Meetings & Events Archive

2026 Winter Partnership Meeting 

Dates:

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 Wrap Up

Thank you for attending the South Mountain Partnership Winter Meeting on January 30th in Franklin County! We value your feedback. Take our post-event survey! If you didn’t get a chance to attend in person, or want to reference what you learned, event notes, resources, and slides follow. Photos from the event can be found here. 

The event welcomed over 130 attendees to learn about timely topics like data centers, water aquifer recharge, and updates from area Land Trusts as well as to reconnect, and forge new relationships, all in support of our shared goal of protecting and preserving our home, the South Mountain Region. 

Please join us in recognizing the SMP Program Committee for their work to plan the event and the generous support of sponsors: 

Welcome & Special Guests 

  • Franklin County Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski provided a welcome to the county and restated the county’s interest in caring for its special resources, and noted a desire to maintain the South Mountain Golf Course and welcome a Michaux State Forest Visitor Center in the Region. 
  • New President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Cinda Merrill Waldbuesser, spoke of her plans in the role and connection to the South Mountain Region. 
  • Director of Office of Planning & Policy at the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Nicole Faraguna, explained how policy is created at DCNR and top 2026 priorities. Deputy Secretary of Conservation and Technical Services Dr. Claire Jantz, announced the award of 2025 Round 31 grants and the opening of 2026 Round 32 applications.
    • Download the slides here.  

Spotlight on Franklin County: News of Note from County Planners

New Faces in Land Conservation 

We welcomed new staff at each Land Trust operating in the region. Click the cards below for more info on their organizations and contact information. 

New Smart Planning Tools and Best Practices 

  • Pierre MacCoy of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) shared the Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas study in the South Mountain Region. He demonstrated how this data can be utilized for planning, securing funding, and mitigating drought. Pierre also demonstrated how the SRBC can provide funding to help protect these areas.
  • Chris Miller of the Piedmont Environmental Council shared data about the scale and speed of data center growth in VA and the implications for the South Mountain region’s environment and residents. He also covered best practices and questions we can ask of local proposals.

South Mountain Partnership Updates

  • From collaborative milestones to on-the-ground impact, this past year was one of momentum for South Mountain Partnership. Our Year in Review highlights the collective efforts that continue to strengthen the South Mountain region.
  • SMP celebrated the completion of our strategic plan. Read more here. 
  • Use this form to submit events and news you’d like the partnership to help promote. 
  • Save the date! Regional Meetings:
    • Spring Partnership Meeting & Regional Trail Feasibility Kickoff – (York County) Friday, April 10, 2026
    • “Power of the Partnership” Celebration  –  (Adams County) Friday, October 2, 2026
    • Winter Partnership Meeting – (Cumberland County) January 29, 2027
  • Save the date! Grant Programs:
    • Mini Grant Pre- Applications due April 30, 2026
    • Flex-Grants Applications due June 26, 2026
  • Slides can be downloaded here. 

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
Click here to register

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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!