Work Parties

On Oct 5, 2017 the Penn State Men’s Volleyball @PennStateMVBALL team rose up and assisted the Conservancy during the PNC Bank Day of Caring.

15 players from the team accomplished much in just 3 hours. The team was led by MNC volunteers John Mentzell, Troy Weston and Bob Andronici.

• Checked and cleared emergency access route from prison grounds to our trails.
• Installed and repaired 5 water bars on the White trail from station 1 to 2.
• Removed roughly 8 downed trees ( some very big) from blue trail from station 1 to 10 than 10 to 2.

Images: Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications

The 9/17 work party was led by Troy Weston, Steve Lyncha and Chad Bell of the MNC with the assistance of volunteers from the Gamma Sig Tau Chapter service fraternity and The Bridge Initiative groups.

The groups started out by clearing multiple downed trees across the Blue trail toward the top of the Mountain. Once on top, they continued the clearing/widening of our existing trails of overgrown brush and downed trees for the emergency responder access across the top of the Mountain toward the Lynch Overlook.

Both of these groups did a great job and some well appreciated hard work.

The 9/11 Work Party was organized by Penn State University Park Circle K and Council of Lionhearts. Volunteers came from:

1. Gamma Sigma Sigma Tau Chapter
2. The Penn State Rotaract Club
3. The Graduate and Professional Student Association

To allow emergency responders open access to Mount Nittany trails, these fine volunteers cleared trails from the Rockview State Prison land border to MNC maintained trails. Over 30 downed trees eliminated from emergency access path as per guidance from the Central Region Emergency Strike Team (C.R.E.S.T).

Great job and lots of hard work done by all!

Thank You … One and All!

As they have many times before, on Saturday, September 3, 2014 a volunteer group from Alpha Phi Omega National Service Sorority assisted the Conservancy with trail maintenance.

All hiked, worked hard and made great contribution!

The group was led by MNC Directors Blake Gall and Bob Andronici.

Let’s get this day started!

All together now (moving so fast the camera couldn’t capture the action)

Looks like we made it!

On Sunday, November 1, 2015 a volunteer group from the Penn State Lion Ambassadors assisted the Conservancy with some trail maintenance. The group was led by Mt. Ambassador Steve Lyncha. MNC Director Chad Bell and Mt. Ambassador Troy Weston also went up with the work party.

The small but energetic group cleared brush/limbs along trails. They also removed several dead trees near the trail (widow makers).

Jordan, Alex, Erin, Aubrey, Taylor, and Morgan (Lion Ambassadors)

Saturday, October 24, 2015 saw the Omega Phi Alpha national service sorority assist the Conservancy with much needed trail maintenance.

Photo #1 shows the entire team that worked cutting back brush and installing barriers to “erosion risk” areas on the Blue Trail.

Photos #2 and #3 shows the smaller group that helped to install a new log seating bench on the Blue Trail.

Omega Phi Alpha Service Sorority

Packing in the chain saw!

New log seat added along the Blue Trail

The Conservancy extends a THANK YOU and JOB WELL DONE to the volunteers who came out to Mt. Nittany during the annual Day of Caring.

Volunteers from the following organizations donated their time and efforts on the Mountain.

• Penn State Federal Credit Union
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• HRG, Inc

2015 Day of Caring – Penn State Federal Credit Union, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and HRG, Inc.

2015 Day of Caring – Thermo Fisher Scientific

MNC was assisted by a great group of 15 volunteers from the Venturing Crew 21 on Saturday August 29th.

The Venturing Crew volunteers worked to replace storm damaged water bars on both the White and Blue trail. In addition they cut back brush at top of Mountain that was heavy due to spring rains.

Venturing Crew 21

On Saturday, May 2, 2015 a volunteer group from Alpha Phi Omega National Service Sorority assisted the Conservancy with some trail maintenance. The group was led by MNC Directors Chad Bell and Doug Wion as well as Mt. Ambassador Steve Lyncha.

The group focused on blocking off of the “closed due to erosion” former trail leading to the Mike Lynch Overlook.  The trail was recently blocked off again shortly after the removal of the replanting/regeneration fencing. Hikers had begun to “flank” the log barricades making new trails on both sides. Volunteers blocked off the top and the bottom of the former trail to the point where it no longer looks like a trail.

Alpha Phi Omega members closing off old section of trail.

Job well done!

MNC Directors Blake Gall, Bob Andronici and Eric Loop were assisted by an energetic group of 30 volunteers from the Multicultural Greek Council on Saturday April 25th.

The group installed 2 new waterbars, removed a number of dead falls over trails, and worked to reduce erosion at the Mike Lynch Overlook.

In addition, they worked to close off the old path to the Lynch Overlook that goes straight down the slope to the Overlook. This path has been closed for several years due to extreme erosion due to over use.

Thanks MGC for your support!

Teamwork required to move a dead fall to close off old path at Lynch Overlook.

Group that cleaned trails on Oak Hall side or Mt. Nittany.

Cooperation and harmony flourishing with MGC!

Bob Andronici and Eric Loop led a group of 40 volunteers from two groups, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Sorority and the Sigma Nu Fraternity, to Mt. Nittany on Sunday.

The groups repaired over 6 damaged waterbars, removed 6 trail obstructing blow downs, cut down / moved 6-8 standing dead trees that threatened trails, cut back brush encroaching on trails and had fun doing it!

Working to remove winter blow down

We are here to serve!

Job well done!

Members of the Penn State Women’s Lacrosse team energetically and enthusiastically scoured Mount Nittany during the Col. Gerald Russell United Way Day of Caring.  Led by Head Coach Missy Doherty and Assistant Coaches Amy Altig and Brooke Matthews this crew hiked almost five miles picking up trash and clearing trails, demonstrating a wonderful esprit de corps. And then went back to campus for practice!

Ready to “rock” with Penn State Women’s Lacrosse team

Please come to visit, but take away your trash!

Volunteers from HRG Inc., a local State College Engineering Firm, led by MNC directors Chad Bell and Doug Wion did work at the Deeded Inches site as well.

HRG cleans up at the Deed site

After the cleanup

The Conservancy extends heartfelt thanks to the Penn State Women’s Lacrosse and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. for all their efforts in support of the Mountain.

Brian Stouffer and Chad Bell took a group of energetic volunteers from Penn State for the Panhellenic Day of Service on the Mountain. The group cut up a very large tree that was blown down and made 3 benches on the White trail, then took the dead limbs and spread them throughout the woods to get rid of the eyesore of the downed tree. 5 water bars were also installed on the White trail.

Large blow-down tree ready to be made into seating

Taking blow-down into the woods

Water bar trench ready to go!

We love our tools (and these lime green gloves)

Thanks to Penn State Panhellenic Day of Service volunteers!

The Conservancy would like to thank the Panhellenic members for their work to keep the Mountain ready for all our visitors and friends.

On Sunday, September 21, 2014 the service organization ServeState had a blast participating in a WalkUp/CleanUp volunteer day on the Mountain.  John Petrie, the Service Coordinator for ServeState, reported that they removed branches obstructing the trail and cleaned up trash.  They can’t wait to come back and volunteer again!

If you or your group would like to volunteer for a self-organized Walk Up/Clean Up day, learn about volunteering.

ServeState Volunteers from left to right: Nick, John, Grace, Sami, Chrissy, Travis, Kate, John, Colin, and Ben.