This summer, the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy successfully hosted the first annual Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute at the Ironmaster's Mansion in Pine Grove Furnace State Park.

This five day residential program for ages 13 to 15 was established to nurture seeds of environmental leadership, emphasize the importance of preserving natural resources, and educate campers about these resources in order to equip them with the tools they need to make a positive difference in their communities.

In addition to learning about local and regional watersheds, forestry, and agriculture, the campers learned key teamwork strategies which enhanced their leadership abilities.

The program was created in memory of legendary conservationist Maurice Goddard, who served as the first Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (1955-1970) and of the reshaped Department of Environmental Resources from 1970-1979. Goddard added over 130,000 acres of state park lands during his 24-year-long career.

He served as cabinet officer to five governors, creating 45 Pennsylvania State Parks. To environmentalists everywhere and in Pennsylvania especially, Goddard is the gold standard of environmental leadership and commitment to the community.

To direct the 14 campers Goddard-ward, the program focused on four major topics: leadership, watershed conservation, forestry, and land use. All four areas were key elements in the cornerstone project of the session: a team project in which three teams of four or five campers figured out how to develop a 42 acre residential area with a mind toward water resource management and other environmental concerns.

The area in question is a real plot of land in Fayetteville, and on the last day, each team had the opportunity to present their plan to a group of land use officials.

George Pomeroy, Director of the Shippensburg University Center for Land Use, was impressed with their work. "The suggestions the kids had were way more creative than the ones we would have received from adults. I was really impressed with what they came up with."

The campers were kept busy all week with educational activities and their team project, with plenty of recreation in between.

They completed a low ropes course in team building at Camp Thompson, tested the water quality of Mountain Creek, took a thorough invasive species tour, and listened to numerous presentations and lectures about local history, watersheds, forestry, agriculture, and urban planning. Somehow there was also time for kayaking and swimming, tie-dying, archery, marshmallows, volleyball, water balloons, songs, and ice cream sundaes. 

The camp was also pleasantly surprised by Chipmunk, an ambitious 15-year-old through-hiker aspiring to be the youngest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail solo. She stopped by the Ironmaster's Mansion to meet up with her mother and speak to the campers about her journey.

In the end, there can be only one real measure of the camp's success. At the end of camp, the students were asked if they would come back to camp, given the chance. A roomful of teenagers raised their hands.

The campers overwhelmingly reported that they would recommend the program to a peer, and the group as a whole felt better prepared to lead projects in their communities after having completed the program.

For more information, visit the Goddard Student Leadership Legacy Institute webpage.

(Reprinted from the August issue of Central PA Conservancy News.)

8/19/2013