Strawberry Hill has 609 acres of  property, where our largest parcel was once was operated as a tree farm.  All of our main trails are situated on old logging roads once used to access thus natural resource.  Our main pond was originally built to supply water to a 1850's saw mill that stood on the foundation of a now small cottage, "Lane House", at the conflunce of Swamp and Middle Creeks.  The water courses and channels can still be clearly seen along the side of Mount Hope Road and behind the pavilion.  Charcoal pits are located all around the preserve.  The land was timbered, and due to this fact, we inherited a property that has an environment that was managed to maximize the most volume of timber.

When Frances and Hans  Froelicher purchased the land in the 1960's, they proactively began to clean up the Swamp Creek Watershed.  Strawberry Hill won awards because of the Froelicher's proactive approach toward stewardship.  Frances by trade was a community organizer and a planner, and in 1988, Frances completed an environmental inventory and assessment of the preserve. The purpose of this evaluation was to develop baseline information about the ecology of the preserve and to inventory the natural and cultural features of the property, in order to maintain and protect the Swamp Creek Watershed.

In 2002, Strawberry Hill obtained a grant to continue planning for the health of our forest.  A forestry consultant was hired to develop a plan that would guide us as we maintained our forest for the present and for years to come.  The stewardship plan was developed in conjunction with support from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), utilizing the baseline research completed in 1988.  The plan laid out a management strategy to promote the health of Strawberry Hill's forest - and therefore our wildlife, wetlands, and streams.

Restoration has not been an uncommon project taken on by Strawberry Hill.  Frances helped to clean up and restore Swamp Creek.  Past voulnteer board members were involved with the acquisition and restoration of the Gross Minerals quarrying operation.  Because of these efforts, our watershed and the quarry is now a striving home for the Red Spotted Newt.  So proud we have become of this work, that we have just adopted the newt as our mascot in January 2009!

As the board and employees of Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve determine the best course of action to manage our forest, we take seriously our mandate to be good stewards of the land under our care, including its trees, its wildlife, and its water.  If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to meet to discuss your concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at (717) 642-5480.

The driving values behind Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve and Environmental Center include:

1. Natural areas are living classrooms for teaching about natural and cultural history. The primary teaching aids are the plants, animals, and habitats in the preserve. Trails and programs provide hands-on experiences with and immersion in the natural world that make learning fun. This interpretation fosters an appreciation and understanding of healthy natural systems, while showing people how to take steps in daily living to protect and preserve the natural world.

2. Conservation of natural areas. Natural areas are reservoirs of biological diversity. The plants, animals, and other organisms that are protected on these lands provide priceless and irreplaceable benefits for current and future generations. Natural areas provide ecological services such as water purification, flood control, and air quality improvement. They also provide critical habitat for migrating birds, spawning fish, and other wildlife, which in turn support local and distant economies through tourism and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Through proper management, these habitats will promote the continuance of these species and their associated benefits.

3. Natural areas are places where people can take temporary refuge from an increasingly mechanized and urbanized world. Natural areas are places to strengthen environmental understanding and deepen one's appreciation for the natural world. These places are maintained to provide an escape to the wild, allowing people to participate in activities that celebrate the outdoors.

Natural Resource Management Philosophy

The goals of Strawberry Hill's natural resource management plan are:
• To preserve and effectively manage native vegetation and habitats, as well as, the cultural resources within the preserve.
• To promote research that contributes to the knowledge of these natural resources and to resource management.
• To foster conservation throughout Adams County and the surrounding region.
• To connect the community to the natural world.

Vernal Pool/ Watershed Workshops

2nd Annual Live Green Festival
Strawberry Hill - Saturday, April 24th

National Trails Day Celebration
Strawberry Hill - Saturday, June 5th

Vernal pools, also known as vernal ponds, are temporary pools of water which during certain times of the year are bursting with life. These rare habitats are dry for at least part of the year and are filled by fall and winter rains. Come learn about how these ponds play an important role in the South Mountain Region. Click here for more datails.