News

The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art welcomed Millersburg resident Kristen Snyder to its Board of Trustees at its January quarterly meeting.

January 29, 2026


A lifelong supporter of the arts, the outdoors, and community organizations, Kristen Snyder brings both professional leadership experience and a deep personal connection to the Center’s mission.

“Kristen understands what makes the Ned Smith Center special—not just as an organization, but as a place where families connect with nature, art, and each other,” said Ned Smith Center Executive Director Lara Maupin. “Her background in business leadership and her commitment to Millersburg will be a tremendous asset to the Board.”


Snyder lives in Millersburg with her husband and their two children. A graduate of Tri-Valley High School, she earned her degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Bucknell University. After beginning her career with JPMorgan in New York City, she returned to the area to work with her family business, Koppy’s Propane, Inc.


Over the past 15 years, Snyder has played a key role in Koppy’s Propane’s growth, including multiple acquisitions and the expansion of the company from 45 to more than 100 employees. She currently serves as Vice President, overseeing operations and human resources, and has led the implementation of new systems to improve efficiency and customer service.

In addition to her professional work, Snyder has served on the Gratz Bank Board of Directors since 2018, continuing her service following the bank’s merger with LINK Bank. She also serves on the Northern Dauphin County YMCA Board and is a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Millersburg.


An active outdoor family, the Snyders regularly use the Ned Smith Center’s trails, outdoor play areas, and programming, including camps, concerts, and festivals.

“The Ned Smith Center is a hidden gem in our community, and I’m excited to share all it has to offer and help make sure it’s around for generations to come,” said Snyder.

Ned Smith Center Shares Vision for 2026 Calendar of Events

A year of listening, renewal, and new ways to connect with nature and the arts


January 20, 2026


The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is sharing details about changes to its 2026 event calendar, including the decision to pause and reevaluate several long-standing events for one year as part of an intentional planning effort known internally as the “2026 Reset.”

The most notable change for the community will be the pause of the annual Nature and Arts Festival in 2026.

“For decades, our summer Festival held at MYO Park helped connect people with nature and the arts, and we know it holds a special place in many hearts,” said Executive Director Lara Maupin. “But in recent years we’ve seen fewer people engage with the nature and arts programming at the Festival, even as the event itself grew more complex and resource-intensive. It was time for us to step back and thoughtfully consider how this event and all our community events best serve our mission and our community today.”


Why the Change?

The Ned Smith Center’s mission is to preserve the legacy of artist and naturalist Ned Smith and to connect people with nature and the arts. Staff and board members have spent the past year carefully reviewing attendance trends, community feedback, staffing capacity, and long-term sustainability.

“Pausing the Festival gives us the opportunity to listen more closely, use our resources more effectively, and explore new ways to bring nature and art experiences to the community,” Maupin said. “This is not about walking away from what people love. It’s about finding better ways to deliver it.”

In addition to the Nature and Arts Festival, the following events will be on hiatus in 2026: Youth Art Contest, Sporting Clays Shoot, and the October Scavenger Hunt. These pauses are part of a broader effort to make room for new ideas, partnerships, and programming.

 

What the Community Can Expect in 2026

While some familiar events are on pause, the Ned Smith Center is expanding and refining its offerings in several meaningful ways.

The annual Gala will once again serve as the Center’s primary annual fundraising event, supporting programs and operations year-round, while the annual Rugged Trail 5K Run will become the Center’s primary outreach event, welcoming new audiences to experience the grounds and trails. A Great Outdoors Bingo will provide an enjoyable new way for the local community to support the Center.

Importantly, elements of the Nature and Arts Festival will continue in new forms. The Center plans to bring art, nature education, and hands-on activities to other existing community events and to create smaller, more focused gatherings throughout the year.

“We’re very excited, for example, that our calendar changes will enable us to be part of the Millersburg Cherry Blossom Festival in May,” Maupin said. “I’m grateful to Millersburg Area Working Together (MAWT) for their support and partnership in this effort, and I invite people to stop by and visit our area at that community event.”


Additional plans for 2026 include more small events and workshops that bring people to the Center throughout the year, continued connections with and support of local and Pennsylvania youth artists, and new and expanded programming to accompany the Center’s gallery exhibitions.

In addition, the Center is placing increased emphasis on members and member-focused events, volunteers and volunteer engagement, revitalizing the grounds and trails to create more welcoming, engaging spaces, and building stronger partnerships with local nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations.

 

Looking Ahead Together

The Ned Smith Center understands that change, especially to long-standing traditions, can be difficult.

“We see 2026 as a year of experimentation, reflection, and renewal,” said Maupin. “We invite our community to walk alongside us: try something new, share your feedback, and help shape what comes next. Whether you’ve attended every Festival or are just discovering the Center, there is and always will be a place for you here.”


