Lancaster Conservancy Events

This is an introduction to birding class led by Conservancy Volunteer (and expert birder) Sarah Gotwols. We will cover everything from equipment and guides to spotting and identification. It will be a mix of direct instruction and a short hike to put our new bird finding and identification skills into practice!

Your Presenter: Sarah Gotwols

Sarah is a Lancaster County native with a passion for birding, and enthusiasm for educating the public on the importance of conservation and protection of our wild spaces. Sarah has spent countless hours on both land and water, observing and learning about bird behavior and local habitat, identifying avian species across local preserves, waterways, and beyond.

Where to Meet: Parking area at the end of Green Hill Rd (Note that Green Hill Road south of the Preserve is CLOSED)

What to Expect: The presentation will be followed by a short, easy hike. Recommended for ages 10+, with anyone under 18 accompanied by an adult. Restrooms are not available on-site. This event will run rain or shine. Severe weather cancellations will made on-site at the time of the event.

What to Bring: You are welcome to bring your own binoculars, but they are not necessary. Please bring any snacks/water you might need.

Photo: American Redstart by Stephen Rannels

Come celebrate the end of PA Healthy Lands Week with a Walk in Penn’s Woods at Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve! Enjoy a few miles of Welsh Mountain trail while exploring the history and ecology of the autumn woods. Learn to identify tree species by leaf pattern, bark texture, and fall color. Examine the complex forest community from fungal partners to mighty oaks and learn how you can be a good steward of the forest nation!

Your Guide: Peggy Eppig, Educator, Lancaster Conservancy

Peggy is an environmental historian and dynamic conservation educator who offers a hands-on approach to her presentations. She brings over thirty years of interpretive, experiential education experience for all who have an interest in saving our nature for this and future generations. Her wilder interests are in ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), silvology (woodlands) and natural history illustration. She is an avid long-distance hiker and enthusiastic bike-packer who shares outdoor adventures with Amos the Coonhound.

Where to Meet: the parking area at Welsh Mountain Nature Preserve

What to Expect: This is an easy to moderate hike, open to ages 8+. No restroom facilities are available. This hike will run rain or shine, with cancellations for severe weather happening onsite at the time of the event.

What to Bring: Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them, a snack and some water.

Join the Lancaster Conservancy as our staff forester, Eric Roper, delves into the history of how past management shaped the woods of Pennsylvania, from precolonial settlement through the late 21st century. He will also take us into the threats that the Lancaster Conservancy’s forests face today, current restoration projects underway across the Conservancy’s portfolio, and the various tools and techniques that are helping to restore our precious natural lands.

About Your Presenter

Eric Roper joined the Lancaster Conservancy as the staff forester in 2019. Prior to joining the Conservancy Eric worked in both the public and private forestry sector working across the entire United States. Eric is a 2010 graduate of the University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation with a BS in Natural Resource Management and a BS in Forestry.

About Nature Hour

Nature Hour is a virtual lecture series by Lancaster Conservancy, taking place on Wednesdays throughout fall, winter, and spring. To find out about other events in the series please follow this link: www.lancasterconservancy.org/events/

The Conservancy is excited to expand our educational outreach online to feature presentations and lectures from some of our favorite local and regional experts.

How to Participate

Registration is required. Attendees will receive an e-mail with a link to access the presentation via Zoom the day of the event. Conservancy staff will be on hand starting at 5:50pm prior to each lecture to answer your questions and help you familiarize yourself with how Zoom works.

Photo: Michelle Johnsen

Thank you to our incredible Annual Sponsors for their generous support!

Enjoy a few miles of Hellam Hills trail while exploring the history and ecology of the autumn woods! We’ll learn to identify tree species by leaf pattern, bark texture, and fall color. We’ll examine the complex forest community from fungal partners to mighty oaks and learn how we can all be good stewards of the forest nation!

Your Guide: Peggy Eppig, Educator, Lancaster Conservancy

Peggy is an environmental historian and dynamic conservation educator who offers a hands-on approach to her presentations. She brings over thirty years of interpretive, experiential education experience for all who have an interest in saving our nature for this and future generations. Her wilder interests are in ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), silvology (woodlands) and natural history illustration. She is an avid long-distance hiker and enthusiastic bike-packer who shares outdoor adventures with Amos the Coonhound.

Where to Meet: the pull-off near the intersection of Furnace Road and Chimney Rock Road

What to Expect: This is an easy to moderate hike, open to ages 8+. No restroom facilities are available. This hike will run rain or shine, with cancellations for severe weather happening onsite at the time of the event.

What to Bring: Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them, a snack and some water.

Become an expedition explorer and record the landscape and its biodiversity for posterity with a nod towards the early Susquehanna River painters. We’ll hike in to House Rock Overlook on the Clark Nature Preserve and learn about two famous landscape and history artists, Lloyd Mifflin and Benjamin West, two local landscape artists, along the way. Once at House Rock, we’ll try our own hand at capturing the beautiful view of the might Susquehanna.

About Your Presenter: Peggy Eppig, Educator, Lancaster Conservancy

Peggy is an environmental historian and dynamic conservation educator who offers a hands-on approach to every theme from deep-time history to 21st century conservation methods and practices. She brings over thirty years of interpretive, experiential education experience for all who have an interest in saving our nature for this and future generations. Her wilder interests are in ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), silvology (woodlands) and natural history illustration. She is an avid long-distance hiker and enthusiastic bike-packer who shares outdoor adventures with Amos the Coonhound.

Where to Meet:

The parking lot at Clark Nature Preserve

What to Expect:

This event will include a short, moderately difficult hike. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Restroom facilities are available. This event will be held rain or shine with severe weather cancellations being made onsite at the time of the event.

What to Bring:

Come dressed for the trail – boots or trail shoes, and a backpack to carry your portable materials to our rocky overlook studio experience! Sketch journal, favorite drawing implements, snacks/water. Additional journaling materials will be provided.

Photo: Jenn Teson