Vision: Municipalities within the Lehigh Valley are places where
people love to live, work, and visit because the residents and officials
actively support and recognize the value of birds and nature to thTeir own
quality of life and culture.
Mission: To create a sustainable driver for regional long term
environmental stewardship across the Lehigh Valley by creating awareness of the
linkage of birds to the natural environment.
Audubon Bird Town works to protect birds, not only because they are
beautiful and awe inspiring, but because they are the touchstone of biological
health. The vast distances they travel and the diverse ecosystems on which they
depend, make them unique barometers of our planets health as well as our neighborhoods
and backyards. When birds are at risk, so too is the greater ecosystem, the
intricate web of life, and ultimately, humans. When we help birds and their
habitats we help ourselves.
Lehigh Valley Bird Town: The coalition was founded to support Allentown Bird Town,
but quickly expanded in recognition that Allentown’s success would be enhanced
by involvement across the Lehigh Valley. The coalition is a collaboration of
independent organizations brought together through our shared mission. By
working closely together, the coalition will build success by leveraging
individual and joint efforts of its members while each organization retains its
own separate identity. Through our activities we will achieve broad
demographic, geographic and habitat coverage. All of our activities will
encourage proper Birding ethics.
Coalition Membership: We encourage regional and local, private, public and
government organizations that share our mission and are willing to participate
by supporting Bird Town events, habitat demonstration, or funding. It is our
hope that additional Audubon Bird Towns will be created within the geography of
this coalition.
For more info check out the Lehigh Valley Birdtown blog!
Duncannon,
PA (May 1, 2012) – On
June 2nd, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) will celebrate the official
designation of Duncannon, Pennsylvania as the newest Appalachian Trail
Community™. Event activities will begin at 8:30am at area trailheads with hikes
sponsored by local hiking groups with the designation festival titled “Saving
Our Community from Nature Deficit Disorder”. The designation festival will
begin at noon at the Borough on Cumberland St. Activities include live music,
vendors, workshops, presentations and raffle – followed by a ceremony at
2:45pm.
The community is working collaboratively to bring awareness to the Trail and to
their respective community highlighting the Trail as a national resource and
international icon. During the ceremony the ATC and town leaders will speak
with a proclamation signing and an unveiling of new community signs. Visit the Duncannon A.T. Community Advisory Committee's Blog.
"Each year, municipal leaders, members of the Boy and Girl Scouts, Trail
Angels, local citizens, and members of the school community take a great deal
of pride in making Duncannon part of the Trail by offering a unique experience
for those passing through a community nestled along the sparkling Susquehanna
River. It is indeed an honor to be one of a small number of towns through which
the Trail directly passes," wrote Daniel Sheats, Superintendent of
Schools, in his letter supporting the community designation. The event will also announce the winners of
the 4th grade postcard art contest, and will be made available for
sale at the area’s local businesses.
The Appalachian Trail Community™ designation is a new program of the ATC, the
nonprofit responsible for management and protection of the Appalachian National
Scenic Trail. Launched in 2010, this program recognizes communities for their
part in promoting awareness of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) as an important
local and national asset.
“The
Appalachian Trail Conservancy is proud to celebrate communities that are
helping to protect and promote the Appalachian Trail,” states Julie Judkins,
Community Program Manager for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. “These new
partnerships will increase local stewardship of public lands, support community
initiatives for sustainable economic development and conservation planning as
well as support healthy lifestyles for community citizens.”
A Duncannon Appalachian Trail Community Advisory Committee was formed to
process the community’s application, and will continue to work on behalf of the
outdoor recreation and natural assets in the area. The committee is also
planning improved river access and downtown beautification through their
support of Apple Tree Alley, a proposed site plan that would transform the
underused old railroad right-of-way corridor into a new space for community use
and serve as the route of the A.T. in Duncannon, guiding hikers through a town
park to connect them with amenities, river access points and businesses.
“Each hiker experiences not only a piece of America as they stroll Duncannon's
sidewalks, but also senses the welcoming atmosphere innate to the
neighborhood.” Karen Balaban, President Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club.
The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to
build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. The A.T. is
approximately 2,180 miles in length, ranging from Maine to Georgia, making it
one of the longest, continuously marked footpath in the world. Volunteers
typically donate more than 220,000 hours each year on Trail-related work and
about 2 to 3 million visitors walk a portion of the A.T. each year. This year
also marks the 75th anniversary of the completion of the A.T.
For more information about this event visit www.duncannonappalachiantrailcommunity.com.
For more information about the Appalachian Trail Community™ program visit www.appalachiantrail.org/atcommunity.
