Construction Update!

Despite the freezing weather, the construction team poured the concrete for the Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Collections Wing! Check out the photos below.

It looks like a building!

If you look really closely in the above photo, you can see a stream of concrete being poured!

Still Shopping? Our Gift Shop is Full of New Items for the Holidays!

Season's Greetings, friends of the Ned Smith Center!

If you're still shopping for holiday gifts, stop by the Ned Smith Center's gift shop for some new and unique items!

We have many new additions to the shop, including handmade jewelry; handpainted walking sticks, rocks, feathers; and a lovely collection of handmade pottery!

Click here to see photos of some of the new items in the gift shop!

And like everything in the Ned Smith Center gift shop, these items are reasonably priced and are even LESS expensive if you are a member of the Center. Memberships start at just $25 per year and come with tons of great benefits. Learn more on our website!

And while you're at the gift shop, be sure to check out the Olewine Gallery exhibit, Andy Goldsworthy: Moments in Time, which has just been extended through January 8, 2011. Don't miss this breathtaking exhibit!

Thank you so much for your support of the Center in 2010, and we're looking forward to an exciting 2011.

Cheers!
Your friends at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

Building Wing Construction Update... with PHOTOS!

Despite the chilly weather, we have been making great progress in the construction of the new Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Collections Wing!

The concrete foundation will be poured very soon, which will allow the workers to work through the winter! We anticipate the new wing will be open in May 2011!

Stay tuned for additional updates and more photos as we make more progress!

This year, we're thankful for... YOU!

It's easy to become contemplative around this time of year, and at the Ned Smith Center, we're focused on all that we're thankful for. And YOU, faithful friends of the Center, are at the top of our list.

With your help, 2010 was a tremendous year of growth for the Center. Our Saw-Whet Owl Research program is among the leaders in the nation; our Arts and Entertainment programming continues to grow in quality and popularity.

We’ve made major improvements to our facilities by enhancing the safety of our entrance; created a beautiful rain garden and ADA walkway, ensuring that all of our patrons will have convenient access to the Center. We have begun construction on the Bradenbaugh-Hottenstein Arts and Education Collections Wing, which will safely house our art collections, increase educational space, and permanently exhibit the work of our namesake, Ned Smith. These are all phases of a project that will ultimately culminate in the building of a state-of-the-art amphitheater, which we hope to begin constructing next year.

2010 has also seen tremendous growth in our Olewine Gallery exhibitions: we’ve hosted National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, and land artist Andy Goldsworthy in 2010, and we’re excited to bring Ned Smith back to the gallery for Gone for the Day: Ned Smith and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which will open on January 16 and run until August 2011. Plus, our unique and dynamic education programming reached close to 4,000 students in 2010.

We thank you wholeheartedly for your support of the Center. We know 2011 will be a fantastic year, with tremendous growth and progress toward our mission of connecting people with nature and the arts.

If you want to play an integral part in our growth, become a member of the Center! Memberships start at just $25 per year and every single membership level recieves the following benefits:

• Special members-only sneak previews of new Olewine Gallery exhibits
• Generous discounts on NSCNA merchandise, including brand new glassware featuring the art of Ned Smith
• $30 savings on annual print - next year's print, Flushing Pheasant, is from a newly-discovered Ned Smith watercolor that has never been reproduced!
• Free admission to the Olewine Gallery and monthly speaker series

Call the Center at 717-692-3699, or join online using our secure online store!

Whooooooo's Coming to Halloween Owls?

Celebrate Halloween with the Center at its annual Halloween Owls program, which features live owls from Penn State University's Shaver's Creek Environmental Learning Center. Experts on night-time raptors will explore the facts and shatter the myths about these beautiful creatures. Certified bird banders from the Center's Northern Saw-Whet Owl Banding Project will provide owl banding demonstrations and discuss the Center's effort to gather more information on the tiny birds that migrate through Penn's Woods on cold fall nights.

And costumes are encouraged! It IS Halloween, after all!

Admission to Halloween Owls is FREE to members and children, $3 otherwise.

Annual Wildlife Art Auction

Happy Autumn, Friends of the Ned Smith Center!

We're busy with preparations for our 17th Annual Wildlife Art Auction, which is happening this Saturday, October 2 at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Kleinfeltersville. Our auction features works by the most celebrated names in wildlife art, including Gerald Putt, Dan Christ, Sheree Dougherty and of course, Ned Smith.

Our auction features more Ned Smith prints and originals than any other auction in the country, and we've really got some special pieces this year. In addition to the sixteen pen-and-ink originals, we have a special mixed media original and the #1/600 print of River Otters, complete with a pencil remarque by Ned Smith! A complete list of auction items is available on our website, as well as a link to a printable version. Click here to see the complete list!

