Schuylkill Highlands Partnership

08/26/2026

National Park Week is almost here! From August 22–30, celebrate the places that preserve and share America’s legacy. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is proud to be part of that story.

As we continue to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, programs at Hopewell highlight the people, industry, and community that shaped early American life. Throughout National Park Week, visitors can connect with Hopewell’s role in that broader story through daily interpretive offerings:

🔨 Daily Molding & Casting Programs
Explore how iron was shaped, formed, and used in early America. These demonstrations offer a look into the skills, labor, and innovation that powered Hopewell’s iron industry.
🏛️ Daily Guided Tours
Join a ranger-led walk through the historic iron complex. These tours share how the landscape, natural resources, and a diverse community supported the iron-making operation here in southeastern PA.
⚔️ Hopewell & the American Revolution Talks
Saturdays & Sundays at 1 PM
Learn how Hopewell’s production, people, and resources contributed to the Revolutionary War effort, and why this site matters within the larger narrative of America’s founding.

National Park Week invites everyone to reflect on the many ways parks connect us to shared history, national identity, and ongoing stewardship. At Hopewell Furnace, these programs offer visitors a window into the past to learn how this early industrial community helped shape the nation we know today.



Photo: NPS

08/26/2026

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY from Penn State Extension:

Geospatial Analysis Tools and Methods for Community Planning

This is an in-person screening of this webinar to be held at Lancaster County Planning, Room 102, 150 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603

Penn State Extension Land Use Webinar Series

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • 12:00 PM ET

This program will focus on using geographic information systems (GIS) to identify criteria appropriate for various types of development based on location. It will also explore the use of this technology for aspirational development.

1.25 AICP Credits | Free

This series of monthly land-use webinars will present in-depth information on land-use topics affecting the communities of Pennsylvania.

08/26/2026

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY from APA PA:

Getting Buff: How Riparian Buffers Can Strengthen Community Resilience

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • 12:00 PM ET
This webinar will discuss how protecting riparian buffers—vegetated strips of land along waterways and waterbodies—through local ordinances can provide water quality, wildlife habitat, economic, and recreational benefits. We will cover existing statewide riparian buffer regulations and identify the gaps in that regulatory scheme that can, and should, be filled by local ordinances. We will discuss legal issues that local officials should be aware of when drafting local ordinances pertaining to riparian buffers and review PennFuture’s model riparian buffer ordinance.
1 AICP (1 L) Credit | Free

Getting Buff: How Riparian Buffers Can Strengthen Community Resilience This webinar will discuss how protecting riparian buffers—vegetated strips of land along waterways and waterbodies—through local ordinances can provide water quality,   …

08/26/2026

🗺️ Help Shape the New D&L Trail Interactive Map!

We want to hear from you! Tell us how you use interactive maps to plan your visits, find trail access points, discover attractions, and navigate the D&L Trail.

Your feedback will help us create a better, more user-friendly map experience for everyone who explores the Corridor.

✅ Take the survey: https://bit.ly/4xRzSuz

08/26/2026

Come join us for a cool night hike! 🦉🌚🦝

Learn about the noctural animals that inhabit green lane. Click the link in our bio to sign up.

08/26/2026

Planning on coming to the Hay Creek Festival? What are you looking forward to?

❤️ Is it the food?
❤️ The demonstrations?
❤️ Dancing and celebrating our 50th Anniversary?

Let us know!

50th Anniversary Hay Creek Festival
September 11 – 13, 2026 – 10 am to 5 pm daily
Click for details! https://haycreek.org/hay-creek-festival/

08/26/2026

Valley Forge Park Alliance is proud to partner with The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville to present filmmaker Brendan Hall’s Out There: A National Parks Story.

Out There: A National Parks Story follows a filmmaker and his childhood friend on a 10,000-mile road trip through America’s national parks. What begins as a search for awe-inspiring landscapes evolves into a deeper journey that uncovers the human stories embedded in these wild places.

Brendan Hall will be conduct a post-screening Q&A at this special screening, so don't miss out--register now!

“Out There is a dream to program on the big screen. It celebrates the majesty of the national parks and the dream of setting out to accomplish a personal goal. It’s a film that reminds me of both the beauty of the earth, but also the beauty of cinema.” — Tim Anderson, Programming Coordinator...

08/26/2026

Check out some of our upcoming events! Find our calendar on perkiomenwatershed.org/calendar to register for these events and see more that we have to offer!

08/26/2026

Music on the Mountain returns in a couple of weeks with a performance by the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble! Come spend an early fall day in nature while enjoying local talent and supporting both organizations. Refreshments and raptor meet and greet follow the performance!

Learn more and get your ticket at https://www.hawkmountain.org/events/music-on-the-mountain-gabriel-chamber-ensemble