< PreviousHELPS LOCAL CLASSROOMS SOLVE PROBLEMSFALLINGWATERLike many public school teachers, Angela Capuzzi, an art teacher at Uniontown School District, was faced with a funding and resources dilemma in her seventh-grade classroom. Due to cutbacks, space for her art and woodshop classes became sparse.Angela hoped to find a solution to her problem during her time in Fallingwater’s Teacher Partnership Program, which provides a full year of learning opportunities to teachers and students in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, free of charge. The program is offered in collaboration with Intermediate Unit One (IU-1), an educational agency supporting communities within the tri-county region and funded by the Benedum Foundation.“Through the Teacher Partnership Program, we use Fallingwater and architecture as the point of departure for science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning and solving real problems,” explains Ashley Andrykovitch, Fallingwater’s curator of education.During the program’s first year in 2016, Angela and six other teachers received four professional development sessions at Fallingwater. Teachers learned about Fallingwater, its history, Frank Lloyd Wright’s design themes and ways in which they can apply Fallingwater and architecture methods directly to their classrooms.“Because of this program, I was able to bring fresh, new lessons to my students while trying to solve a design problem affecting my class,” said Angela.The goal of the Teacher Partnership Program is to encourage local teachers and students to think beyond right and wrong answers through “design-thinking” methodology. This creative, iterative and collaborative approach uses design to identify and solve problems, and has been used in education for years.However, Ashley and partnership educators use this approach through the lens of Fallingwater and Frank Lloyd Wright. Ashley Nancy Stahlschmidt from Intermediate Unit One and Teacher Partnership Program participants Becky Gartley and Ted Gulich from Uniontown High School, and Brenda Henry from Springfield Elementary in Connellsville join Fallingwater Curator of Education Ashley Andrykovitch to discuss ways Fallingwater can enhance student problem-solving skills.CONSERVE1011said using one of the best examples of modern architecture can energize conversations about how ideas are generated and facilitate how students apply the design process across many disciplines.“Students are able to come up with creative solutions to problems that maybe even the teacher hadn’t thought of,” said Ashley. “In a test-taking culture, that is really empowering for students as they often have few opportunities to take true risks without being penalized.”To supplement the new lesson plans developed by the teachers, the Teacher Partnership Program also offers teachers and students access to IU-1’s Mobile FabLab, a suite of digital fabrication and rapid prototyping machines. In the FabLab, students use computer-aided design to create almost anything they can imagine.The Mobile FabLab features 3-D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines, printmaking supplies, vinyl cutters, basic circuitry and much more. A FabLab instructor also trains teachers and students on how to use each technology.“Our partnership with Fallingwater is such a creative use of the FabLab,” believes Nancy Stahlschmidt, an IU-1 curriculum specialist and administrator of the FabLab. “It’s a really innovative way to incorporate architecture into their classrooms, but also use digital fabrication and new technologies. I love seeing what the teachers and students invent!”Angela and her students ultimately used FabLab resources to help them solve their design problem and create a plan for their ideal art room. “Since lack of space was our issue, my kids included models of mobile furniture made with the 3-D printer that could be used for multiple purposes,” she recalled.” The project gave them free reign to think big to solve a problem affecting their lives.”Since 2016, with the support of Ashley and the Teacher Partnership Program resources, 12 teachers have created lessons plans for over 600 students in a variety of grade levels and disciplines. Other participants include local teachers from Uniontown High School, Canon McMillan School District and Turkeyfoot School District.While Angela has since relocated to Brownsville Middle School, she continues to participate in the Teacher Partnership Program and has no plans to stop anytime soon.“I definitely want to continue participating. It’s important to keep thinking about what these FabLab machines can do, and how to integrate architecture, design and technology into the classroom.”For more information about joining our Fallingwater Teacher Partnership Program, visit Fallingwater.org/TeacherPartnershipProgram or call 724-329-7845. Photos Above: A view of the exterior and interior of Intermediate Unit One’s Mobile FabLab, where students use the lab’s equipment to think strategically and create projects related to design, technology, horticulture and architecture.11The Laurel Highlands’ ridges, valleys, rolling hills and farmland provide some of the most spectacular natural views in our region. Since 1951, the Conservancy has been protecting this region, which hosts forests, coldwater streams, historic sites and towns, and world-famous architecture.To date, our work has protected more than 83,000 acres of the Laurel Highlands, much of which has become part of