14th Annual TACC Golf Outing
Great Cove Golf Course – Friday, August 27th, 2021
9:00 AM Shotgun Start * 4-Person Scramble * Lunch Served During Play
Register Here
“Power of the Partnership” 10th Annual Celebration
– Power of the Partnership Year-End Celebration
About the Event: Join us for the 10th annual celebration (via zoom) of the Partnership’s accomplishments, and to preview what’s to come in 2021. Learn more about the Partnership and our work, find out how you can engage with the Partnership, and meet a diverse group of individuals and organizations that are making a difference. Join us in conversation and action as we strive to build a sustainable future for this landscape that we call home! Anyone involved in making the South Mountain region a better place to live, work, and play is welcome to attend. Join more than 100 of the region’s top conservation, planning, recreation, tourism, government, education, and revitalization leaders in this celebration.
Register Here
Project SNOWStorm & Project OwlNet: Thurs., Jan. 31
Owls are in the spotlight during a program on Project SNOWStorm and Project OwlNet on Thursday, January 31 at 7 p.m. in the visitors center at Renfrew Park. The program is sponsored by Renfrew Institute, and admission is free.
As reports of increasing numbers of snowy owl sightings emerged across Pennsylvania and other northern states in the winter of 2013–14, a team of researchers gathered to learn more about these owls, calling their effort Project SNOWstorm.
Steve Huy is a co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, and co-director of Project Owlnet, a long term study of saw-whet owls based at the Lambs Knoll station in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.
Project SNOWstorm uses innovative science to track and understand snowy owls, and to engage people in their conservation through outreach and education.
Huy began banding snowy owls for future identification several years ago. Some of the owls are fitted with solar-powered transmitters that provide insight into their activities for several years, including data on latitude, longitude and altitude.
Researchers have discovered that some owls are “home-bodies,” rarely traveling more than a quarter-mile. Other owls travel hundreds of miles in just a few weeks, moving from islands along the Atlantic coast to Pennsylvania farm country, and then back to the coast.
The owls are given nicknames, some of which reflect where they were originally tagged. Stella, Pettibone, Baltimore, Pickford, and Island Beach are just a few of the owls whose movements are tracked by Project SNOWStorm.
Many of the owls are captured, tagged and released in the Mid-Atlantic region, but the project reaches as far north as Canada and as far west as North Dakota.
More information including an interactive tracking map can be found at www.projectsnowstorm.org.
Huy will also discuss Project Owlnet, which facilitates communication, cooperation and innovation among a network of owl-migration researchers in North America and abroad.
Parking is available behind the visitors center. For more information, contact the institute at info@renfrewinstitute.org or call 717-762-0373.
This program is underwritten in part by Marge Kiersz, Lucinda D. Potter, CPA, and Smith, Elliott, Kearns & Company, with additional support from Renfrew Institute’s Today’s Horizon Fund contributors: The Nora Roberts Foundation; The John R. Hershey Jr. and Anna L. Hershey Family Foundation; APX Enclosures, Inc.; and the Carolyn Terry Eddy Family: Carolyn, with daughters Connie Fleagle & Kim Larkin. Facility support is provided courtesy of Renfrew Museum and Park.
CTA Prgoram Grows To 100 Strong
As 2019 begins, the Franklin County Visitors Bureau recognizes the growing CTA Program and reflects on a year of progress toward expanding the mission of both the FCVB and the CTA Program.
The Certified Tourism Ambassador Programis a multi-faceted program that seeks to increase tourism by inspiring front-line employees and volunteers to turn very visitor encounter into a positive experience. When visitors have a positive experience, they are more likely to return and share their experience.
In the beginning of 2017, Doug Harmon, Certified Tourism Ambassador Director with the Franklin County Visitors Bureau, began training members of the community and staff. 2018 has continued to be a busy year, with now over 100 CTA’s trained and promoting Franklin County.
“We are extremely happy with the results we’ve gotten from participating in the CTA Program for 2018,” Harmon said.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau would like to thank the many generous local organizations that have opened their doors for training and have joined the Franklin County CTA’s including Quincy Village, Ragged Edge Inn, Penn National Golf Community, Coyle Free Library, Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce and Holiday Inn & Express in Chambersburg.
“This remains a great networking opportunity,” said Harmon. “It provides great growth for individuals and for our local businesses.”
Franklin County CTA’s have continued to do many outreach events, the most recent, serving as ambassadors at the Franklin County 11/30 Center, where they have assisted members of the public about what to do, where to dine and where to stay in Franklin County. They have also done a bus tour to Waynesboro, a hiking and nature walk to Caledonia State Park and meet and greets at local wineries and breweries.
Dudley Gayman, 2018 Franklin County CTA of the Year, was involved with early stages of the program and its development in 2017.
“My experience has been both positive and rewarding for a host of reasons. The training and learning experience is a benefit as well as actively reaching out into the communities in Franklin County,” Dudley said. “Meeting and mixing with individuals and businesses is an excellent way to increase your knowledge about our surroundings. Promoting and educating locals and visitors about the rich history we have right here in Franklin County is the “icing on the cake.”
Tyler Baum, CTA, said he has extremely enjoyed representing his community in public, with friends and participating in events. Baum has served at the CTA informational desk at the new 11/30 Visitors Center, attended meet and greets and has spoken widely about the program.
“Being a CTA has given me the opportunity to meet people,” he said, which has helped his own work in sales and in getting to be a part of the community. “The CTA Program has an emphasis on face-to-face communication. I love it!”
Upcoming classes for Certified Tourism Ambassador training will be held on:
- January 15 at the Cumberland Valley School of Real Estate
- February 26 at the Orchards Restaurants
- March 26 at Menno Haven Retirement Community
- April TBD at the new 11/30 Visitors Center
If interested in learning more about becoming a member of this growing community-oriented program, contact Doug Harmon 717-552-2977 extension 106.