More information about 2026 programs and events can be found in the Ned Smith Center’s annual event guide and on its website, nedsmithcenter.org.


Rock Legends Reimagined: Lez Zeppelin to Perform at the Ned Smith Center on August 2

July 8, 2025


The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art is thrilled to present Lez Zeppelin, the internationally acclaimed all-female tribute to Led Zeppelin, in a powerhouse live performance at the Center’s DeSoto Amphitheater on Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 PM.


Hailed by SPIN magazine as “the most powerful all-female band in rock history,” Lez Zeppelin brings the raw energy, passion, and musical brilliance of Led Zeppelin to life with a sound so authentic it’s been praised by both fans and critics around the world, including Led Zeppelin’s own Jimmy Page. This is a rare opportunity to experience the band’s legendary live show in the intimate, natural setting of Northern Dauphin County’s only outdoor amphitheater.


"Lez Zeppelin sells out larger venues at higher ticket prices," said Lara Maupin, Executive Director of the Ned Smith Center. "We’re offering fans a chance to see this high-caliber act right here in Millersburg for just $30—an unbeatable value for an unforgettable night of rock and roll under the stars."

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets. Lykens Valley Bison will be on-site selling food, and Bearded Lady Brewery will offer craft beers for purchase. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic and beverages.


Earlier in the day, the Center will host a free gallery reception from 1:00–4:00 PM, featuring complimentary food and beverages and showcasing The Photography and Art of Melissa Penley Cormier. It’s the perfect way to make a full day of art, nature, and music in Millersburg.


Tickets are available now at nedsmithcenter.org. Doors open at 6:00 PM. The concert begins at 7:30 PM.


The Ned Smith Center gratefully acknowledges its 2025 concert series sponsors MI Windows & Doors, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, and The William R. and Esther Richmond Trust, along with Lez Zeppelin show sponsors Troutman’s Chevrolet GMC and more.

Summer Sounds Under the Trees: Ned Smith Center Launches 2025 Outdoor Concert Series

May 20, 2025


Get ready to dance, sing, and celebrate the season—the Ned Smith Center is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2025 Outdoor DeSoto Amphitheater Concert Series, a high-energy celebration of music, community, and summer fun. The 11th annual series kicks off on Saturday, May 24 at the Ned Smith Center with a free encore performance by the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, and features a diverse lineup of regional talent and national touring acts.


“Coming off our 10th anniversary performance series in the DeSoto Amphitheater, we are excited to get back outdoors for a roaring summer paying tribute to Rock Legends, doing much about Shakespeare in the Woods, and pointing out pirouettes and pliés,” said Chris Dietz, Ned Smith Center Arts & Entertainment Chair.

The DeSoto Concert Series will run all summer long, offering affordable, family-friendly performances in Millersburg. “The outdoor concerts are such a unique experience!,” said concert goer Amy Romberger. “They are laid back, fun-filled, and a great place to spend time with friends and family.” Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and appetites—local food trucks and beverage vendors will be on site at every show. Guests may also bring their own food and beverages. In addition, the Center’s three art galleries will be open to visitors before each show.


“We’re proud to bring this vibrant tradition back to our community,” said Lara Maupin, Executive Director of the Ned Smith Center. “This series is about more than music—it’s about connection with nature and the arts, celebration, and creating unforgettable summer memories under the stars.”

2025 Concert Lineup:

Philadelphia Freedom – A Tribute to Elton John, performing on June 7

Fleetwood Macked – The Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, performing on June 28

Erich Cawalla & The Uptown Band – One of the country’s most versatile and respected live bands, performing on July 19

Lez Zeppelin – Critically-acclaimed all-female Led Zeppelin tribute act, performing August 2

Real Diamond – The Premier Neil Diamond Tribute Band, performing on September 6

In addition to summer concerts, the series includes two free, family-friendly youth performances:

Pennsylvania Regional Ballet – The official ballet company of the Ned Smith Center will perform their Encore Spring Gala on May 24

Gamut Theater’s Shakespeare in the Woods – Student production of Much Ado About Nothing, performed on Friday, August

The DeSoto Series is presented in partnership with MI Windows & Doors, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, UPMC of Central PA, Chris Dietz & Alex Reber, Dave & Linda Kutz, Kyle Kauffman, Raymond & Linda Enders, Troutman’s Chevrolet GMC, and more.

WHEN


Saturdays unless otherwise noted. Doors open at 6 PM. Concerts start at 7:30 PM and are held rain or shine. Youth performances start at 6:30 PM and have rain dates.

WHERE


DeSoto Amphitheater for the Performing Arts

Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

176 Water Company Road

Millersburg, PA 17061

TICKETS


Concerts: $25 Member presale | $30 Non-Member presale | $35 at the door

Youth Performances: Free and open to the public.

