The Current Trek
June 2026
It was a spectacular month of programming at The Summit! Amy Tomalin led a kid-centered luna moth art workshop, hosted by Lake Mokoma and thoroughly enjoyed by children AND adults in attendance. Jess Pennella led a relaxing and serene twilight yoga class at Meditation Ledge. It was a perfect summer evening in the woods. The highlight of the month was a unique and fascinating mothing session, led by Cheryl McCarty Metcalf. A vast array of moths were marveled over in the late evening hours.
Loyalsock Foundation was awarded a $10,000 Partnership Mini-Grant from the Endless Mountains Heritage Region for creation and installation of an 18-hole disc golf course. The Sullivan County Recreational Society graciously matched this award, providing an additional $10,000 towards the project. The course has been staked out, and installation will begin this summer with a tentative opening slated for the fall.
Infrastructure projects are also taking shape across the campus. Parts of The Summit and the Summit Loop will be temporarily closed as work begins to trench conduits for the electric and water lines and install the septic system. Please be aware when walking and visiting The Summit over the next few months to stay away from workers and equipment, for your safety and theirs!
May 2026
The Summit was buzzing with activity this month. The month kicked off with an Expand Energy volunteer work day. Additional help and machinery was provided by GM Trucking, Inc. and Nick Houseknecht of Strawbridge Excavating. The volunteer crews spent the morning hauling, spreading, and raking piles of wood chips along the Summit Loop and the trail entrance.
The trail work was finished just in time for the installation of a Story Walk in partnership with the Sullivan County Library. The featured story is Little Owl’s Night and can be viewed along the Summit Loop trail through June 30.
Loyalsock Foundation celebrated its supporters, volunteers and the community by hosting a Blue Moon Party on May 30. A great turnout of people enjoyed pizza, moon pies, blue lemonade, and Blue Moon beer. Our newly donated telescope was available for folks to try out. It was a great evening under a clear and moon-lit sky!
The Eagles Mere-Laporte LIONS Foundation made a very generous donation to The Summit on May 27. Judith Moore, president of the LIONS Foundation, along with her granddaughter, Emily Moore, presented Loyalsock Foundation with a $25,000 donation. We are very grateful to the LIONS Foundation for their investment in The Summit and its potential to impact the health and wellness of our community. Read more here.
April 2026
This month we were excited to celebrate International Dark Sky Week (April 13–20) with a week-long social media campaign focused on responsible outdoor lighting and the importance of preserving our night skies. We also appreciate the collaboration with local businesses, as they created special menu items and themed displays, including everything needed for a moon garden. Thank you to everyone who followed along, shared posts, and made small but impactful changes to their lighting practices in support of darker skies.
Earlier in the month, we had the opportunity to highlight The Summit and our broader mission on the Blue Collar Wealth podcast on April 7. This was a great platform to share updates on our progress and connect with a wider audience interested in philanthropy, community investment, and the DCED Neighborhood Assistance Program.
On April 19, The Summit campus hosted a Search & Rescue training exercise organized by the Laporte Volunteer Fire Company. Multiple agencies took part. We’re happy to support our local first responders.
Keep your eyes open for our newly-installed bluebird boxes, handmade and purchased through the Lycoming Audubon Society. The boxes are near the upper catch basins, visible from the parking area. Let us know if you spot any bluebirds!
March 2026
We kicked off March with a fantastic art workshop as part of our Life After Dark programming series. Local artist, Amy Tomalin, led a fun group of folks in creating unique barn owl portraits through painting, cutting, and glueing. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
We followed this up with a fascinating Northern Saw-Whel Owl program on March 24, presented by Sandy Lockerman of the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. Sandy discussed the ongoing research project tracking these tiny, elusive owls, along with facts about their migration patterns and secretive nature. Sandy and her husband, Gary, also brought along a Northern Saw-whet mount to show just how small in stature these owls are. This event was presented in collaboration with the Sullivan County High School Envirothon Club.
The SCHS Ski Club traveled over to the Summit Loop on March 28 for our annual trail work day. Many thanks to the high school students, parents, and advisors who helped our volunteers clean up the trail, benches, and chairs. Just a few days before the work day, a group of local cub scouts took a hike along the Summit Loop, exploring the trail and surrounding areas.
We are grateful to the Steven C., John W., and John C. Lundy Fund for a generous $7500 grant, awarded through the First Community Foundation Partnership (FCFP), in support of critical infrastructure development. This grant will be applied towards the electrical installation serving both The Summit’s main facility and The Landing. Thank you again to the Lundy Family and FCFP for investing in community wellness for Sullivan County and for helping to “turn the lights on” at The Summit.
January/February 2026
Loyalsock Foundation was awarded a 2025 Room Tax Grant through the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau. The grant will be used to update Summit Loop trail maps, create a marketing mailer, create a brochure highlighting the mission and values of The Summit: Center for Wellness, and create promotional flyers featuring The Summit and 2026 programming offerings.
This year’s programming is centered around “Life After Dark.” We kicked off the year with a Full Moon Hike on Feb. 1. It was a cold but beautiful evening as we watched the full moon rise over The Summit and followed its ascent along the Summit Loop trail. Additional programs will continue over the next several months, with topics revolving around owls, flying squirrels, moths, art, yoga, forest bathing, and more. Find details and dates here.
We are hard at work talking to local and regional businesses about the DCED Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. This year, we are asking for corporate contributions to complete the infrastructure projects (septic and electric). Volunteers are calling and visiting business owners, seeking a donation in exchange for a 90% PA tax credit. These donations are an excellent way to invest in Sullivan County’s community! Learn more about the DCED program here.
Spring is on the horizon. Our annual Summit Loop spring clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at 9:30 am. We anticipate being done by noon, and welcome anyone wishing to volunteer.
Read more about our journey…
The trek to The Summit has been in progress for many years. Read about our journey from the beginning.