships. The loop will take hikers across a CPC-protected trail, paths on state game lands, and a brief stint on the Appalachian Trail. Attendees are encouraged to wear orange or bright colors. The trailhead is located near the Diakon Wilderness Greenhouse on Little Dogwood Run, at the following coordinates: 40.12070855987833, -77.11992567977734     About Cameron Weiser: Cameron Weiser is the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Land Protection Director, and works with the organization’s Land Protection Committee to develop new project, set project priorities, and secure project funding. Over the last four years in his role, Cameron has worked with public and private partners to organize and navigate complex real estate transactions and establish new protected lands for conservation and recreation across central PA.   CPC and Diakon Wilderness 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. Little Dogwood Run, a tributary of Conodoguinet Creek, runs through the property. Children navigate a high ropes course, balancing on wooden beams and a suspended canoe, surrounded by trees and blue skies. 140 acres of the Diakon property is forested, offering an undisturbed view of woodland from the adjacent Appalachian Trail and Center Point Knob, a short distance away. The remaining area is the Diakon campus. The mission of the Diakon Wilderness Center is “Nurturing change and growth in youths, families, and communities.” With that mission in mind, the Diakon Wilderness Center facilitates programs that enrich young peoples’ lives including the Center Point Day Program, Wilderness Greenhouse and Native Plant Nursery, and Youthful Offenders Program. The latter program gives students a chance to engage in alternative and outdoor education, connecting them to positive experiences that encourage self-growth. The Greenhouse and Native Plant Nursery offer a variety of forbs, shrubs, and trees native to Pennsylvania. Diakon’s dedicated staff guide students in the care of the nursery stock which are sold seasonally. While the Diakon property is generally not open to the public, each year Diakon hosts an Outdoor Adventure Challenge, a 5km trail run. The Wilderness Greenhouse and Native Plant Nursery also have seasonal public open hours. The conservation easement held by CPC includes a trail easement that provides a section of public access that connects State Game Lands 305 and the Appalachian Trail.

🎶🗓️ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀 🗓️🎶   The The New Cumberland Collective presents the Second Annual Hellbender Hootenanny! Details below. 👇🏼   Date & Time: March 21, 2026 @ 7:00pm Location: Abbey Bar - 50 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA 17101 Cost: $15   All proceeds from this event will go towards our mission is to acquire, preserve, and protect local land and natural resources in South-Central Pennsylvania. We are so grateful to be a part of such a fun event and for the community support that comes from this music-filled night.   Get your tickets here today.

March is a Family Community Yoga for a Cause Move together. Breathe together. Protect what matters. Join Just Plain Yoga for a special all-levels, family-friendly yoga class where parents and children (ages 6+) can connect on the mat — and give back to the land we all love. This gentle, playful practice weaves breath-synchronized movement and moments of stillness, creating space for shared laughter, calm, and connection. Led by Daniela Cabrerizo, this community class benefits Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, helping us achieve our mission to acquire, preserve, and protect natural lands in south-central Pennsylvania. When we practice together, we strengthen more than our bodies — we invest in a future where our children can explore forests, fields, and open skies for generations to come. Come as you are. Bring your family. Leave knowing you’ve made a difference. 🌎💛 In-person and virtual attendance options are available.   ➡️ REGISTER HERE ⬅️    

Join us at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve for our monthly Community Volunteer Day! Volunteering can be a fulfilling way to give back to the community while also enjoy time out in nature.At our upcoming volunteer day, activities may include...→ Trail maintenance (trimming vegetation, hauling brush)→ seed collecting→ Tree/shrub planting & maintenance→ Plant Identification (native & invasive species)→ Invasive Species Removal→ Habitat CreationAt the end of the volunteer event, our Stewardship Director Jesse Price will lead a guided walk around the Preserve to discuss areas of interest and development. Individuals, groups, business, and organizations are all welcome to attend this event.  For questions, please contact Jesse Price at stewardship@centralpaconservancy.org.  