CLICK HERE for event registration.

Ned Smith Center Recognizes Harrisburg Couple as Visionaries for their Contributions to Field Research

April 3, 2025


On April 11, 2025, the Ned Smith Center will recognize longtime Center volunteers Sandy and Gary Lockerman of Harrisburg as the 2024 Ned Smith Center “Visionaries.” Selected annually by those chosen in prior years, recipients of this honorary recognition demonstrate long-standing support for the Center and its mission.



Sandy Lockerman served as a trustee, staff member, and volunteer for the Ned Smith Center and Gary Lockerman supported Center programs as a volunteer, often lending his technical skills to projects. Involved in many of the Center’s initiatives over the past three decades, the Lockermans are best known among Center staff and volunteers for their integral roles in the Center’s Northern Saw-whet Owl banding program and the symbolic owl adoptions that help support these grass-roots research efforts.

“The Ned Smith Center would never have been able to complete almost 30 years of Northern Saw-whet Owl banding without Sandy and Gary Lockerman,” said Scott Weidensaul, director of the owl research programs housed at the Ned Smith Center. “They are irreplaceable.”


The Center’s owl banding program began in 1997 as part of Project Owlnet, a network of banding stations across North America, and the Lockermans were involved from the beginning. For eight weeks in October and November, when these small, reclusive, nocturnal owls migrate through Pennsylvania, volunteers gather at three sites to band and release owls seven nights a week, from dusk to midnight.

 Weidensaul sends data gathered by these dedicated volunteers to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab at the end of each season. This lab issues licenses, permits, and bands for bird banding in the United States.


To become a bander, a volunteer must band 100 owls under careful supervision and know how to manage all aspects of the banding site. Sandy Lockerman makes sure a trained bander is on site each night and that there are enough volunteers to support the work. Sometimes, these requirements mean the Lockermans must be at the banding site, a rustic unheated cabin, several nights a week themselves.


Weidensaul calls Gary Lockerman the banding program’s “tech guru.” Gary’s skills as a tinkerer have greatly benefited the program over the years. He made numerous improvements to the audiolures that draw the owls into nearly invisible mist nets by broadcasting the male’s tooting call into the forest. His updates to the audiolures include technological and safety improvements and he found ways to increase battery life along the way.


“Gary and I really love doing the field research,” notes Sandy Lockerman. “Thirty years ago, they didn’t know anything about this species, and they didn’t even know they migrated through Pennsylvania.” The banding research is revealing that the Appalachians are a migratory route for the Northern Saw-whet Owls as they travel to their wintering sites across the central and southern United States.

An environmental educator, Sandy Lockerman trained countless volunteers to work at banding sites and become banders themselves. "I consider Sandy and Gary a true power couple, given their expertise, the countless hours they've dedicated to volunteering, and their extensive experiential knowledge,” said Emily Rosmus, the Center’s Director of Educational Programming. “It's been an honor to learn from and work alongside them as I train to become an owl bander - and to call them friends.”

To learn more about the Ned Smith Center’s Saw-whet Owl programs, visit https://nedsmithcenter.org/research-and-support-2/#sawwhetowlresearch.

Ned Smith Center Launches Pennsylvania’s First State Wild Mushroom Conservation and Education Area

March 14, 2025


The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art received funding for a major fungi educational and conservation project through the DCNR's Wild Resource Conservation Program (WRCP). One of 11 conservation projects approved statewide in 2024, this $30,000 grant enables the Center to establish Pennsylvania’s first Wild Mushroom Conservation and Education Area (WMCEA) on 72 acres of Ned Smith Center lands between the Rail Trail and Wiconisco Creek.



The Center plans to conserve this area, already abundant with seasonal fungi, by encouraging native flora, fauna, and funga while eliminating invasive species. The grant enables the Center to transform the designated conservation area into a first-of-its-kind educational site, complete with interpretive signage for use in public and school programs and unique new activities designed for fungi enthusiasts.

Over the next two years, Center staff and volunteers will complete the project in three phases. Phase one involves site analysis and conservation efforts. Next, Center staff will develop educational materials, programs, and signage. Building upon these first two phases, the project culminates with creation of a new Ned Smith Center Mushroom Club and club programming.

The Ned Smith Center’s Director of Educational Programming Emily Rosmus sees this grant as the beginning of a comprehensive fungi conservation and education program which will continue to grow. “My hope is that this initiative will provide a framework and example for other organizations to follow, spreading and reinforcing the importance of fungi appreciation.”


Some initial projects call for volunteers, giving those seriously interested in joining the NSC Mushroom Club an opportunity to assist with project implementation and become founding members of the club. “Volunteers will play a crucial role in the project's success and have the unique opportunity to help shape its future,” said Rosmus.


