PENN COLLEGE EARTH SCIENCE CENTER

PENN COLLEGE EARTH SCIENCE CENTER

OUTDOOR NATURAL LABORATORY

TRAIL SYSTEM GUIDE

WELCOME!!

Welcome to Penn College's Earth Science Center Outdoor Natural Laboratory Trail System!

The Herman T. Schneebeli Earth Science Center of the Pennsylvania College of Technology lies on one hundred and sixty five acres in southern Lycoming County. Between the years of 1850 and 1920, this property underwent a series of two logging operation cuts. These two cuts occurred in Pennsylvania's main logging era. Evidence of these two cuts can still be seen in some parts of the trail system, as the trails follow the old skid trails for a distance.

Around 1910, areas of the property began to be farmed for potatoes. Evidence of the potato farming can be seen, particularly on the white trail, where the farmers would hand pick rocks and stones from their fields, piling them into the stone walls and piles that can be seen in certain areas, around the sawmill.

This era of potato farming on Penn College's property ended in 1940, when the United States Government took over the whole valley, using it for the war effort due to World War II. This area was originally to be used for a bomb ordinance, although not a single bomb was produced on the property, as WWII ended before one could be made.

After the war ended, the U.S. Government split up the area that they had in the valley, giving a portion to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which is now Game Lands 252, with another portion going to the Federal Prison System. Penn College received this property in 1965, when the college was named the Williamsport Area Community College. The current building was constructed on the site, with the first classes being taught in 1972. The building, property, and trail system was transferred to the Pennsylvania College of Technology in 1989, after the affiliation with the Pennsylvania State University.

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PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY EARTH SCIENCE CENTER TRAIL SYSTEM

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WHITE TRAIL

1. Located at the trailhead is a small picnic and rest area.

2. This area was a prescribed shelter wood cut promoting oak regeneration. In a shelter wood cut, a few mature trees are left. 3. In this area, there is little to no regeneration, and the already established regeneration looks unhealthy. This could be caused by the AmeriGas plant directly behind the sign. Poor site quality may also be a reason for the poor plant health. 4. At this point on the trail, there is a stone fence. This is evidence that this area was once used for agricultural purposes, when farmers picked the stones from their fields and piled them up in this area. 5. Inside this fence is an example of a seed tree cut, promoting tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), also known as yellow poplar. As you will take notice, there is better regeneration in this area than the shelter wood cut previously looked at.

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WHITE TRAIL

6. When you look here, you will see evidence of an old logging operation skid trail. This property was last logged around 1920.

7. At this point, you will see the sawmill and the log yard, used by forest technology students in the Forest Products class to produce hardwood lumber using a circular saw.

8. At this location, you will see a fence. This fence is used to keep the deer out of the shelter wood regeneration area.

9. This location is the beginning of Penn College's Arboretum. Many non-native species of plants and trees are found here. The Arboretum is maintained by Penn College's Horticulture classes.

10. From this point, you can take a rest at the bench, or split off onto

one of the other trails on Penn College's trail system. Also notice the

rhododendron plants around this location.

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RED TRAIL

1. This location is an example of on going regeneration, which has been going here since 1974 - 1975. Only the best large trees were left here when it was harvested, using them as a seed source for the smaller trees seen growing here now.

2. There are three different types of pine at this location, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), red pine (Pinus resinosa), and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Scots pine has groups of two twisted needles, red pine has two long dark needles, and the white pine has groups of five straight needles. The bark is also noticeably different between the three. Scots pine's bark is orange, red pine is red and flaky and white pine's bark is a gray color.

3. There is a change in slope at this location. You will notice that the flat, bottomland changes to a very steep hill. You will also notice that as soon as the hill starts, the number and quality of the trees decline rapidly.

4. At this location, you can look at the differences between northern red oak (Quercus rubra) and black oak (Quercus velutina). The tree on the left is the red oak, while the tree on the right is the black oak. If you notice there is a squirrel box located on one of the trees in front of you at this location. These boxes were added by the Wildlife class for a breeding and living location for the squirrels.

5. Around this location is where a glacier left some deposits on the valley floor, which was sandstone. If you look behind the post, you will notice a large tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Tulip poplar, also known as yellow poplar, is known for growing straight and tall. This

7 example is one of the tallest trees on the property.

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