College Township has our Thanks and a Piece of the Mountain

When the Conservancy's 825 acres was included in the 2008 PA Bureau of Forestry spraying program, we needed time to raise the $13,005 to cover the cost.

College Township stepped up to advance the funds before the county payment deadline of mid-December until the Conservancy was able to raise the funds. The MNC Board of Directors would like to express our sincere appreciation for their generosity. After the successful completion of our Spring Challenge Grant Campaign, we were able to reimburse the College Township Council.

At the June 19, 2008 College Township Council meeting, the Conservancy presented David Fryer, Township Council Chair with a framed Mt. Nittany Life Estate deed in thanks for the support.

Left to right is Adam Brumbaugh, Township Manager/Secretary; David Fryer, Township Council Chair; MNC Board member Erich May; MNC Board member Jeff Dietrich.

Donors during the Spring Challenge Grant Campaign

The MNC Board of Directors would like to express our sincere appreciation for the $5,000 Challenge Grant from the Centre County Community Foundation www.centrecountycf.org and to report our success in meeting that challenge.

We were fortunate that the spraying was completed in mid-May for the entire mountain, and we are optimistic that the effectiveness of the spray will minimize defoliation. Since we were included in the County/State spraying program, our cost for spraying our 825 acres was $13,005. The $5,000 Challenge Grant provided by CCCF was a key part of MNC being able to meet that cost.

Overall, community and alumni interest in protecting the trees on Mt. Nittany from gypsy moth damage was very high. This level of interest was also reflected in media coverage about the Gypsy Moth threat, and Mt. Nittany provided a well-known reference that would perhaps host a "Perfect Storm" of damage by these insects. Our fundraising efforts focused on the need to keep our Mountain green by meeting the Challenge Grant from CCCF.

The "official" months to match the Challenge Grant were April and May. Thanks to the support of our Friends $6,630 was donated during these months.

The remaining funds have supported our communications efforts and have been designated to beginning a reserve fund for future preservation of the Mountain.

See the Honor Roll of Donors who have supported our efforts during the Challenge Grant. You can become a Friend of the Conservancy or purchase a deed at any time.

Blue & White Society and Circle K work on the Mountain

The Blue & White Society and the Circle K organization from Penn State's University Park campus worked on the Mountain on May 6, 2008. The group did an OUTSTANDING job. They repaired water bars and steps, and they positioned a very large new log seat at the popular Mike Lynch Overlook at the top of the Mountain.

Blue & White Society members included:

Circle K members included:

Challenge Grant Announced to benefit Mt. Nittany

The Centre County Community Foundation www.centrecountycf.org has announced a $5,000 Challenge Grant to the Mount Nittany Conservancy www.mtnittany.org to assist with short-term and long-term conservation efforts, including the spraying of naturally occurring bacteria for Gypsy Moths this spring. Spraying the Mountain in May is expected to cost $13,000, but the Conservancy is also preparing for spraying and continued conservation efforts in future years. The Challenge Grant will be dependent upon the Conservancy also raising $5,000 in donations during April and May, and the Conservancy is set to launch a fund raising campaign to meet the challenge.

Recent surveys have shown that Mt. Nittany is the region's most recognizable landmark. The Mount Nittany Conservancy was formed in 1981 to preserve and maintain 825 acres on Mt. Nittany, including the lands owned by the Lions Paw Alumni Association. The Centre County Community Foundation, founded in 1981 by Judge R. Paul Campbell, is a collection of over 125 individual endowments dedicated to improving the quality of life by their support of a variety of charitable objectives.

Tax-deductible donations to the Mount Nittany Conservancy may be made online at www.mtnittany.org, or checks made out to the Mount Nittany Conservancy may be mailed to their clearinghouse at P.O. Box 7007, Albert Lea, MN 56007-8007.

November 2007 Mount Nittany News - Nov 30, 2007

Members and friend of the Conservancy recently received in the mail our Fall newsletter from the Conservancy. A link to the newsletter is below.

The following is an excerpt from Ron Woodhead's Presidents message.

We are all very fortunate that concerned alumni and community members have worked to acquire and protect Mt. Nittany over the past 60 plus years. The Conservancy now asks your assistance to continue those efforts. We are asking everyone who has enjoyed viewing or hiking Mt. Nittany to please support the future of Mt. Nittany by:

• making a generous, tax-deductible donation,
• joining each year as a “Friend of Mt. Nittany,” and
• purchasing one or more Life Estate Deeds to honor family and friends.
  

Thank you for helping the Conservancy to keep Mt. Nittany green forever.

November 2007 Mt Nittamy News (PDF)

Please consider clicking the Support Us link and offering a donation as well in order that you too can receive future hard copy newsletters.