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and the live auction will start at 12 p.m. We will have a silent auction from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., which will feature artwork, books and other Ned Smith memorabilia. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase, so feel free to spend the day with us! For directions to Middle Creek, click this link and enter your starting address.

We hope to see you this weekend!

Announcing... the 2010-2011 Arts and Entertainment Series!

We're thrilled to announce our 2010-2011 Arts and Entertainment Series. Additional info and online ticket sales is available from the Center's website, http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/.

Fall Family Fun Day
Saturday, October 9, 2010; 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This annual event is designed to increase an awareness of the natural world with many
activities for children and their families. See live animal presentations, get your face
painted, visit the pumpkin patch, or create a fall decoration at the “Art Creation Station.”
And don’t forget to try your skills with a fun round of pumpkin bowling, or a walk across
the Wiconisco Creek on our beautiful bridge.
ADMISSION INFO: $5 for ages 2 and older.
LOCATION: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Road,
Millersburg.
Sponsored by M&T Bank

Popcorn Hat Players presents Aladdin!
Saturday, November 13, 2010; 11 a.m.
Join Aladdin and his super-powered Genie as he learns an important lesson in
responsibility. Can Aladdin outwit the evil Fazeem and win the heart of the beautiful
princess? Remember, be careful what you wish for!
ADMISSION INFO: $5 for ages 2 and older
LOCATION: Millersburg Senior Center, 109 Edward Road, Millersburg
Sponsored by M&T Bank

Ned Smith Night at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Saturday, December 4, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy this holiday classic, presented by the Ned Smith Center’s Resident Ballet
Company, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet.
ADMISSION INFO: TBA
LOCATION: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2701 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg

Chili & Blues with the Ann Kerstetter Band
Friday, January 28, 2011, 7 p.m.
Ann Kerstetter, a.k.a. “The Duchess of Duke Street,” will bring her sassy sounds to
Millersburg for a night of chili, cornbread and the blues!
ADMISSION INFO: TBA
LOCATION: Wooden Nickel Annex, 210 S. Market St., Millersburg
Sponsors: David & Dorene Hawley, Fred & Anne Meckley, Kyle Kauffman

Ned Smith Center and Moviate present the Cinatura Film Festival
Friday, March 25 – Sunday, March 27, 2011
Enjoy three days of tributes to nature and conservation through film. Festival highlights
will include Godrey Reggio’s classic “Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance,” featuring a
score by Philip Glass, and original films by area filmmakers.
ADMISSION INFO: TBA
LOCATION: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Road,
Millersburg
Sponsor: Pete & Carole DeSoto

“You Could Drive a Person Crazy: Celebrating Stephen Sondheim”
Friday, April 8 – Saturday, April 9, 2011
Experience an evening of Sondheim hits, as well as lesser-known masterpieces, from
shows like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company, A Little Night Music, A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Merrily We Roll Along, and Assassins. “You
Could Drive a Person Crazy” is a testament to the craft and passion of Stephen
Sondheim, and features an entertaining, and unexpectedly emotional story.
ADMISSION INFO: $25 general admission, $22 NSCNA Members, $17 students and
seniors
LOCATION: Gamut Classic Theatre, 3rd Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg.
Sponsors: Dan & Pat Hottenstein, Robert & Mimi Goodling, Jim & Becky Ulsh

Ned Smith Night at Free Shakespeare in the Park: All’s Well That Ends Well
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Shakespeare weaves elements of fairy and folk tales into a lively comedy about the
painful nature of love, the folly of youth and the road to self-awareness. Rest assured, all
will end well. Join Ned Smith Center’s Resident Shakespeare Company, Harrisburg
Shakespeare Festival, for a free night of Shakespeare under the stars.
ADMISSION INFO: FREE!
LOCATION: Reservoir Park, Harrisburg.

6th Annual Music on the Riegle Deck
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Presented in cooperation with Susquehanna Folk Music Society
Enjoy this annual tradition of live music on the Center’s beautiful Riegle Deck! Bring a
chair or blanket and a picnic with your favorite beverage.
LOCATION: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art, 176 Water Company Road,
Millersburg
Sponsor: The Williams Family in Memory of Ken

Ned Smith Night at Twin Valley Players
Thursday, July 29, 2011
Join Ned Smith Center’s Resident Community Theatre for their 41st annual summer
musical!
ADMISSION INFO: TBA
LOCATION: Halifax High School, 3940 Peters Mountain Road, Halifax.

An Evening of Poetry and Music at the Center!

The Ned Smith Center is proud to team up with Perry County Council on the Arts for an evening of poetry and music on the Riegle Deck on Thursday, August 5 at 7 p.m.

