Dates 6/17/2011 - 6/19/2011
Time 4:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

Location Pine Grove Furnace State Park
1100 Pine Grove Road
Gardners , PA 17324

Friday June 17
4 p.m. - A.T. Museum spring meeting – Main Tent at Furnace Stack
6 to 9 p.m.- Hall of Fame Banquet at Allenberry Resort, Boiling Springs, PA

Saturday June 18
9 a.m.- Hikes for History. Choose from five different hikes. Registration from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. outside the Museum. $25 donation requested. Hikers receive festival patch and one year Museum membership.

11 a.m. -Main Tent (Furnace Stack) Andre Weltman – Local Pine Grove History

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.- Meet at Museum -- Nature/Photography Hike – Gary Dickinson
Bring cameras and lenses to shoot a wide range of close and distant subjects. A tripod or monopod may be useful but not necessary. We will discuss and use various camera settings and lenses that are appropriate for the different nature subjects observed. The hike will take place along fairly flat trails although the ground may be damp in some areas. Athletic or walking shoes should be adequate footwear.

Lunch – Chicken Lunch at Pine Grove store. Half Chicken, roll, applesauce, beans and drink for $7.50.

Afternoon Program on Hiker Culture 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

1 p.m. Main Tent – Randy Motz – Native American Flute program
Randy "Windtalker" Motz will perform his unique style of Native American flute music which he calls, "Native SoundScapes."

1:30 to 2:30 -FEATURED Speaker -- Gene Espy
Gene is a 1951 A.T. Thru-Hiker and second person to complete the Appalachian Trail in a single season. He will tell stories about his thru-hike and answer questions about those early years on the Trail. As a youth, Gene tried many outdoor adventures. When he started the A.T. , Gene didn’t realize only one person had done the trail before. He is the author of “The Trail of My Life: The Gene Espy Story.”

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.- Panel on Hiking Culture in coordination with the traveling exhibit “Celebrating Hiker Culture,” Moderated by Museum Vice President and Curator Terry Harley-Wilson.

3:30 p.m.- Joe Lisle sings Hiker Songs

4 p.m. -Stove, cooking and ice cream eating contests.

Children’s programs at the Museum
Saturday June 18

11 a.m. Rita Floriani
Rita Floriani, is a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania who grew up in a city surrounded by hills. She is a hiker, a member of 20 hiking clubs and outdoor organizations and has written over 100 newspaper articles on hiking. Rita says “Hiking is about fun whether you are 5 or 75. If it’s not fun, then why hike?” Rita will talk about fun ways for kids to prepare for a hike, fun things to look for while they are out on the trail and fun ways to save the memories of their hikes.

1 p.m. - Appalachian Trail Stories for Children with “Braid” Joe Lisle

2 p.m.– children’s activities

Sunday June 19

11 a.m. Museum -- Nature/Photography Hike – Gary Dickinson
Bring cameras and lenses to shoot a wide range of close and distant subjects. A tripod or monopod may be useful but not necessary. We will discuss and use various camera settings and lenses that are appropriate for the different nature subjects observed. The hike will take place along fairly flat trails although the ground may be damp in some areas. Athletic or walking shoes should be adequate footwear.

12 p.m.- Main tent - Story Telling for Adults and Children with Debra Takach
Debra is a retired teacher and a member of the Susquehanna Tellers Guild. She has been telling stories and Native legends for 20 years. Stories are geared to all ages, so there is something for everyone. She also plays the courting flute to add flavor to her stories.

1 p.m. – Main Tent – Distance Hiking with Family and Youth Groups with Jay and Katy Sexton
Drawing on their many years of leading children into the wilderness, Jay and Katy provide a wealth of information and many stories about their adventures over the years.

2 p.m. – Museum –Appalachian Trail Stories for Children with Joe “Braid” Liles