The Appalachian Trail Museum

The Appalachian Trail Museum
Images courtesy of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau

In 2010 The Appalachian Trail Museum was opened by an ALL volunteer effort, including hundreds of hours of volunteer labor and donated professional service.

The South Mountain Mini-grant helped fund critical projects that would get the museum open, including making the museum handicap accessible and funding some interpretive panels.  

The Museum is located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park and has become an amazing addition to the area.  

To learn more about it check out the Appalachian Trail Museum webpage


This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

The South Mountain GeoTrail

Travel across the South Mountain region and you will find an abundance of cultural and natural treasures from farms and farm markets, wineries, historic sites, forestlands, unique water features, and bustling recreation assets. During the spring and summer of 2010, Capital Resource Conservation and Development (Capital RC&D) will inventory and connect these sites through a “Geo-Cache Trail” project.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT 

THE GEO-CACHE WEBSITE  or

THE GEO-CACHE BLOG

Capital RC&D will work with South Mountain partners to designate the sites, develop South Mountain branding elements, recruit site stewards and promote the program. We will collaborate to develop guidelines and materials as well as to provide input on the final product. We will also involve students and volunteers who are interested in becoming “stewards” of the selected sites. Suggested sites will be farms and farm markets, wineries, community facilities, cultural features, and outdoor areas including parks, water features, etc.
Geo-caching provides many benefits to the caching sites, including increased visitor use, increase revenue, the use of the program as an education tool, and developing awareness of the region’s assets. The South Mountain GeoTrail Project will enhance a sense of place for residents and visitors alike, by getting folks outdoors.

Attendees at the 2010 South 

Mountain Geo-Bash at the 

Iron Master's Mansion at 

Pine Grove Furnace

State Park

What is Geocaching? (From www.geocaching.com and related sites)
This adventure sport/hobby is a great family activity and getting started is easy! All you need is a handheld GPS receiver (new ones are available for as little as $80) and internet access. With the tools outlined, the participant visits designated sites in a “treasure-hunt” style experience. A typical cache consists of a waterproof container, a log book, and trinkets. Signing the log book proves you found it, and the trinkets provide trade items; the idea is to take an item, then replace it with an item of equal value. Once the log book is signed and trinkets exchanged, the container is put back in exactly the same place it was found, to await the next finder.


This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.

The Local Food, Farm, and Outdoor Guide- Now Available

Download this guide
by clicking on the
link to the right

Cumberland County is pleased to announce the publication of a Local Food, Farm and Outdoor Attractions Guide for the Cumberland Valley.  The project is a collaborative effort involving Cumberland County Planning Department, Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau, Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation and the Capital Resource Conservation & Development Area Council.  The project was funded in part by the South Mountain Partnership through the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
 
The goal of the project is to promote local agricultural operations and outdoor recreation locations and to educate the public on the importance of agriculture and our abundant natural resources to the quality of life of the County.  The guide includes a directory of farmers markets, roadside stands, pick your own operations, farmstays and other agritourism locations. In addition, the guide includes information on outdoor recreation opportunities available in Cumberland County. 


You can pick this guide up at the Cumberland County Visitors Bureau, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and several other locations.


This project was financed in part by a grant from the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Environmental Stewardship Fund, under the administration of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.