Performers will include a variety of poets and musicians from Perry County Council on the Arts’ wide network of artists and performers. Musicians include Tim McLain, Paul Hendrickson, Fritz Williams, Kathy Donkus, and Dave Snyder. Poets include Patti McCarty, Ken Little, Kate Dunkelberger, Eydie Wight, Jonas Stoltzfus, Tony Oliveri, Cynthia Iberg and Siggy David.

There is no cost to attend the event, but donations will be accepted and will benefit the Ned Smith Center and Perry County Council on the Arts. For more info, visit perrycountyarts.org or nedsmithcenter.org.

Hope to see you there!

It's time for the Ned Smith Center Festival!!

We have been neck-deep in Festival planning and we're so excited that it's finally here! Join us at beautiful MYO Park in Millersburg AND the Ned Smith Center for a fun-filled celebration of nature and the arts!

On Friday night, the Center's Olewine Gallery and gift shop will be open until 7 p.m.; and down at MYO Park, all KINDS of fun will be happening at our Twilight Tribute.

Enjoy live music from Down to Earth Band (an annual tradition) and exciting programs from John D. Laskowski (a.k.a. MOTHMAN) and Cal Butchkoski, one of Pennsylvania's preeminent bat experts. The Mid-Atlantic Disc Dogs are back this year as well, so don't miss your chance to see some talented pups in action!

Saturday will bring even more excitement, with over 50 educational and fun programs at MYO Park, at the Millersburg Gun and Conservation Club and even on the historic Millersburg Ferry! At the Center, you can check out our Olewine Gallery and gift shop, Malcolm MacPherson's Heritage Miniatures, the winners of the Center's 2010 Youth Art Contest, and our first ever Ned and Marie Smith Memorabilia Sale on the Riegle Deck! The sale will feature items from Ned and Marie's personal collection - own your own piece of Ned Smith history!

For a complete schedule of events, directions, and more, visit our website!

Office Coordinator position available!

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is seeking a full-time Office Coordinator. The ideal candidate will enjoy working with the public, be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access. 2-3 years supervisory experience is required. This position offers excellent pay, benefits and a beautiful working environment.

Email a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:
Jane Lahr, Director of Finance and Administration at jlahr@nedsmithcenter.org

Big week! "Fragile Nature" closes, PLUS two exciting special events!

Well, summer's a busy time here at the Center, and this week is no exception!

If you haven't yet seen Joel Sartore's Fragile Nature exhibit, you have until this Sunday, June 13 to see it. This magnificent collection of photography by renowned photographer Joel Sartore chronicles his many experiences behind the lens for National Geographic. Admission to the Olewine Gallery is $5 general admission, $2 for seniors and free to members and children under 12.

And for all of you shutterbugs out there, join PA Game Commission wildlife conservation educator and photographer Joe Kosak for a program called "Moments Captured Through the Lens" on Thursday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in the Center's Education Room. Joe's images of the wild places he has visited will astound and educate in this energetic program. Admission to "Moments Captured Through the Lens" is free to members and children under 12, $3 otherwise.

Thursday is also Ned Smith Night at Harrisburg Shakespeare Company's Free Shakespeare in the Park in Reservoir Park in Harrisburg! The Center is excited to continue its partnership with Gamut Theatre Group (home of Harrisburg Shakespeare Company and Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre) with this special night of Shakespeare under the stars. This year's production is the crowd-pleasing comedy As You Like It, and if you can't make it on Thursday, the show will be performed Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. from June 9-19. More info can be found on HSC's website.

As always, feel free to contact us at 717-692-3699 or info@nedsmithcenter.org with any questions. Hope to see you soon!

Now Accepting Submissions to the Annual Youth Art Contest!

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is holding its 17th Annual Youth Art Contest. The theme is “North America’s Natural Beauty,” and submissions are being accepted until Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

Aspiring artists in grades 1 through 12 (or equivalent) are encouraged to enter the contest, and all entrants will receive a Ned Smith Center Signature Series patch. All art should feature wildlife or plants that are native to North America and any piece featuring species not native to North America will be disqualified.

Entries are categorized by the artist’s age: 1st – 3rd grade, 4th – 6th grade, 7th – 9th grade and 10th – 12th grade, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners and an honorable mention winner will be selected from each category. Certificates and ribbons will be awarded at the Ned Smith Center Nature and Arts Festival on July 31, 2010, and the winning entries will be on display at the Ned Smith Center during the Festival.

All entries must be submitted with an official entry form, which is available for download on the Ned Smith Center website. Complete art contest rules are available on the Ned Smith Center website as well.

Questions about the art contest should be directed to Beth Sanders, Director of Education at 717-692-3699.

