Lancaster Conservancy Events

Take a “go as you can” 3-mile loop self-guided walking tour of sites to witness how congregations in historic Lancaster have transformed their grounds by treating stormwater runoff and making their spaces more hospitable to birds and bees! See examples of creation care projects that your congregation might try to replicate. Co-Sponsored by Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and the Lancaster Interfaith Coalition. Begin tour by parking at Grace Lutheran Church, 517 North Queen Street.

After participating in the walking tour please join us at the follow up companion “Faith-in-Action Discussion” on August 12th at 7PM via Zoom (register here) to hear remarks from Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck and other speakers, interact with host site leaders to ask questions, and connect with resources.

For more information about both of these events go to: https://www.interfaithchesapeake.org/events

Tour Safety Information

Between August 8th and August 12^th – on your own schedule. Exterior of sites are open dawn to dusk. No restrooms are available so please plan accordingly. Walkers must stay six feet away from anyone outside their household and shall wear masks when others are present.

The self-guided audio tour will be made available the first day of Lancaster Water Week, August 7. Registrants will receive detailed tour information to your registration email on that date.

Go on an educational adventure through Climbers Run Nature Preserve with a new self-guided tour created by Lancaster Conservancy and Uncharted Lancaster. Explore the trails and sections of the restored Climbers Run trout stream as you find clues that will give you the secret code to unlock hidden treasure!

The adventure will be released on Sunday, August 9 at 10am.

Please practice social distancing by maintaining 6 feet from other preserve visitors while you’re on your adventure. Hand sanitizer is recommended, but not provided, after “unlocking” the hidden treasure.

Join LancasterHistory in partnership with the Lancaster Conservancy as part of Lancaster Water Week for a virtual presentation on the many facets of the Conestoga River; tracing the history through settlement patterns, transportation, recreation, industrialization, natural forces and conservation. Presenters Benton Webber, Lancaster Township Municipal Engineer, and Ruth Hocker, Deputy Director of Public Works, Sustainability and Environment Division for the City of Lancaster, share a passion for clean water and are self-declared history nerds. Join them for a virtual presentation that explores the history of the mighty Conestoga River

Join us for a presentation on native plants and rain garden design followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with local experts including the City of Lancaster’s Green Infrastructure program staff!

More details and bios on presenters coming soon!

The Lancaster County Conservation District will be leading a ‘stomp’ in the Little Chiques to discover the life within our backyard creeks. Participants will learn how the fish and insects within a waterway can indicate the overall health of the creek. A hands-on experience where participants are encouraged to get their hands and feet wet to learn more about their local environments. Please wear clothing and shoes that can get wet if participating in the stomp. Tours will also be offered for the park’s wildflower meadow.

Participant Safety

Participants are required to wear masks/face coverings and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other participants, but it should be noted that the Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are not responsible for the behavior of participants regarding those requirements.

All participants will be required to sign a waiver when they arrive at the event.

Join this companion discussion to the Faith-in-Action Walking Tour (see description below) co-sponsored by Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and Lancaster Interfaith Coalition. Hear remarks from Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck and other speakers, virtually interact with faith leaders from congregations featured on the walking tour, and get ideas for how to replicate such practices on your own congregational property. Discussion will be via Zoom. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about the projects, funding resources, how to become a National Wildlife Federation “Sacred Grounds” and connect with other environmentally concerned people of faith.

For more information go to: https://www.interfaithchesapeake.org/events

Speaker Bio:

Malinda Harnish Clatterbuck lives in her childhood home in southern Lancaster County. She serves as Associate Pastor at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, is Board President for the PA Community Rights Network, is co-found of Lancaster Against Pipelines, and works part-time for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF).

Faith in Action Walking Tour is a “go as you can” 3-mile loop self-guided walking tour of sites to witness how congregations in historic Lancaster have transformed their grounds by treating stormwater runoff and making their spaces more hospitable to birds and bees! Detailed Walking Tour information will be made available starting the first day of Water Week, August 7. Register HERE for Walking Tour.