state parks, forests and game lands. Popular state parks in the area – Ohiopyle, Laurel Ridge and Laurel Hill – were established with the help of the Conservancy.The Conservancy’s land protection also includes more than 10,000 acres of private land conserved through conservation easements, most of which are in the Ligonier Valley between the Chestnut and Laurel ridges. We monitor the conservation values on these easement-protected properties and care for the more than 6,000 Conservancy-owned acres in the Laurel Highlands, including the Bear Run Nature Reserve that surrounds Fallingwater.So, our Laurel Highlands office, located in the Borough of Ligonier in Westmoreland County, provides staff with close proximity to many of our projects and an accessible location to meet with community partners and landowners. The office on West Main Street is in the heart of Ligonier’s historic business district.“The Ligonier Valley has been an important location for the Conservancy’s land and water quality protection efforts over the years so it makes perfect sense for us to also have an office here,” said Jane Menchyk, a land protection manager with the Conservancy who is one of the staff members working from this office. “It’s great to be able to meet people and make connections in the cities and towns where we continue to protect the land and waterways that are important to us all.”Brian Jones, our land stewardship coordinator for the region, works from the office as well. He works closely with landowners who use conservation easements to protect the conservation values on the land they own and use, to ensure their land will permanently remain free from future development.Our work in Ligonier is not only for land conservation, but also to advance community greening projects and restore waterways and wildlife habitats.LIGONIER A HUB FOR LAUREL HIGHLANDS WORKA view of the iconic ridges and valleys of the Laurel Highlands.CONSERVE1213Jeff Bergman is the director of community forestry for the Conservancy and worked closely with the Borough of Ligonier to lead a comprehensive assessment of the borough’s trees. The effort, called Trees for Ligonier, was conducted in partnership with the borough and its shade tree commission through a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.“Most people don’t think of Ligonier as a place that needs help with its trees, but that’s exactly the reason why they needed our help,” said Jeff. “The borough has benefited from an established canopy for decades and, now that the trees are aging, they needed to assess their trees’ health.”A healthy tree canopy, consisting of different species and ages, provides many environmental, economic, health, social and aesthetic benefits to communities, including cleaner air, stormwater runoff control and higher residential property values.The Conservancy’s community forester, Brian Crooks, worked with the borough to conduct a street and park tree inventory, identifying and evaluating the borough’s 624 public trees while also assessing new potential planting locations. The trees were inventoried for their location, species, size, condition and safety status. Guided by the inventory’s findings, local volunteers helped WPC and borough staff plant 112 new street and park trees at various locations in Ligonier over two years.Borough staff and commission volunteers also were trained as Tree Tenders by Penn State Cooperative Extension and WPC. Trained Tree Tenders continue to care for and ensure the short- and long-term health of the trees. Paul Fry is one of the Tree Tenders. As the director of public works for the borough, he knows healthy trees make a difference in his community.“This project was a win-win and it was a pleasure working with the very friendly and well-educated staff at the Conservancy,” Paul said. “Not only do we have a viable plan in place to care for our trees, but we have a better understanding of why it is so important. People know trees can live for a very long time, but only if they are being properly cared for by people who see and benefit from them each day.”This effort resulted in a more comprehensive community forestry program for Ligonier, which included technical support services, education and outreach programs, planting and maintenance plans and volunteer engagement. Moreover, this effort helped us further establish a comprehensive community-forestry model, Jeff added, that the Conservancy is now able to provide to other communities in the region.For more information about our work in Laurel Highlands communities, please call 724-238-2492 to make an appointment at our Ligonier office. Planting trees is hard work. But thanks to Ligonier Borough staff and several volunteers from the borough’s shade tree commission, the Trees for Ligonier project brought 112 new trees to Ligonier’s streets and parks.13SOUND SCIENCE BRINGS LOCAL STUDENTS TO KATZ NATURAL AREAA group of high school students gathered around what looked like an ordinary mud puddle, doubtful of what they might find.