Create a "friendly landscape" at the 12th Annual Native Plant Sale on May 8!

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art and Meadowood Nursery have teamed up to present Ned Smith Center’s 12th Annual Native Plant Sale on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event is rain or shine!

Now in it’s twelfth year, the Ned Smith Center’s annual native plant sale has grown into one of the largest of its kind in central Pennsylvania, with a huge selection of native wildflowers, ferns, grasses, trees and shrubs, all chosen for their beauty, hardiness and wildlife value.

Native gardening experts will be on hand to answer questions and help you select the right plants for your gardens. All plants are nursery propagated.

Ned Smith Center is very excited to partner with Meadowood Nursery for this event. Located in Hummelstown, Meadowood’s mission is centered on promoting awareness of the many benefits of “going native” when it comes to home gardening. Native plants offer benefits in providing habitat and food for birds and other wildlife, conserving water resources, thriving in diverse soil and weather conditions, and more. To learn more about Meadowood Nursery, visit meadowoodnursery.com.

Please be advised that due to construction at the end of Water Company Road, visitors to the Center must follow detour signs. The Center IS open for business during construction.

THIS SATURDAY! "National Geographic" Photographer Joel Sartore at the Center!

We are so excited about an upcoming weekend of great events at the Center! National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore is coming to Central Pennsylvania!

On Saturday, May 1, Mr. Sartore will lead tours of his Fragile Nature exhibit at the Center from 10:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. After each tour session, Mr. Sartore will sign copies of his new book, RARE: Portraits of America's Endangered Species. For a complete tour schedule, visit our website. Regular gallery admission prices apply. We can only accomodate 30 people per tour group, so be sure to arrive early to get your tour ticket! We will begin distributing them at 10 a.m. when the gift shop opens.

Plus, the weather is going to be amazing! After your tour, take a nice hike on our trails and enjoy lunch at one of Millersburg's fine restaurants!

And as a reminder, there is still construction at the Center's main entrance - detour signs are clearly marked, but here's what to do just in case:

* If you are coming NORTH on Route 209, you will drive past the Center's normal entrance and continue on Route 209 for approximately one mile (past Weis Markets and Dollar General) and turn RIGHT onto Romberger Road. At the end of Romberger Road, you will make another RIGHT onto Water Company Road - the Center will be on your left.
* If you are coming SOUTH on Route 209, you will turn LEFT onto Romberger Road before you get to the Center and follow the detour to Water Company Road.

We hope to see you this weekend!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE!

We are thrilled to announce that PHASE 2 of our construction is underway!

Last fall, we completed Phase 1, an expansion of our parking lot, which allows us to accommodate more vehicles and school buses. Today, construction has begun on Phase 2, which is a series of improvements to the Center's entrance on Water Company Road that will improve safety and visibility onto Route 209.

But, like any improvement, there is a little inconvenience involved. In order for the improvements to be made, the Center's entrance will be closed, but a clearly marked detour is in place. If you are coming NORTH on Route 209, you will drive past the Center's normal entrance and continue on Route 209 for approximately one mile (past Weis Markets and Dollar General) and turn RIGHT onto Romberger Road. At the end of Romberger Road, you will make another RIGHT onto Water Company Road - the Center will be on your left.

If you are coming SOUTH on Route 209, you will turn LEFT onto Romberger Road before you get to the Center and follow the detour to Water Company Road.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but we're so excited to make these improvements to our facility to improve your safety and enhance your experience!

Save the Date! April 30-May 1! NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S Joel Sartore at the Ned Smith Center!

Mark your calendars for one of our most exciting weekends yet! In conjunction with out current Olewine Gallery Exhibit, Fragile Nature, photographer Joel Sartore will be visiting Central PA on April 30 and May 1!

Sartore has spent over two decades behind the lens at National Geographic, and is deeply committed to conservation. His exhibition, Fragile Nature, depicts endangered species and places all over the world; and his new book, RARE: Portraits of America's Endangered Species. RARE has gotten some great national publicity, including this writeup on NPR's The Picture Show blog.

On Friday, April 30, Sartore will be the guest of honor at a special reception at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers, where he'll give a special presentation. We'll have delicious hors d'ouevres and snacks, and there will also be a silent auction of Sartore prints and memorabilia - even a family portrait taken by Sartore himself at the Center on Saturday! Tickets for this very special event are only $25, or $40 per couple. Order them by calling the Center at 717-692-3699 or click the button below!

On Saturday, May 1, Sartore will lead tours of his Fragile Nature exhibit at the Ned Smith Center, then lead an exclusive photography workshop! Registration for the workshop is $125, or $100 for Center members.

To learn more, visit our website!