Elk Country Visitor Center

11/22/2024

Thank you to Elderton State Bank for the contribution of $2,500 to support the Keystone Elk Country Alliance's Education Department through the EITC program. 👏🏻

KECA is endorsed as an Educational Improvement Organization. Shown is Elderton State Bank Representative Allen Lockard presenting a check to Keystone Elk Country Alliance Conservation Education Coordinator Ben Porkolab.

11/21/2024

CANCELLED DUE TO UPCOMING WEATHER !!

Have you heard of Hunters Sharing the Harvest but looking for a way to learn more? 💥

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance will be hosting this nation-leading organization this Friday, November 22nd @ 2pm. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Located in the Butch Clemens Outdoor Classroom and Event Center.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest is Pennsylvania’s venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to food pantries and community assistance centers across Pennsylvania. 🦌🦌🦌

Randy Ferguson, HSH, will give a presentation about the organization and the 2024-25 hunting season. Ben Porkolab, KECA's Conservation Education Coordinator, will also join Randy to talk about KECA's facilities, educational programming and the relationship between HSH and KECA.

11/20/2024

Have you heard of Hunters Sharing the Harvest but looking for a way to learn more? 💥

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance will be hosting this nation-leading organization this Friday, November 22nd @ 2pm. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
Located in the Butch Clemens Outdoor Classroom and Event Center.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest is Pennsylvania’s venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to food pantries and community assistance centers across Pennsylvania. 🦌🦌🦌

Randy Ferguson, HSH, will give a presentation about the organization and the 2024-25 hunting season. Ben Porkolab, KECA's Conservation Education Coordinator, will also join Randy to talk about KECA's facilities, educational programming and the relationship between HSH and KECA.

11/16/2024

Join us on Saturday, December 7️⃣th for the Annual SHOP BENEZETTE Event! 🎅

🎁 Scratch Off Cards with Suprise Discounts!
🎁 Raffle Basket Giveaway
🎁 Games, Activities, and Crafts
🎁 Christmas Movies
🎁 Cookies and Hot Cocoa

11/11/2024

The peak of rut season has come to an end, but there is never a bad season to view elk! 🍂

63 Elk crossing through the field at the Elk Country Visitor Center this afternoon ✔️

(Video taken from the new viewing blind, directly behind the Butch Clemens Outdoor Classroom and Event Center)

11/11/2024

Updated hours at the Elk Country Visitor Center November through December 31st 🌓☀️

⏱Sundays - 8am to dusk
⏱Mondays - 8am to dusk
⏱Tuesdays - CLOSED
⏱Wednesdays - CLOSED
⏱Thursdays - 8am to dusk
⏱Fridays - 8am to dusk
⏱Saturdays - 8am to dusk

Closed on Thursday, November 28th for Thanksgiving. 🦃

11/08/2024

Elk Fact Friday: ✅

The amount of Elk Tags allotted in Pennsylvania are based roughly on the size of the herd. With the Pennsylvania State Game Commission estimating around 1,400 elk within the state, 2024 offered 140 tags to include both resident and non-resident licensing.

The photo below is the current harvest numbers as of early morning Friday, November 8th. Follow along with the link below to get real-time updates.
https://www.pgcapps.pa.gov/Harvest/Elk

The general season Elk Check Station is located at the Elk Country Visitor Center and is open to the public*

11/06/2024

The St. Mary's Area High School Ecology Club members spent the day learning from members of the Pennsylvania State Game Commission staff at the Elk Check Station today. They saw how samples are taken from each elk harvested and the importance of this field work to the health of the elk herd.

The Ecology Club also volunteered to help clean up the landscaping at the Elk Country Visitor Center. ✅

11/05/2024

Thank you to ALL OF OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS throughout the 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ season!

The Keystone Elk Country Alliance is membership based and VOLUNTEER driven!

Volunteer Opportunities range greatly from ticket sales, stacking firewood, cleaning flowerbeds, monitoring trails, to helping with events, and everything in between.

If you are interested in volunteering either here at the Elk Country Visitor Center or at one of our Chapter Banquets, please contact [email protected] or visit
https://experienceelkcountry.com/volunteer/

10/30/2024

FREE and FAMILY FRIENDLY Weekend Programs for November 🍂

10/29/2024

Open hours at the Elk Country Visitor Center during the Elk Check Station. Nov 4️⃣ - Nov 9️⃣
***Hours of the check station may vary***

🕖 Monday, Nov 4: Open 8am-6pm. Food Truck on-site from 11-5 (Swelly Belly)
🕖 Tuesday, Nov 5: Open 8am-6pm.
🕖 Wednesday, Nov 6: Open 8am-6pm
🕖 Thursday, Nov 7th: Open 8am-6pm.
🕖 Friday, Nov 8th: Open 8am-6pm.
🕖 Saturday, Nov 9th: 9am-5pm.

Open to the public. Please be courteous of the incoming Elk hunters and guides as they are here to check in their harvest with the Pennsylvania State Game Commission. And don't forget to ask lots of questions and congratulate the hunters! This is a great educational opportunity for all! 👐

10/23/2024

Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your BOO-TIFUL Halloween Costumes and join us at the Elk Country Visitor Center for the HALLOWEEN ELKSTRAVAGANZA this Sunday, October 27th from 1-4pm! FREE Event and great for ALL ages! 🎃👻

10/21/2024

Sometimes our guests take the time to enjoy the trails, other times the ELK get to enjoy them as well. Beautiful fall day here at the Elk Country Visitor Center 🍂

10/16/2024

On October 4th we held our 2024 Seneca Resources Company, LLC/Keystone Elk Country Alliance Scholarship Presentation at the Elk Country Visitor Center. This year we had nine deserving PA high school seniors who were recipients of a $1,000 college scholarship. 🎓

From left to right:
Jaidyn Goodman, Reese Fedder, Gracee Breindel, Seneca Resources Representative- Trey Miller, Keystone Elk Country Alliance Conservation Education Coordinator- Ben Porkolab, Will Coughenour, Keystone Elk Country Alliance CEO & President- Jeff Gauger, Ben Porkolab, Seneca Resources Representative- Lauren Adair, Alex Luckenbill, Keystone Elk Country Alliance Board Member- Bob Bolt – Scholarship recipients missing from the photo Gianna Surra, Maria Catalano, Megan Emmert.

For more information visit our website ExperienceElkCountry.com Education tab News and Updates

10/11/2024

Elk Fact Friday: 🍂

Female elk are sexually mature at age two and have a short estrus cycle, 1 to 2 days. Gestation is 240-262 days usually single birth with calves weighing around 35 lbs.

10/11/2024

The Northern Lights made their showing at the Elk Country Visitor Center last night 🌅

10/10/2024

Nunny's Snack Shack will be back this weekend, serving BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER 😋
Friday, 10/11 from 7:30A - 6:00P
Saturday, 10/12 from 7:30A - 6:00P
Sunday, 10/13 from 7:30A - 6:00P (or until we sold out)

We will be back at it at the Elk Country Visitor Center this weekend serving up some of your favorites! Stop by and see us for our last weekend of the year in Elk Country!!

Friday, 10/11 from 7:30A - 6:00P
Saturday, 10/12 from 7:30A - 6:00P
Sunday, 10/13 from 7:30A - 6:00P (or until we sell out 😉)