“Look closely, and you’ll discover what’s actually living in this vernal pool, or a seasonal wetland that pops up in springtime,” explains Chris Davis, assistant director of Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology at the University of Pittsburgh. Eyes widened as the students used dip-nets and hand lenses to investigate this seemingly ordinary puddle of water, finding that it was teeming with aquatic wildlife, like tadpoles and insects.Davis and 40 high school students from Greenville Area Senior High School, Conneaut Area Senior High School and St. Joseph’s Catholic High School joined WPC Land Stewardship Coordinator Tyson Johnston for special field experiences in May at our Helen B. Katz Natural Area in Crawford County. The field trips concluded their participation in citizen-science program, FrogWatch USA, where students monitored frog biodiversity and learned about data collection.As part of the national program, Davis and Johnston placed audio recorders and temperature sensors at wetlands – both wooded vernal wetlands and larger more permanent bodies of water – and beaver ponds at the Katz Natural Area with hopes of recording the calls of frogs. Students later analyzed the recorded data from these devices in the classroom using specialized software, ultimately identifying eight species of frogs during the three-month project.“We used the FrogWatch USA program as a tool for students to ask questions about how scientists collect data. And the Katz Natural Area was the perfect place,” said Davis. “The diversity of the wetlands on the property allowed us to hear a nice diversity of species.”Johnston works out of our newest regional office in Franklin, Pa., the Northwest Regional Office. Opened in 2016, this office has given Johnston, a native of Meadville, the opportunity to develop stronger relationships in the northwestern Pennsylvania community. It has also given Johnston closer access to some of the Conservancy’s northern properties, like the Katz Natural Area, which opened in Crawford County in 2012, and the Lake Pleasant Conservation Area, which opened in Erie County in 1990.“Because I was working in Franklin, I was able to go directly to the PLE lab, meet with Chris and give a tour of some of our natural areas,” said Johnston. “I feel like now it’s easier to build these important connections with community leaders and conservation partners.” “I feel like now it's easier to build these important connections with community leaders and conservation partners”- Chris Davis, University of PittsburghStudents from Conneaut and Greenville area senior high schools sample a pond at the Helen B. Katz Natural Area for frogs and other wildlife. Using guides and equipment provided by the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, they identified samples for later discussion in their classrooms.CONSERVE1415For Jim Davis, chairman of the Bobs Creek Stream Guardians, any landowner within the Bobs Creek watershed is considered a guardian of the stream.“It’s important to communicate to landowners within the watershed the importance of protecting the stream and its aquatic life,” said Jim, a former park manager at Blue Knob State Park. “Bobs Creek is a special place.”Bobs Creek is located in the Juniata River watershed, which is a tributary to the Susquehanna River. The high-quality watershed stretches through Bedford and Blair counties with its headwaters in Blue Knob State Park, and is known for superb trout fishing.Jim joins other members of the Bobs Creek Stream Guardians in leading annual stream cleanups and habitat restoration projects to help steward the watershed he calls home. The Stream Guardians first launched in 1999 as a subcommittee of the Pavia Sportsmen, responding to a growing need to remove litter and illegal dumps in the watershed.The Stream Guardians has since grown to tackle other projects in the watershed, such as stream monitoring, road improvement projects to limit sediment pollution, and stream bank stabilization and aquatic habitat improvement projects.WPC’s Juniata and Potomac Region Watershed Manager Jen Farabaugh began working closely with Jim and the Bobs Creek Stream Guardians in 2005. Since then, the partnership has resulted in 10 stream bank restoration projects, stabilizing more than 2,275 feet of stream in the Bobs Creek watershed.“We increase each other’s capacity to do good work; it’s a good partnership,” said Jen, who has worked out of our Hollidaysburg, Pa. field office since it first opened in 2008. “The Stream Guardians bring their knowledge of the local area and manual labor for project implementation, while we’re able to fill in holes and coordinate design, logistics and permitting.”Jen joined Jim and other stream guardians in implementing the beginning stages of a three-year stream bank restoration project on Bobs Creek earlier this summer. The project is funded by a Growing Greener grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection.Along with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Bedford County Conservation District, WPC and the Stream Guardians will install special structures to help keep the streambank in place. During the current project, the group will ultimately stabilize 815 feet of streambank at four sites along Bobs Creek.“Our partnership with the Conservancy has really expanded our capacity in a lot of ways,” explained Jim. “Without Jen and Greg Schaetzle at the Conservancy and the folks at the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the Bobs Creek watershed would be on its own.” “Our partnership with the Conservancy has really expanded our capacity in a lot of ways”- Jim Davis, Bobs Creek Stream GuardiansLOCAL STREAM GUARDIANSPROTECT BOBS CREEK Partners from various agencies and Conservancy staff take a well-deserved break on the last day of streambank stabilization and fish habitat construction at Bobs Creek in Bedford County. 