Central Pennsylvania Conservancy

06/11/2026

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗸 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵!

Erik grew up with a passion for community and sustainability. He attended Dickinson College where he pursued a degree in International Studies through which he developed a deeper appreciation of the power of local communities, both natural and humankind. He has resided in Carlisle since graduating in 2022 and works to build a more supportive and ecologically-informed community.

Before joining CPC, Erik served as Market Manager for Farmers on the Square, Carlisle’s weekly farmers market, and he hopes to build on this experience to bring diverse perspectives together in service of the land and ecosystems that make Central Pennsylvania beautiful, fascinating, and resilient.

Say hello to Erik in the comments below!👇🏼

06/08/2026

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗶 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗱! 🌱

Jaci Braund is our new Conservation Specialist. She and Cameron, our Land Protection Director, will be working closely together to further our efforts to acquire, preserve, and protect natural lands in south-central Pennsylvania.

About Jaci:
Jaci is an ecologist by training and has called central Pennsylvania home for over a decade. She is an enthusiastic supporter of biodiversity and is eager to work towards protecting land in this bustling region because without habitat, our fascinating natural resources cannot survive. Outside of work, you can find Jaci adding more native plants to her garden in Mechanicsburg and walking her dog, Luna, on her favorite trails.

Say hello to Jaci in the comments! 👇🏼

06/07/2026

Twenty hikers joined CPC and Dr. David Foster, Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Messiah University, for a 4-mile exploration of our Tuckahoe acquisition.

Along the way, we learned about the property's protection, conservation partners, wildlife, native plants and trees, geology, vernal pools, and historic charcoal hearths. With mountain laurel in full bloom, we observed blueberries, huckleberries, sweet fern, teaberry, sassafras, and sweet birch, while spotting or hearing a variety of birds including ovenbirds, brown thrashers, great crested flycatchers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, eastern towhees, and more.

While the pink lady's slipper orchids weren't blooming yet, their leaves offered a promise of rare beauty (we included a picture of one in bloom for you to enjoy).

Thank you to everyone who joined us to experience the remarkable conservation values of this special landscape!

Be sure to check out our website to view upcoming events!
→ https://centralpaconservancy.org/events/

06/06/2026

The community really made an impact in the month of May! 💪🏼

May 13th, we teamed up with Keystone Trails Association for our monthly Weekday Trail Care Series at the Diakon Wilderness Easement where we tended to hazardous trees and maintained trails.

May 14th, we held our monthly Community Volunteer Day. A group from Mid Penn Bank as well as Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. - HRG showed up for our May Community Volunteer Day at The Letort Spring Garden Preserve to w**d and prep the Rain Gardens for planting the following week. It takes a committed community to ensure these planting projects are successful.

May 19th, we hosted a Rain Garden Planting event with Pennsylvania American Water & Tuesday’s Chowder and Hiking Society. Participants planted native species that provide valuable habitat and food while functioning as an effective storm drainage solution adjacent to the Melester Barn.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠.

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Upcoming Volunteer Day Events:

→ Weekday Trail Care Series @ the Tuckahoe Conservation Area:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/weekday-trail-care-series-2/

→ June Community Volunteer Day @ The Letort Spring Garden Preserve:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/june-community-volunteer-day/

06/03/2026

⚾ Let's go to the ball game! ⚾

A portion of ticket sales go towards our mission to acquire, preserve, and protect land in south-central Pennsylvania.

6/19/26 @ 7:00 PM - Central Pennsylvania Conservancy

06/02/2026

📣 The present: A Data Center Town Hall Event! 📣

"We’ll have a panel of experts ready to answer your questions about data centers. This event is in person, free and open to the public; no need to RSVP. Anyone is welcome, not just residents living near a proposed site!

Get your questions ready and we’ll see you on June 11 at the Carlisle Theatre! Doors open at 6pm and the event runs from 7pm to 9pm. 🗓️ DM for more info!"

Carlisle Theatre address: 40 W High St, Carlisle, PA 17013

05/29/2026

Pa. warehouse permit challenged over water quality and trout fishery concerns.

"A new permit has given birth to a new appeal in the battle over a proposed warehouse complex in western Cumberland County.

Big Spring Preservation Association has appealed the state’s issuance of stormwater management permits for a three-building campus in the 3400 block of Ritner Highway, about eight miles west of Carlisle Appalachian Asset Management, also based in Carlisle, wants to build the warehouses, totaling about 1.36 million square feet, on a site that has historically been used for farming."

Read more here:
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/05/pa-warehouse-permit-challenged-over-water-quality-and-trout-fishery-concerns.html?fbclid=IwdGRzaASFhXpjbGNrBIWFZmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkVJAKK0JBvSaeUXYojsT7dI9MaVi0aCZExwMuI3LudwxrGtvoV__bANLUzC_aem_YWdncwAwDYSFCCKgZbM7TYutdKmG&brid=YWdncwEYgJJFfyNZ1bRu_yXNc2-6&utm_campaign=mrf-facebook-PennLive&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&mrfcid=202605276a15e96279d6e10595edb66e

05/18/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our May Walk, led by Perry Yingling!

We had a great turnout and had the chance to hear and se 30+ species at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve.

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Be sure to sign up for our June Walk- a Hike Through the Laurels at the Tuckahoe Conservation Acquisition!

Learn more and register today:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/hike-through-the-mountain-laurels/

05/15/2026

𝗔𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹-𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹

"An 18-building AI data compound under construction less than a third of a mile from the AT in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania would cover 700 acres of land and could impact both the scenery and local ecology, the trail's top organization [Appalachian Trail Conservancy] warned."

"...Even before the data center is complete, trail users could feel the impact. 'Significant construction over the next six years and eventual daily operation of the PAX-1 Data Center will increase noise disturbance, light pollution, and vehicle and heavy equipment traffic near the A.T.,' said Simonelli, who added that the organization expects the construction to contribute to habitat loss for local wildlife."

Read more about the impact of the proposed PAX-1 data center by clicking the link below:
https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/the-appalachian-trails-newest-neighbor-an-industrial-size-data-center/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=69fe41427f32060001dfadf5&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawRyuLdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYbnltc1pmM2ExUTgzbGdic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjfrHo_GheNYoxhAgqWXd5pGl6ogUeQjwjNsqBpNG-G-6BY-cG4J9fpXl3BY_aem_MMG3472bTVnu_kngAAVW4Q

05/14/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿'𝘀 𝗙𝗡𝗕 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱! ⚾

We are thrilled to announce our first ever fundraising event with the Harrisburg Senators! With every ticket purchase, a portion of proceeds will be given to Central Pennsylvania Conservancy. Be sure to bring your friends and family to this fun-filled evening.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: June 19, 2026 7:00 - 10:00pm
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: FNB Field 245 Championship Way, Harrisburg, PA 17101
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: $20.68

Learn more and purchase your tickets today:
https://centralpaconservancy.org/event/3248/

𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦!

6/19/26 @ 7:00 PM - Central Pennsylvania Conservancy