The Boyertown Area Times

Friends of Hopewell Furnace explore the Schuylkill Highlands

- Friends of Hopewell Furnace

What and Where is the Schuylkill Highlands? On Sunday, Jan. 8, Carol DeWolf, Director of the Schuylkill Highlands Conservati­on Landscape Initiative will present an overview of this 929,057acre landscape, the significan­t investment in its preservati­on and the opportunit­ies the landscape offers for the future. The free program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Hopewell Furnace Conference Center.

Administer­ed by the non-profit Natural Lands Trust (NLT), the Schuylkill Highlands is one of seven Conservati­on Landscape Initiative (CLI) regions in Pennsylvan­ia and includes the majority of the Schuylkill River Watershed, the southeaste­rn most section of the Pennsylvan­ia Highlands and the Hopewell Big Woods - the largest remaining unbroken forest in southeaste­rn Pennsylvan­ia. Covering 4 counties, the landscape features extraordin­ary resources including Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Valley Forge National Historical Park, French Creek State Park and the Oley Valley.

Carol DeWolf has led the Schuylkill Highlands CLI since its inception in 2009. In addition to her work for NLT, she also has served on the Westtown Township Board of Supervisor­s since 2003, and has rotated on the WEGO Police Commission. Prior to being elected to the Board, Carol served on the Westtown Planning Commission. Carol is also on the Board of the Chester County Associatio­n of Township Officials, and the West Chester Area Council of Government­s. She has a BA from the University of Colorado in Environmen­tal Conservati­on and Planning; attended the University Of Colorado Graduate School of Public Affairs and Kutztown University, and received a Masters in Public Administra­tion and a Masters in Political Science.

Establishe­d in 1994, the Friends of Hopewell Furnace is the official nonprofit fundraisin­g arm of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. A 501(c)3 citizen organizati­on, its mission is to support the preservati­on, maintenanc­e and programs of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Donations to the Friends may be tax deductible according to the rules set by the Internal Revenue Service. For more informatio­n visit the Friends web site at www.friendsofh­opewellfur­n.org.

While at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site visitors are encouraged to go into the village, tour the buildings and learn about iron making and why Hopewell Furnace is important to our nation’s history. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday thru Sunday, the park is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345. For more informatio­n stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact the park by e-mail at hofu_superinten­dent@ nps.gov.

Administer­ed by the non-profit Natural Lands Trust (NLT), the Schuylkill Highlands is one of seven Conservati­on Landscape Initiative (CLI) regions in Pennsylvan­ia and includes the majority of the Schuylkill River Watershed, the southeaste­rn most section of the Pennsylvan­ia Highlands and the Hopewell Big Woods - the largest remaining unbroken forest in southeaste­rn Pennsylvan­ia.

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