15WPC JOINS PARTNERS TO PROTECTGLOBALLY RARE ECOSYSTEM Christopher Hoess spends a lot a time at the Pennsylvania-Maryland border in some of the rarest habitats in Eastern North America: The State Line Serpentine Barrens.This 60-square-mile, 38,400-acre area, underlain by a type of rock called serpentinite, straddles the Pennsylvania-Maryland border and includes parts of Lancaster, Chester and Delaware counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.Where the serpentine bedrock comes close to the surface, the thin, dry, nutrient-poor soils make for difficult growing conditions. The result is a tapestry of globally rare grasslands, shrublands and woodlands, known collectively as serpentine barrens, which can thrive in these conditions. And many of the plants and animals that depend upon this habitat are considered rare or endangered, and cannot be found anywhere else in the state.Among the plant species are the serpentine aster, long-haired barrens chickweed, rough green snake, fameflower and prairie dropseed grass that have adapted to this unique environment over thousands of years. Also, rare moths and butterflies including red-banded hairstreak, barrens buckmoth, mottled duskywing and dusted skipper call these barrens home, as do many birds that are associated with early successional forests and grasslands, such as Northern bobwhites, white-eyed vireos, brown thrashers and prairie warblers.As the chair of the Friends of the State Line Serpentine Barrens, Christopher works closely with many partners that have decades of involvement in helping to maintain these rare habitats. In recent years, the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program has partnered to help guide conservation decisions in the area.The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, housed in the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Pittsburgh and Native roundleaf greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia) dominates this grassland area within the State Line Serpentine Barrens, a 60-square-mile area along the Pennsylvania-Maryland border.CONSERVE1617Harrisburg offices, is a partnership between the Conservancy, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game Commission and PA Fish and Boat Commission.PNHP scientists document and assess the condition of rare plants and animals found in natural communities across the state. Jeff Wagner, director of the Conservancy’s Natural Heritage Program, said his team has collaborated with a number of partners, including Friends of the State Line Serpentine Barrens, on stewardship projects, plant monitoring activities, field surveys and developing management plans to ensure these barren habitats continue to thrive.Jeff says partnerships are important to the success of the state’s natural areas and to PNHP’s continuous work.“It’s great to be able to work with so many partners interested in studying and managing these barrens,” said Jeff. “We’re part of an important effort that has benefited from longstanding partnerships. And it’s vital for us to maintain these conservation relationships.”The management plan prioritizes actions to expand barrens habitats that are at risk due to development and proliferation of invasive and nonnative plants such as autumn olive and multi-flora rose. Grazing and fire have been historical disturbances that have helped maintain the habitats, and the plan recommends considering those as part of ongoing management.The Friends of the State Line Serpentine Barrens operates in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation and holds volunteer workdays throughout the year to perform a variety of management tasks.“It’s a lot of long hours and hard work to ensure this rare place can be around for generations to come,” said Christopher. “But for all involved, it is work worth doing.” Other partners who have been working diligently to protect and restore the state line serpentine barrens include the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, Chester County and Elk Township.Large portions of the barrens are permanently conserved and open to the public as parks, wild plant sanctuaries or preserves. For more information about heritage program work or about the state line barrens, call Jeff at 412-586-2392 or visit WaterLandLife.org/Barrens. “We're part of an important effort that has benefited from longstanding partnerships.”- Jeff Wagner, director of WPC's Natural Heritage ProgramSerpentine aster (Symphyotrichum depauperatum) is a globally rare perennial herb known only to grow in spreading clumps within the serpentine barrens.The serpentine barrens are underlain by a type of rock called serpentinite, which contributes to the dry, thin soils of this area. Red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is one of the rare butterfly species found in the serpentine barrens.17BOARD OF DIRECTORS Susan Fitzsimmons CHAIR Stephen G. Robinson VICE CHAIRDaniel S. Nydick TREASURERDebra H. Dermody SECRETARY David E. BarensfeldFranklin Blackstone, Jr.