From the Conservancy
Thanks for spending a few minutes of your day with this first message “From the Mountain.” Going forward, we’ll share these updates on the first of each month, keeping you connected to the work of the Conservancy and strengthening your tether to Happy Valley through stories and images of the beloved Mountain that reminds us of home.
This is a special year for us, because 2026 marks the Mount Nittany Conservancy’s 45th anniversary! Reflecting on our remarkable origins – what retired Penn State Alumni Association executive director Roger Williams called a “story of pride, determination, and action born of love to preserve the largest natural physical symbol of our alma mater” – underscores the everyday miracle of a community coming together to protect its most distinctive landmark and reminds us of the extraordinary efforts of so many that have kept that spirit of reverence for place alive for nearly half a century. Even as we now look ahead toward days that promise to be among the most exciting times for the Conservancy since its founding 45 years ago, we can also look back with appreciation on accomplishments and milestones from the year that was.
In 2025, the Mount Nittany Conservancy…
- Continued a long-term effort to enhance parking access to the Mount Nittany trailhead with the assistance of College Township.
- Began beautification of the “Deed Garden” area: Aesthetic upgrades to the plot of Deeded Square Inches available for purchase are ongoing.
- Conducted multiple volunteer trail maintenance hikes, including clearing over 80 downed trees felled by this past Winter’s violent windstorms.
- Monitored effectiveness of critical anti-moth spray treatments that protected the Mountain’s foliage from widespread destruction.
- Completed enhancement of three audiobook editions in the Nittany Valley Press catalog – they sound crisp and clear, a tremendous improvement.
- Adopted a new logo and set of brand guidelines, establishing a striking and timeless visual identity intended to serve for decades to come…
Stewardship of Mount Nittany and its 8+ miles of public trails requires a year-round commitment, but many hands make light work. We are deeply grateful for the contributions of our tireless board of directors, the many local volunteers who help us care for the Mountain, and the community partnerships that amplify our efforts. Here’s to another year of growth and success, caring for the Nittany Valley’s sacred spaces!
For The Mountain,
Chris Buchignani, Vice President
Mount Nittany Conservancy x 1% for the Planet
We are pleased to announce that the Mount Nittany Conservancy has joined 1% for the Planet as an environmental partner! 1% for the Planet is an accountability partner for companies of all sizes that are ready to reject business as usual and give back to environmental partners making a difference around the globe.
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, their members have given hundreds of millions of dollars to environmental partners to date. As of this writing, 1% for the Planet has impacted more than 11,680 organizations in over 110 countries through certified contributions exceeding $823 million. Affiliated business members can now count contributions to the Conservancy toward their certified 1% annual giving.
With deep gratitude, we acknowledge Investment Research Partners of Lemont. With their extraordinary gift in establishing the Investment Research Partners Fund for Mount Nittany Conservancy through the Centre Foundation, they became our first 1% for the Planet member supporter!
From the Archives
Over the years, the Conservancy has accumulated a wonderful collection of original writing and archived photos and documents from the rich past of Penn State and State College. Each month, we will highlight one of these recovered gems, sharing an excerpt and a link guiding you to check out the entire piece. We invite you to explore the rest of our archives once there.
This month, we offer a reflection from now-MNC Secretary Kevin Horne. Writing as a law school student in 2015, Kevin described how staying in State College beyond your undergrad years deepens your connection to the community.
Graduate School and the Value of Extended Time in the Nittany Valley
When your time here stretches beyond those first few years spent learning the academic and social intricacies of college life, a change happens. State College, which starts out as little more than a temporary way station on life’s journey, starts to feel more and more like a home unto itself.
All told, somewhere between five and eight percent of my class at the Dickinson School of Law also holds an undergraduate degree from Penn State. We are, in many ways, the odd creatures in a heterogeneous class of 191, which represents 138 different institutions of higher education, 48 undergraduate majors, six countries, and 27 states (plus the Virgin Islands). By the time we graduate law school, my fellow Penn Staters and I will have spent at least seven years in the Nittany Valley, which will amount to something like 30 percent of our entire lives – and probably closer to half of the cognizant lives that we can actually remember.
Own a Piece of Mount Nittany
Every square inch counts when it comes to conserving Mount Nittany, and you can help us do just that by making a gift to the Mount Nittany Conservancy! In recognition of your gift you will receive a Mount Nittany Square Inch Marker, a beautiful proclamation of your role in Mount Nittany’s conservation. Every dollar goes directly to supporting our mission to protect and preserve the Mountain for all to enjoy.
Looking to surprise the Penn Stater or outdoor enthusiast in your life? Mount Nittany Square Inch markers are an unforgettable gift for birthdays, holidays, and graduations.
The Legends of the Nittany Valley
by Henry W. Shoemaker
Our featured book this month is ‘The Legends of the Nittany Valley,’ imbuing Mount Nittany, Happy Valley, and the surrounding areas with their own unique folk lore. Available in print, digital, and newly-remastered audiobook.
What is Mount Nittany? It is a geological formation whose distinctive slope is burned into collective memory, a place where generations of Penn State students have come to share camaraderie, conduct ritual, and even pursue romance, where we travel to find solace for peaceful contemplation, a symbol that means so much to the denizens of our Valley that more than once they banded together to preserve its unspoiled beauty for future generations. And perhaps… just perhaps… it is also a windbreak that rose up miraculously in one night to shield the fierce and lovely Princess Nita-Nee from the wicked winds of the North.
So while the Nittany Valley is, of course, a tangible, everyday place where people live and work, a magical kingdom lurks just beneath the surface, just waiting to be discovered by those with a pioneering and creative spirit. To the extent that, for readers of these stories, it can become all of these at once, this book will have served its highest purpose.
Hike Mount Nittany
Hiking the Mountain can be a “four seasons” experience, with each time of year bringing its own rewards. If you plan to visit soon, be sure to visit our Hike Mount Nittany page for all the maps, tips, and guidelines you will need to make your trip a safe and memorable one!
