Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

06/08/2026

Look who we spotted across the bridge this morning! 😍 This happened right after another magical animal encounter that we'll be posting more about later this week. Stay tuned for some adorable pics! 🥰

06/08/2026

Meet our newest AmeriCorps member, Connor Wenrich!

Connor is an Upper Dauphin Area High School Graduate planning to attend Juniata College in the fall. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and trapper. Connor says he hopes to gain a ton of practical skills and knowledge over the course of the summer while working alongside our Lands & Trails Manager, Gary.

Connor has already proven to be quite the go-getter during his first few weeks with us! We're so grateful to have him helping out around here and we're excited to see his continued success throughout the summer.

06/07/2026

Recap from last night!

Check out The Ned Smith Center’s video.

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

What an electric performance to kick off our 2026 Summer Concert Series! The rain let up just in time for Green River to take the stage. Here’s what a sold-out show at the DeSoto Amphitheater looks like 🥳

Thanks again to MI Windows and Doors for being our Season Sponsor and thank you Lykens Valley Bison & Bearded Lady Brewery LLC for bringin' food & bevs!

06/05/2026

Meet our new 2026 summer intern, Dakota Bush from Lykens, PA!

"I will be a second-year student at Pennsylvania State University, studying Agricultural Extension and Education. I hope to learn and practice facilitation of informal educational lessons, something different than how we learn in a regular classroom setting. This skill is essential for my future career in Agricultural Education, as it will allow me to better pass on content and ideas to my future students. I am excited to learn all about Pennsylvania's outdoors and make everlasting memories!"

Welcome to the Center, Dakota! We're so excited to have you 😊

06/05/2026

As we approach the time of year when the Ned Smith Center’s Nature and Arts Festival would traditionally take place at MYO Park, we wanted to remind our community that the Festival remains on pause in 2026 as part of our ongoing “2026 Reset.”

We know this event held many special memories for people over its 30+ year history, and we understand that its absence is disappointing to many in our community.

This decision was not made lightly.

Over the past decade, we saw a steady decline in participation in the core mission-based parts of the Festival — the nature walks, wildlife and art demonstrations, presentations, and educational programming that were the original purpose of the event. While many people still enjoyed the vendors, food, and family activities, the Festival itself had become increasingly difficult to sustain in a way that meaningfully fulfilled our mission of connecting people with nature and the arts.

Pausing the Festival has allowed us to invest our time and resources differently. So far this year, we’ve been able to be more present at community events such as the Cherry Blossom Festival, create new partnerships, host new smaller events and workshops at the Center, and bring nature and arts experiences directly into the community in new ways.

We remain deeply committed to preserving Ned Smith’s legacy and creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect with nature and the arts, even if those opportunities may look different moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who supported the Festival over the years and to those who continue to support the Center as we explore new ways to serve our community.

06/05/2026

Friendly reminder that registration for our Member Ferry Boat Cruise next Thursday is full! We're so excited to spend the evening on the Susquehanna with you all next week 🥳

06/03/2026

Green River – The Ultimate Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute Show this Saturday night is SOLD OUT! There will not be tickets available at the door.

05/29/2026

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Please submit feedback by June 12!

We're working on a long-term vision for the Center, and your perspective matters. Whether you're a longtime member, a casual visitor or someone who enjoys our nature trails and property, your input will directly shape the Center's future priorities and direction.

We would appreciate it if you took just 5 minutes to complete our survey below! Thank you.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzwE-agypWzGtmsSUvuXoxU1jcGiFKWhrGVoWVAowUYk62tw/formResponse