*Barbara BottE. Michael BoyleWilliam ConradGeoffrey P. Dunn, M.D.Beverlynn ElliottJames C. Finley, Ph. D.Dan B. FrankelDennis FredericksFelix G. FukuiCaryle R. Glosser, Ph.D.Stephen Guinn, Ph.D.Carolyn Hendricks, M.D.H. Lewis LobdellRobert T. McDowellPaul J. MooneyCarolyn Rizza, Ph. D.Jean Robinson*Jennifer ShueySamuel H. SmithAlexander C. Speyer IIIK. William StoutTimothy R. ThyreenMegan TurnbullJoshua C. Whetzel III *Emeritus Directors Thomas D. Saunders PRESIDENT AND CEOThe Western Pennsylvania Conservancy protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. The Conservancy creates green spaces and gardens, contributing to the vitality of our cities and towns, and preserves Fallingwater, a symbol of people living in harmony with nature.WPC Launches Emerging Leaders Advisory CommitteeProtecting Western Pennsylvania’s natural features requires the help of people of all ages and backgrounds in our region.As part of WPC’s ongoing Engaging Every Generation initiative, we are engaging a group of enthusiastic young people to form the Conservancy’s new Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee. Founding members of this committee have the opportunity to lead the Conservancy in engaging with younger people in our region.“We’re looking for young leaders who will champion the tradition of protecting the exceptional places in the region, are passionate about our work and will help shepherd in the next generation at the Conservancy,” said Dan Cody, senior development officer and coordinator of the new committee. “As founding members, the Emerging Leaders will share experiences that have inspired them to take action and play an active role in guiding the direction of this group.”The Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee will plan and host fundraising events on behalf of the organization and provide guidance on how to inspire young people to engage with WPC by discovering trends in communication, engagement, social media and technology.Ideal members are under 40 years of age and motivated to promote, raise awareness and fundraise for WPC.Are you interested in learning more about WPC’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Committee or a regional WPC committee? Contact Dan Cody at 412-586-2410 or dcody@paconserve.org for more information. CULTIVATING A FUTURE FOR CONSERVATIONAttendees at a recent WPC event at WPC’s Wolf Creek Narrows Natural Area build a footbridge over a stream. Afterwards, volunteers refueled with local beer and food at nearby North Country Brewery.CONSERVE181919Through Local Care “Their” Creek Lives OnThe waters forming French Creek first gather in the farms and swamps of Southwestern New York state. A short time later, they cross west into Erie County, Pennsylvania, soon turning south to meet the flow of the West Branch of French Creek at the town of Wattsburg. This watershed is known as a national treasure for its biodiversity of fishes and mollusks.On this day, I’m enjoying two of my favorite finds: Local conservation-minded people and French Creek. I am sitting in the kitchen eating pie and looking at mussel shells at the home of Pat and Jim Harwood who live on the creek in Erie County. They cherish French Creek as much, or more, than I do. “Yes Pat, that’s right, that shell of the female snuffbox has a different shape than the male’s, and look at these beautiful purple spike shells that you and Jim found,” I said.At that moment, Jim and two gleefully bouncing Jack Russell terriers greet me as they walk in from outside. Before saying much else, Jim gives the bald eagle report and starts talking about “their” creek.A quick smile comes to Ann Sand, the land protection manager for the Conservancy’s efforts in the French Creek watershed, who joined me to visit the Harwoods.Working with residents to protect floodplains and riparian zones of this small river has been an important part of WPC’s work in this watershed for nearly 30 years. Like many landowners in this region, the Harwoods make our efforts enjoyable and worthwhile.The Harwoods have a deep attachment to their 500-acre farm that stretches from the banks of the West Branch to the banks of French Creek’s main stem. It’s been in their family for more than 160 years. In addition to interests in gardening, wildlife watching, hunting and fishing, Jim and Pat are “naturalists in residence” in this landscape.The story of the Harwoods’ commitment to conservation is told, in part, by their recent actions. They had already been using conservation forestry practices, when in 2007 they joined WPC as their interests expanded to explore long-term protection of their farm.Ann helped them establish a WPC conservation easement on 143 acres of their most sensitive lands along both creeks. The easement will protect the land forever while retiring some cropland that was often flooded. Understanding that establishing forest is the best stewardship for floodplains, in 2011 the Harwoods engaged the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program to plant hundreds of trees within the easement.Then, in addition to conserving nature, they also wanted to protect their family’s agricultural heritage. Just a few years ago, they entered into another easement on the remaining portion of their farm with the Erie County Farmland Preservation Program.Along the way, the Harwoods' naturalist curiosities were piqued yet again. They were drawn to study mussel shells whenever they visited the stream. It was a pleasure for me to find out how much they had taught themselves and to help them identify the mussels in the creek along their land, some of which are endangered species. I am always thrilled when people become even further connected to their land and surrounding landscape.Over a number of years, Ann and I have witnessed the love and respect the Harwoods have for their land. We are honored to have gained their trust and to play a role in helping them protect their land and “their” creek – for all time. Pat & Jim Harwood19Next >