Join us on April 11th from 10am - 12pm for a guided wildflower walk at Pine Hill Arboretum.  This will be a leisurely-paced walk where our guide, Gene Wingert, will point out wildflowers in bloom and what to expect in the upcoming weeks as spring blooms emerge. Some of the species we may find include... → English sweet violet (blue and white) → Periwinkle → Dutchman's Breeches → Early Rock Saxifrage → Spring Beauties → Bloodroot → Cut-leaved Toothwort → Virginia Bluebells → Trout Lily → ... and many more! This 0.5 mile walk includes 0.25 mile of fairly flat terrain where a majority of the wildflowers can be found.  The remaining 0.25 miles are on a steep, rocky path.  We recommend those in attendance to wear proper footwear and bring trekking poles for stability, if needed.     About our guide: Gene Wingert is a professor at Dickinson College where he teaches biology and environmental sciences. Since 1967 when he started teaching, he has instilled enthusiasm and fascination for the environment in his students and continues to do so today.  In addition to a long teaching profession, he is the author of several publications.  Titles include A Pocket Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Wildwood Park, Amphibian declines during a 50-year period in south central Pennsylvania, Demography of a painted turtle intergrade, and DIET AND REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES OF AN ALLEGHENY POPULATION OF THE RED-SPOTTED NEWT.

Join local environmental community organizations on an educational walk along the Letort Nature Trail to celebrate Earth Day 2026! To celebrate Earth Day 2026, join us in an educational walk along the Letort Nature Trail to learn about stormwater management, local ecology, native and invasive plant ID, macroinvertebrates and fly fishing, and more! Staff from Carlisle Borough, South Middletown Township, Letort Regional Authority, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, and others will be leading the walk and providing attendees with hands on educational activities along the way. Educational stations along the walk will teach participants about the local ecology and land management of the area. For the full experience, please arrive at Letort Park at 10am; attendees are also welcome to explore the stations at their own pace if they wish to arrive at a later time. Stations will be set up until 2pm. There will be two options for the walk. The shorter option will be 1.5 miles roundtrip while the longer option will be 4.25 miles. The longer option will walk to the Letort Spring Run Nature Preserve and will include a few extra stations along the way. Both walks will start and end at Letort Park. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and dress for the weather! Water and snacks will be provided but it is recommended to pack a lunch if you want a full meal. Please bring a reusable water bottle to refill as cups will not be provided. Registration is not required, but highly encouraged. ➡️ REGISTER HERE ⬅️

We're coordinating with Keystone Trails Association again this year to offer Trail Care days during the week. On Wednesdays from May through September, you can join us at one of our preserves and past land projects  to help spruce up their trails, and work on a couple brand new trails. There will be something for any level of experience, from sprucing up existing trails on their lovely properties, to helping build two brand new, accessible trails. So, these events are ideal for anyone from beginners with zero experience, to veterans of trail work. Type of work may involve trimming back vegetation with loppers, pruners and handsaws, pulling invasive species, as well as raking, digging, and grading new treadway. Food/Drink: Generally, bring your own lunch/snacks and water. We're looking to secure some goodies to hand out. What else to bring: For these partial day outings, we recommend a small pack with your aforementioned snacks and fluids, insect repellent and sunscreen, needed medications, and a rain jacket if desired. Long pants, sneakers or boots- comfortable clothes to work in and potentially get dirty. KTA will bring a first aid kit, as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and safety glasses, as well as any tools needed. Please feel free to bring your own favorite gloves and tools. For more general information about the Trail Care Program and suggested packing lists, see KTA Trail Care FAQ page here. Please contact Jenn Ulmer, KTA Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training, at ulmer@kta-hike.org or 570-854-8316 with any questions.   → Learn more and register here ←

Join us at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve for our monthly Community Volunteer Day! Volunteering can be a fulfilling way to give back to the community while also enjoy time out in nature.At our upcoming volunteer day, activities may include...→ Trail maintenance (trimming vegetation, hauling brush)→ seed collecting→ Tree/shrub planting & maintenance→ Plant Identification (native & invasive species)→ Invasive Species Removal→ Habitat CreationAt the end of the volunteer event, our Stewardship Director Jesse Price will lead a guided walk around the Preserve to discuss areas of interest and development. Individuals, groups, business, and organizations are all welcome to attend this event.  For questions, please contact Jesse Price at stewardship@centralpaconservancy.org.

Enjoy a casual walk to see, listen, and learn about the Letort Spring Garden Preserve’s bird life. Mid-May is the peak of neotropical songbird migration and we’ll look for signs of breeding from both resident and migratory species. This 1.5 mile walk is on mostly flat gravel and grassy paths. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. The walk meets at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve parking lot on S. Spring Garden Road.   About our Guide: Perry Yingling is a local resident who is passionate about birding and bird conservation. He was recently awarded a grant from South Mountain Partnership to install 12 American Kestrel nest boxes in Cumberland County. Raptors are his favorite class of birds to encounter. Slowing down to observe the details of nature is the way he likes to relax. Biking and hiking are other “excuses” to get him outdoors. There is a good chance you will pass him on the trail at the Letort Garden preserve as that is one of his favorite places to encounter nature.