CARLISLE, PA (July 28, 2011) - The South Mountain Outdoors 2011 program this Labor Day weekend will provide a vast collection of events for the whole family and make it easy to explore the region known as the South Mountain. Events will be occurring at over 60 sites from Saturday, September 3^rd through Monday, September 5^th.

Events range from special programming at the region's state parks, the Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve and Michaux State Forest, activities at local farmers markets, a Civil War themed McLain Celtic Festival, tours of the Huntsdale Fish Hatchery and many more.

A map of all the sites can be found at the South Mountain Partnership's Web site, www.southmountainpartnership.org. A passport/brochure will be available to pick up at all the sites up to one week before and during the Labor Day Weekend. The Passport Program will contain a map of the region, with a list of participating businesses and program partners that are offering events and experiences around South Mountain. The passport will also be available to download off of the Web site. Many sites will be offering door prizes for attendees.  As visitors experience the events they should have their passports stamped.  Then, attendees can leave the passport at one of the sites so they are entered for prize drawings that will be made after the Labor Day Weekend.

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center, the Huntsdale Fish Hatchery and the Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve have released their unique programs for the weekend. More information on these events can be found at www.visitcumberlandvalley.com. Events include:

Saturday, September 3 through Monday, September 5

Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Learn about Pennsylvania fish culture past and present on a self-guided tour of the hatchery visitor center.  Live fish are also on display.  Huntsdale is one of more than a dozen fish hatcheries operated by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. Established in 1932, the hatchery is one of the nation's largest.  Visitors can witness nearly every aspect of raising fish in volume, something which Huntsdale does quite well. During a recent year it produced nearly 1 million adult trout.

Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center Mansion, Garden and Education Building - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The 2,531 acre Kings Gap Environmental Education Center features over 18 miles of hiking trails and the Cameron/Masland Mansion and garden.   The 38-room mansion was completed in 1908 using mountain stone quarried on site.   The garden which once provided vegetables to the mansion kitchen now features herb, native habitat and shade gardens along with a compost demonstration area.  Self- guided tours of the mansion (first floor) and garden will be available. The center's Education Building and Gift Shop will be open.  Be sure to check out the demonstration honeybee hive as well as the other informational displays featuring a "hands- on" Leave No Trace exhibit.

Tree Farm No. 1 Hiking Tour

Sunday, September 4^th - 10:00am-1:00pm

Bring the whole family out to Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve and celebrate Labor Day Weekend with a hiking tour of one of the newest and largest addition to Michaux State Forest.  Join staff from Strawberry Hill and the DCNR's Bureau of Forestry for a guided hike on the "Glatfelter Tree Farm No. 1,"  a  3.5-mile loop (approx. 1.5 hours) which will introduce the community to the history of the tree farm along with the unique plant and animal life found on the former tree farm.  The hike will include stops along the way to appreciate the natural wonders of the South Mountain Region and for views of the Gettysburg, Carroll, and Swamp Creek Valleys.  The hike will begin at promptly 10:00 am and will end with a free picnic at the Preserve.

This regional event, covering portions of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties, will offer unique experiences and recreational opportunities for the entire family to enjoy. Stay tuned for more specialty events from participating partners and an online, interactive South Mountain Outdoors 2011 Map, plus more information and updates on the South Mountain Partnership Web site - www.southmountainpartnership.org.

The mission of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau is to promote Cumberland Valley as a tourist destination, attract visitors to the area, enhance the visitor's experience, and to encourage and promote overnight stays.

The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau is also part of Pennsylvania's Dutch Country Roads region, the number one visited region in PA, a true vacation destination where country meets city and the past lives side-by-side with the present.