Trailblazers: Unlocking the Potential of Outdoor Recreation in Lancaster County

5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Ware Center

42 N. Prince Street

Lancaster, PA 17603

Price

$40

RSVP at www.etix.com

Discover the transformative power of outdoor recreation for our community

Lancaster’s lands and waters have long been enjoyed as an outdoor playground. Whether it’s a paddle down the Conestoga River, a hike at Kelly’s Run, or a ride along the Northwest River Trail—our heritage of stewardship and connection to our natural resources have been a key factor in our community’s quality of life. However, major recent investments in outdoor recreation—from both the public and private sectors—have the potential to generate increased economic productivity, community prosperity, health and wellbeing, and environmental sustainability in Lancaster County.

Join us Tuesday, September 10, as we put a spotlight on Lancaster County’s investment in outdoor recreation, hear about future projects, and share the vision for how Lancaster is poised to capture a growing piece of Pennsylvania’s $17 billion outdoor recreation economy.

Schedule of Events:

5-6 PM: Reception with complimentary beer, wine, hors d’oeuvres

6-7:30 PM Program:

  • Keynote Speaker: Nathan Reigner, Director, Pennsylvania Office of Outdoor Recreation
  • Video: Showcasing local investments in outdoor recreation and future projects
  • Panel Discussion: Featuring leaders representing economic development, tourism, local government, conservation, and health

About the Keynote Speaker:

Pennsylvania’s Director of Outdoor Recreation is Nathan Reigner, a PhD social scientist with extensive experience analyzing, planning for, managing, and building collaboration to support outdoor recreation at every level from the local to the international. Throughout his career, he has served as a policy analyst, consultant, business owner, university professor, conservation commissioner, and trail club leader, all with a focus on helping communities, parks, trails, and tourism destinations deliver outstanding experiences while protecting their essential character. Reigner has worked in and with more than 100 parks, forests, trails, historic sites, and heritage areas in more than half the states and territories in the union and overseas in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. A native of Pennsylvania, Reigner has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Gettysburg College, a Master of Science in Forestry from Virginia Tech, and a Doctorate in Natural Resource Management from the University of Vermont.

Confirmed panelists

Joel Cliff

Discover Lancaster

Joel Cliff serves as Director of Communications & Advocacy for Discover Lancaster.  He handles media inquiries and outreach, as well as various writing and government relations duties, in promoting Lancaster’s travel and tourism industry.

Before joining the organization in 2008, Cliff provided professional writing services for various tourist attractions & publications, after several years with the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions in Alexandria, Va.  He also served a stint with Scheffey Integrated Marketing of Lancaster, working with the firm’s tourism clients. Prior to that, he held a number of policy and communications positions in Washington, D.C.

A resident of Lititz, Cliff has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Penn State University and a Master’s in Journalism from Ohio University.

Emily Landis

Little Conestoga Creek Blue-Green Corridor Project

Emily Landis is the Director of Education & Sustainability for the Little Conestoga Creek Blue Green Corridor project. She led the Lancaster Science Factory as Executive Director for the past ten years, advancing hands-on STEM education in the community and growing the organization into a regional destination, doubling its physical size and attendance numbers. She hopes to build on this experience in her new role by increasing public awareness of environmental science and sustainability, and integrating education and accessibility for all age groups into Lancaster’s outdoor recreation ecosystem.

Scott Peiffer

Quarryville Borough Manager

Scott has been a lifetime resident of Quarryville Borough. He has been the Borough Manager for 5 years and has served in the Borough’s Public Works Department for over 13 years. While serving as Borough Manager, Scott oversaw the creation and adoption of the Borough’s first Official Map in 2021 and the creation and adoption of an Active Transportation Plan in 2022. The Borough is currently preparing to bid out a fully engineered connector trail to the Enola Low Grade Trail in order to create an environment for small businesses to thrive in the community.

Ezra Rothman

EDC Lancaster

Ezra Rothman is the President of EDC Lancaster County, the lead economic development entity serving Lancaster County. In this role, he leads EDC Lancaster County as well as its sister organizations: EDC Finance Corporation, an organization that provides financing to growing businesses in partnership with local banks and government lending programs, and EDC’s Center for Regional Analysis, which focuses on proving business and community leaders with local economic trends and insights. Ezra has been with the organization since 2018, previously leading EDC’s strategic initiatives and partnerships. That work included projects related to the long-term economic viability of Lancaster County focused on industrial land availability, water/ sewer infrastructure, broadband, and urban redevelopment.

Fritz Schroeder

Lancaster Conservancy

Fritz joined the Lancaster Conservancy in 2007 as the Director of Urban Greening and was responsible for developing residential and institutional greening programs.  He has an extensive background in landscaping and tree management, and has overseen the design and installation of various stormwater capture and infiltration techniques from rain gardens to green roofs.  In 2017 with the help of many community partners Fritz helped launch Lancaster Water Week, an effort to connect more people with the amazing natural resources, streams and rivers of Lancaster County.  In 2018 he accepted a new role at the Conservancy as Senior Vice President of Community Impact leading the marketing, development and engagement efforts as the Conservancy expanded rapidly.  In 2023 Fritz was promoted to President & CEO.

Prior to joining the Lancaster Conservancy, Fritz was the Director of Economic Development for the East King Improvement District, a job that included bringing the Historic Eastern Market building back to life as a seasonal farmers market, serving diverse communities in Downtown Lancaster.  Fritz has served in a leadership role with several initiatives including the Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network, Lancaster Buy Fresh Buy Local, and the Lancaster County Conservation District Foundation.  Fritz was born and raised in Lancaster County where he graduated from McCaskey High School, he now lives in Manor Township, with his wife Mary.   He received his B.A. from The College of Wooster in Ohio.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

Martin-Harnish Foundation

MAKE Films

The Steinman Foundation

Lapp Electric

High Companies

Monty and Molly Milner