Twice annually, the Partnership holds a meeting in which all partners and interested parties are invited to come together and build relationships and collaborations across the region. This Winter, we are excited to gather at Norlo Park outside of Chambersburg. This event includes breakfast snacks and coffee.

Event Details

• Date: Friday, Jan 30,2026
• Time: 9:00-12:00PM
• Informal networking, coffee, and light snacks begin at 8:30 am
• Location: The Community Center at Norlo Park 3050 Lincoln Way E, Fayetteville, PA 17222
• Cost: $8.00 
• Registration Deadline: Friday Jan 23rd or until 130 person registrant cap has been reached

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Sponsored in part by: 

Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring this event? Sponsorships are available for $275 and help us offset the cost of gathering and supports the Friends of South Mountain Partnership. Click here for more information . 

About the Event

It’s a New Year, and we are diving into opportunities to leverage our Partnership for learning and connection. Have you ever wondered what new smart planning tools and best practices are out there for managing water and data centers in your community? Or how best to balance conservation and development? Then this meeting could be for you! Hear from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission on a new study, and the Piedmont Environmental Council on lessons learned from Data Centers in Virginia. 

Special guests from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the new CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy tentatively plan to welcome us. Our hosts, Franklin County, will share their news, and we have an exciting panel of new faces from our Land Trust Partners, whom we can’t wait to introduce you to.

Our meeting will also include updates from the Partnership and time for your organizational updates.  This meeting is packed with key opportunities such as;

• Learn best practices for planning in your community.
• Leverage data to increase resilience and find funding 
• Meet people who can help you make important projects happen.
• Connect or reconnect with the Partnership, learning more about initiatives and on-going projects
• Build and strengthen our network of people and organizations working throughout the region
• Hear from local and state officials and spark conversation and collaboration across political and sectoral boundaries
• Engage 50+ partners in on-going work throughout the region
• Involve partners in defining the direction of the Partnership

Agenda 

8:30-9:00AM | Networking and Breakfast Snacks

Informal networking, coffee, and light snacks begin at 8:30 am

9:00-9:25AM | Welcome & Special Guests 

Franklin County Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski

Cinda Merrill Waldbuesser, President and CEO, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Nicole Faraguna, Director, Office of Planning & Policy PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Invited

9:25-9:35AM | Spotlight on Franklin County: News of Note from County Planners

Speakers: Quentin Clapper and Colleen Tidd, Franklin County Planning Department

9:35-10:05AM | New Faces in Land Conservation 

Meet new leadership and staff at our local land trusts. These folks are key to conserving land in our region, and we look forward to introducing them to the Partnership. 

Peggy Fogarty, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy 

Morgan Huckaby, Land Conservancy of Adams County, Invited 

Jared Abell, Trust for Public Land 

Farm and Natural Lands Trust of York County 

10:05-10:20AM | Break

10:20-10:35AM | South Mountain Partnership Updates

What are we up to in 2026? Learn about the launch of the Trail Coalition Feasibility Study, updates to the Natural Heritage Inventory Project, celebrate successes, and plug in to our next strategic planning process. 

10:35-11:25 | New Smart Planning Tools and Best Practices 

Pierre MacCoy, Susquehanna River Basin Commission – The Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas study can be used for planning, gaining funding, and drought mitigation.  

Chris Miller, Piedmont Environmental Council – Hear how Data Centers have impacted planning and environmental stewardship in Virginia, with an eye towards lessons learned and best practices to implement in our region. 

11:30-11:45AM | Round Robin 

Bring your organizational updates to share!