Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Sponsorships are available here.

Event Wrap Up:

Thank you for attending our 15th Annual “Power of the Partnership” Celebration! We had over 95 attendees from across the region who joined us to celebrate, connect, and learn. Read on for some highlights from the event, and please consider taking our post-event survey. 

Community Conversations: Networking & Connection at the Cameron-Masland Mansion

With so many current events affecting the South Mountain region, this convening offered a valuable opportunity to build connections, identify potential partners, and meet others interested in the same issues. Attendees visited one or more of four conversation stations to engage with experts and peers on:

• The Mont Alto Campus transition
• Increasing local funding for conservation
• Warehouses and data centers
• A Visitors Center at Michaux State Forest

If you signed up with your email address at one of the stations, our Program Committee will be reaching out in the next month. If you didn’t have a chance to sign up but would like to be involved, please email Julia Chain at jchain@appalachiantrail.org.

We started our formal program with a welcome by Katie Hess, Director of the South Mountain Partnership. She opened the program by emphasizing that conservation is not a “nice to have” but a “must have” for protecting and managing land and human activity to achieve clean water and air. She reminded us that those working to ensure clean water, clean air, and access to outdoor recreation are performing a public service comparable to social workers, first responders, and farmers. “Anything [clean water, clean air] we relinquish now, we will have to buy in the future.”  She underscored that taking the long view on conservation is both prudent and economically wise.

We presented our Spirit of South Mountain Award to the Tuckahoe Acquisition project. More information and a press release are coming soon to celebrate. 

Cumberland County Commissioners Kelly Neiderer and Jean Foschi joined us to welcome us to the county, thanking the attendees for their hard work and highlighting how conservation and recreation help strengthen the social determinants of health.

Dr. Claire Jantz, Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, thanked attendees and partners for their work. She stressed the importance of building and maintaining relationships with elected officials—supporting and thanking them for what they do well, and encouraging them to align with your values.

One of our sponsors, Franklin County Visitors Bureau’s Janet Pollard explained that FCVB invests in conservation because the region’s beauty and ecological health are the foundation for tourism and quality of life. Franklin County’s high quality of life stems from its relatively intact, healthy landscape.

Stephanie Williams of the Cumberland County Planning Department unveiled the new Cumberland County Land Partnership Plan.  You can check it out here. In addition to sharing this exciting planning tool, she also shared a call to action for each of us to get involved in the implementation of the plan and to support our local non-profits and volunteers in their aligned efforts.

Our Keynote Panel Discussion: Creating Impact and Change at the Local Level, was led by Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward and Julie Vastine. This hopeful conversation explored how we can support conservation in our daily lives. Some of our big picture takeaways included:

• Advocate based on shared regional culture—there is common ground to be found.
• Collaborating at the regional scale can amplify influence, with many people and organizations speaking together.
• Citizen science builds engagement and credibility.
• Shared experiences and love of place strengthen community bonds.

Last but certainly not least, we awarded over $50,000 in our Mini and Flex Grants to the following recipients. Stay tuned for a press release on these exciting projects soon. 

2025 Mini Grants:

Flex Grants:

Celebrating Impact at the Local Level

About: The South Mountain Partnership hosts the Annual “Power of the Partnership” Celebration each year. With more than 100 people in attendance, the event celebrates the people and groups protecting and promoting this wonderful place that we all call home – the farms and farmland, historic places, businesses, vibrant communities and downtowns, water and air quality, wildlife and habitat, and parks, trails, and open spaces. We take pride in making this event a fun, tasty, and meaningful program you won’t want to miss.

This year:  The South Mountain Conservation Landscape is built around our incredible core of public land, and we are so excited for this event to feature the Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. Come for the incredible views, rich history, and to learn about newly completed projects at this treasured resource.

Registration includes an interactive networking hour, full local lunch, and entrance to the celebration program: inspirational speaker(s), award of the Spirit of South Mountain, award of upcoming Mini-Grant and Flex Grant projects, and an opportunity to connect and celebrate with friends and colleagues, new and old.

In addition to hearing from our host, Cumberland County, guest speakers Julie Vastine and Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward will explore the impact of local advocacy and action in our community. Those working in the conservation fields are experiencing increased challenges that affirm the importance of working together locally to ensure our home is healthy and accessible for generations yet to come. Both of these speakers have a long history of making change in the South Mountain Region. Speakers will explore what residents, influencers, and local officials should do in their community.

These celebrations are a great way to hear about amazing work happening in your home. Join us!

The event will also feature the awarding of the 2025 South Mountain Grant Program and the Spirit of South Mountain!

Come celebrate with us!

Seeking Volunteers

• We are offering a limited number of complimentary tickets in exchange for volunteering at the event.
• If you are interested, please FILL OUT THIS FORM.

Event Details

Agenda

11:00 am – 11:45 am
Networking & Connection at the Cameron-Masland Mansion

12:00 noon – 12:30 pm
Lunch Served 
Locally sourced and seasonal.

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
Welcome
Dr. Claire Jantz, Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,  Cumberland County Commissioners Kelly Neiderer and Jean Foschi, and Generous sponsors

1:10 pm – 1:20 pm
Unveiling of the Cumberland County Land Partnerships Plan

Stephanie Williams, Cumberland County Planning Department

1:20 pm – 2:10 pm
Keynote Panel Discussion: Creating Impact and Change at the Local Level
Wondering how you can act to support our home despite challenging times? Julie Vastine, a resident of the South Mountain Region and participatory science leader, will address the power we have to impact change from both a research and community lens. Dr. Allen Dieterich-Ward, board member of the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trails Council, Inc. will share lessons learned from building a regional trail and coordinating with diverse partners, citizens and local governments to make it happen. There will also be time for discussion with attendees.

2:20 pm – 2:45 pm
South Mountain Grant Awards
Over $50,000 of grants funds will be awarded to exciting 2025 projects.

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Spirit of South Mountain Award
Who will be awarded this distinction that recognizes individuals, projects, or organizations that have gone above and beyond to advance a positive future for the South Mountain landscape?
Join us to see!

Now accepting event sponsorships. See details here.