Take the Lancaster Water Week Pledge!

As a community, we can each take three steps to clean-up our waterways:

1. Create Habitat
2. Protect Water
3. Explore Outdoors

Each pledge participant can pick-up their own Pledge Kit during Lancaster Water Week, August 7-15, to help them complete these three action steps! Multiple contactless pick-up opportunities will be offered throughout the county – so pick the one that works best for you!

Pledge kits will contain:

• a free Lancaster Water Week reusable tote bag
• native tree or shrub
• Lancaster Water Week Coloring Book
• Conservancy sticker
• and a multitude of resources from the Conservancy and our partners

This Pledge Kit Pick Up is on Thursday, August 13 from 6pm-8pm at Penn Cinema Lititz [Click here for exact location]

Participant Safety

Participants are required to wear masks/face coverings and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other participants, but it should be noted that the Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are not responsible for the behavior of participants regarding those requirements.

For the past 35 years, Stroud Center’s entomologist, Dave Funk, has collected and sampled macroinvertebrates in streams around the world. In the process, he has taken stunning photography of those insects and developed special equipment to further hone his craft. Funk’s photographs have appeared in numerous books and magazines, including Natural History, Scientific American, Ranger Rick, National Wildlife, Wings (Xerces Society), BBC Wildlife, and Nature Australia. Attendees will be taken on a virtual underwater journey during this informative online lecture about the life in our streams.

Presented by:

Take the Lancaster Water Week Pledge!

As a community, we can each take three steps to clean-up our waterways:

1. Create Habitat
2. Protect Water
3. Explore Outdoors

Each pledge participant can pick-up their own Pledge Kit during Lancaster Water Week, August 7-15, to help them complete these three action steps! Multiple contactless pick-up opportunities will be offered throughout the county – so pick the one that works best for you!

Pledge kits will contain:

• a free Lancaster Water Week reusable tote bag
• native tree or shrub
• Lancaster Water Week Coloring Book
• Conservancy sticker
• and a multitude of resources from the Conservancy and our partners

This Pledge Kit Pick Up is on Friday, August 14 from 3pm-6pm at Lancaster County Park Pavilion #3 [Click here for exact location] 

Participant Safety

Participants are required to wear masks/face coverings and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other participants, but it should be noted that the Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are not responsible for the behavior of participants regarding those requirements.

Join the Lancaster Conservancy at the Pollinator Park at Kellys Run Nature Preserve. Explore the trails and beautiful Kellys Run stream as it makes its way down to the Susquehanna River! It’s also a great chance to pick up your Lancaster Water Week pledge kit (take the pledge here)! We look forward to seeing you on the preserve!

Participant Safety

Participants are required to wear masks/face coverings and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other participants, but it should be noted that the Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are not responsible for the behavior of participants regarding those requirements.

All participants will be required to sign a waiver when they arrive at the event.

Take the Lancaster Water Week Pledge!

As a community, we can each take three steps to clean-up our waterways:

1. Create Habitat
2. Protect Water
3. Explore Outdoors

Each pledge participant can pick-up their own Pledge Kit during Lancaster Water Week, August 7-15, to help them complete these three action steps! Multiple contactless pick-up opportunities will be offered throughout the county – so pick the one that works best for you!

Pledge kits will contain:

• a free Lancaster Water Week reusable tote bag
• native tree or shrub
• Water Week Coloring Book
• Conservancy sticker
• and a multitude of resources from the Conservancy and our partners

This Pledge Kit Pick Up is on Saturday, August 15 from 10am-2pm at Pollinator Park at Kellys Run Nature Preserve [Click here for exact location]

Participant Safety

Participants are required to wear masks/face coverings and maintain a social distance of 6 feet from other participants, but it should be noted that the Lancaster Conservancy and its partners are not responsible for the behavior of participants regarding those requirements.