Please carpool as much as possible and RSVP to the person indicated by the day before the trip so we can contact you in case of changes. Unless otherwise indicated, all directions are based on starting in Lancaster City. For further details and contact information, see the newsletter.
Fall 2026 Field Trips
October 11 (Sunday) 10am - 2pm
State Game Lands 156 Work Party
State Gamelands SGL 156 has a roadside meadow near Camp Rocky Creek (formerly Camp Shand) along US Route 322. Every year Tim Draude leads a work party at this special meadow. Although the area has the poor soil necessary for some native wildflowers, tulip poplar trees and other tree seedlings encroach and need to be removed to maintain the wildflower area. We also collect seeds to increase the local native populations.
This meadow has many of the plants found in the nearby Penryn Powercut. The soil is derived from Hammer Creek formation sandstone. It has a dry surface layer with moister soils beneath. The vegetation is a combination of dry loving plants like Little Bluestem, as well as plants requiring moister soil, like Joe-Pye Weed. For many years Tim Draude and Joan King planted seeds and/or plants into this meadow and maintained the meadow habitat by removing pioneer tree seedlings like tulip poplar and red maple. Many special plants can be seen in the meadow, including Fringed Gentian, which blooms in October. The woods’ edges have Highbush Blueberry, Rhododendron viscosum, an American Chestnut, and more.
Leader: John Ambler
Please contact him if you have questions.
Directions: Drive north from Lancaster city on 501 (Lititz Pike) until you reach US322 at Brickerville. Turn left (west), go about four miles. Then turn left into a parking lot with a sign for SGL 156. Be careful making that turn, because it is just before a curve in US322 and visibility is limited.