Serenity

Taking time to appreciate the natural world around you is an important part of our lives and can mean different things for different people. Some people may be more enriched by going on a canoe trip along the Antietam creek, while others may be happy laying a blanket out in City Park and watching the clouds. Don’t judge others for the way they use their leisure time. If Pokemon GO is how you enjoy being out in nature, then that’s just another way to have fun!

With that in mind, we thought we’d note different (and more unique) ways how people have been using the natural areas of the Conococheague Institute of late.

Our grounds and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and parking is free, so as long as it’s legal and safe, the possibilities are endless. Last month drama students asked to use the site for their Stage Combat class, and it was great to see the students lunging and riposting with their rapiers. Birding groups meet early in the morning to spot a rare thrush or heron, and astronomers request permission to do night photography with no light pollution. Dog walkers use the site frequently, and pet waste stations are conveniently located throughout the site.

At the Conococheague Institute (a nonprofit historic site located near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania), we understand that everyone learns differently and has different interests. Our main focus is to interpret the 18th-century lifestyles of settlers in the region through our educational bookings and free Saturday programs. Using historic cabins and gardens, and wearing clothing representative of the time, we take the visitor back into history.

However, those very same cabins and gardens are located in 30 acres of beautiful natural resources which it is our mission to preserve for future generations. An early succession woodlot, a wetlands pond, meadows, and numerous gardens provide habitats for diverse species, all available to the public free of charge.

With spring planting behind us now, we’ve had ample opportunity to get in touch with our roots (literally), as the Colonial Garden required hands in the soil every week.

Any gardener knows it is hard but rewarding work, and the garden is kept open for the community. Stop by and lend a hand in weeding and watering, or have a member of staff pick a bundle of radishes or cut some sage for you. We are always looking for volunteers, especially during the summer months (when our dedicated students from James Buchanan and Mercersburg Academy aren’t available to help). This year, it is looking more productive than ever before thanks to our students, and we look forward to sharing peppers, cucumbers and herbs with you.

With its diverse habitats, CI is lucky to have a wealth of creatures on its walking trails, which are maintained year-round and are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. In an effort to preserve our natural environment, we use no pesticides, which partly accounts for the high bird population, and the healthy state of the pollinators: bees, butterflies and dragonflies abound in all directions. Our woods are full of deer and squirrels and our pond is full of frogs and turtles, and hunting is prohibited.

Sunflowers and roses are a big draw for us, and like with our garden, we encourage you to take a souvenir. A sunflower makes an excellent natural bird feeder, and giving someone a handpicked rose can create a reaction far greater than any fancy bouquet.

And we are pleased to announce that as part of a $70,000 grant to improve outdoor spaces provided by Franklin County’s IMPACT! grant program, our green spaces just got a lot better. New ADA compliant picnic tables give you a shaded comfortable seat for a picnic, and installation has just been completed on a “Young Explorers Nature Nest.” This naturethemed playground designed for children 2-5 years is the perfect way to embrace nature and develop social and spatial awareness by playing.

If you would like to learn more contact us at info@cimlg.org and more importantly GO OUTSIDE and take your leisure. Come walk at the Conococheague Institute daily from dawn to dusk, attend free Saturday programs or contact us about using the site for Stage Combat, Paint Nights, Yoga… the possibilities are endless!