Keystone College is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Hemlock Farms Community Association in Lords Valley, Pennsylvania. The collaboration was secured by Shaun Nordlie, Community Manager of Hemlock Farms Community Association and Dr. Joe Iacovazzi, assistant professor of wildlife biology and chair of Keystone College’s Department of Biological and Physical Sciences and Mathematics.
Situated on approximately 4,500 wooded acres, Hemlock Farms encompasses a diverse natural landscape that includes forests, lakes, ponds, streams, and other aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The community is also surrounded by extensive Pennsylvania state forest and state game lands, placing it within a larger network of interconnected habitats and ecological systems. These natural resources support healthy populations of wildlife and fish and provide valuable opportunities for ecological and environmental research.
Through this collaboration, Keystone College students completing senior research projects, capstone experiences, graduate studies, or independent research will have opportunities to use Hemlock Farms as a site for academic inquiry and hands-on fieldwork. Potential areas of study include environmental science, ecology, biology, forestry, conservation, wildlife management, fisheries science, and water-quality analysis.
“This collaboration will provide our students with access to an outstanding natural setting where they can apply what they have learned in the classroom to meaningful, field-based research,” said Dr. Iacovazzi. “Hemlock Farms contains an impressive variety of habitats and natural resources that can support many different types of student and faculty research. We are grateful to the Hemlock Farms Community Association for welcoming this collaboration and investing in the education and professional development of our students.”
The collaboration will help students develop practical skills in field sampling, species identification, ecological monitoring, data collection, research design, and environmental assessment. These experiences will strengthen their preparation for graduate study and careers in wildlife biology, environmental science, fisheries, conservation, natural-resource management, and related fields.
The collaboration also creates opportunities for Keystone College faculty and students to contribute meaningful scientific information that may support the long-term understanding, stewardship, and conservation of the Hemlock Farms landscape. By connecting academic research with the needs of a local community, this relationship reflects Keystone College’s commitment to experiential education, community engagement, and responsible environmental stewardship.
To learn more about the Hemlock Farms and its natural resources, visit the Hemlock Farms Community Association website