“On behalf of the Center, I’d also like to express my deep gratitude to key individuals who have made this initiative possible,” Rosmus continued. “Longtime volunteer Jerry Hassinger has been an invaluable resource. Without him, this project would not have come to fruition. Special thanks also go to DCNR Conservation Mycologist Hannah Huber, whose expertise in fungi conservation has been instrumental in providing guidance and support as the Center embarks on this exciting journey.”

For more information on the Wild Mushroom Conservation and Education Area and the Ned Smith Center Mushroom Club, visit nscmushroomclub.com.

Melanie Morrison Joins Our Team as Events Coordinator

Melanie joined the Ned Smith Center in February 2025, bringing with her 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector across various roles. She is excited to contribute to the Ned Smith Center team and help make each event as successful as possible.


Originally from Lancaster County, Melanie moved to Millersburg in 2006. Since then, she has volunteered many hours for various community activities. She believes this picturesque community has much more to offer than many realize and hopes that promoting events at the Ned Smith Center, as well as in the surrounding area, will attract more guests.


In her free time, Melanie enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and their dog, Moose. She also loves reading, cooking, spending time at their cabin, and catching up with family and friends.

William Kobel Joins Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Board of Trustees

January 28, 2025



The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art welcomed lifelong Millersburg resident William Kobel to its Board of Trustees at its January quarterly meeting.


“Everywhere Bill goes, he drives positive change,” said Ned Smith Center Executive Director Lara Maupin. “I know he can help the Center reach a new level of excellence when it comes to getting the word out about all we have to offer. I’m very excited to work with him.”


Kobel currently serves as Executive Vice President of JPL, a full-service advertising agency with 100 employees and offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and New York City. He helped transform JPL from a small video production company to a full-service marketing firm. Prior to JPL, Kobel worked for a private equity firm, evaluating and transforming the marketing departments and go-to-market strategies of newly acquired companies.

Kobel started his career in the community as a news director at WQIN, Lykens and reporter for the Upper Dauphin Sentinel newspaper, going on to work in public and media relations and marketing for Capital Blue Cross and within the Highmark Blue Shield system.


Previous community involvement includes serving on his alma mater Central Penn College’s Board of Directors, the Twin Valley Soccer Club’s Board of Directors, and as a member of the Millersburg Area High School’s boys soccer team boosters.


“I’m driven by a vision to help our community evolve into a vibrant destination that offers unique experiences and opportunities,” said Kobel. “I look forward to sharing my expertise to help the Ned Smith Center continue to thrive, providing great experiences for our community.”

The Ned Smith Center Welcomes Dharla Maiden Back to the Board of Trustees

January 16, 2025



The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Board of Trustees welcomed Millersburg resident Dharla Maiden to the Board at its January quarterly meeting.


One of the founding organizers of the Ned Smith Center, Maiden owned and operated a window treatments business in Millersburg for 37 years, after which she served as the Director of the Millersburg Area Senior Center for a decade. She has served as a Board member of both the Senior Center and the Ned Smith Center.


In her time of designing window treatments, she came to know Ned and Marie Smith. When asked how she became one of the group of community members who developed the plans and recruited the funds needed to create the Ned Smith Center after Smith’s death in 1985, Maiden replied, “I loved Ned. I was fortunate enough to know him.”.

Maiden recalls that one of the hardest parts of getting support to create the Ned Smith Center was “convincing people he was worth it.” Maiden explained that Smith was so humble that local residents did not always fully recognize how great his work was. However, she felt his masterpieces needed to stay in his hometown of Millersburg and she worked alongside a small group of dedicated volunteers and Smith’s widow Marie to make this dream a reality.


In the early years of the Ned Smith Center, Maiden filled several officer roles, participated in the Fund Development Committee, Site Selection Committee, Architectural Committee, and participated in the original capital campaign. The Center was founded and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993, and opened at its current location in 2004, eventually housing three art galleries, a gift shop, staff offices, and educational spaces. Maiden currently serves as a member of the Ned Smith Center’s Arts and Entertainment Committee.


“Having Dharla back on the Board will benefit the Center greatly,” noted Executive Director Lara Maupin. “Her background knowledge, passion for our mission, creativity, and positive outlook are tremendous assets. I look forward to working with her in the coming years.”

The Center Welcomes Our New Nature & Arts Educator, Greg Pizzano

Greg joined the Center in November of 2024. Born and raised in Northern New Jersey, Greg spent much of his childhood exploring the woods behind his home and traveling to as many national parks as he could. He discovered his love for nature and education during his undergraduate years at Penn State while participating in an outdoor school program at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Since graduating in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation, Greg has worked for various environmental education programs across the country from the Catskill Mountains of New York to the Coastal Redwood Forests of California. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, climbing, skiing, and attending Penn State football games.



Welcome to the team, Greg!