“Pennsylvania Spring”, a Journey with Dr. Steve Rannels Be prepared to get spring fever as you join Dr. Rannels on a journey through parts of Penn’s Woods that starts with the first signs of spring, including the Northward movement of waterfowl, and moves through sequential changes in plant, animal and insect life. This program, part of The Manada Conservancy education series, will include samples from Dr. Rannels personal library of photographs, videos and sound recordings. It is a naturalist’s journey through the calendar of spring. This program will be held Monday, March 22nd, 2010 at 7pm at The Hershey Public Library. Admission is free and open to the public, but please call Derry Township Parks and Recreation to register at 533-7138. Steve Rannels has been interested in the natural world since early childhood when he joined the entomology club of the 4-H. He learned to identify insects and collected them as required to learn all of the orders. His fascination for insects now persists 50 years later as he takes photographs in the out-of-doors and makes scans of parts of his old butterfly and moth collection. He has also developed a method of scanning newly acquired specimens which he then releases back into their natural habitats. The urge to understand the natural world and its dynamic interrelationships has nurtured interests in wildflowers, mushrooms, amphibians, birds and virtually any other biological system. Clearly, the problem is not having enough time for everything! Steve attended Penn State University as a zoology major and then obtained a Ph.D in physiology at the Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, where he resides with his wife Sharon, a native of New Zealand. His professional career includes basic research and teaching graduate and medical students. He gives talks on a variety of subjects in the natural sciences to bird clubs, Audubon and conservancy groups and educational centers. Steve and Sharon are active in local bird clubs and land conservation groups. His philosophy is to preserve as much of the environment as possible for all species. For more information call The Manada Conservancy at 566-4122 or send an e-mail to manadaconservancy@verizon.net or visit our web site at www.manada.org The Manada Conservancy is a local, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural, historic, agricultural and scenic resources in Pennsylvania’s Dauphin County. It is based in Hummelstown.