Rolling meadows, bubbling streams and moss-covered boulders now tell a story of renewal at the newly dedicated High Family Nature Preserve in Mount Joy Township. Once known as Donegal Highlands, this 112-acre expanse has been transformed by the Lancaster Conservancy and named in honor of the generosity of the High Foundation, The Calvin and Janet High Family Foundation, Suzanne High and Don and Lisa Clark.

Across from Mount Joy Township's Old Trolley Line Park, which serves as a parking spot and access for the preserve, and near the Conewago Recreation Trail, the preserve offers visitors a new 2-mile network of natural surface trails that wind through restored habitats. It's a place where the community can walk, reflect and experience firsthand how thoughtful conservation can bring a landscape back to life.

"The High Foundation is honored by the Lancaster Conservancy's decision to dedicate this preserve in recognition of the High family," said Robin Stauffer, executive director at the High Foundation. "For decades, the High family has invested deeply in the Elizabethtown community - where S. Dale High began his journey at Elizabethtown College - and in the stewardship of our natural environment."

Stauffer noted that the preserve is a fitting tribute to that legacy, reflecting the family's passion for vibrant communities and a commitment to protecting the natural world.

"We believe it will bring beauty, prosperity and peace to all who visit for generations to come, aligning with the very mission of the High Foundation," she said.

The High Foundation's commitment to strengthening communities and protecting the environment is long-standing. Funded by the High companies, the foundation supports initiatives that build "Bridges to Opportunity," investing in projects that foster equity, beauty, prosperity and peace.

For the Lancaster Conservancy, the dedication represents both a celebration and a continuation of decades of work. Founded more than 50 years ago, the nonprofit has protected more than 11,000 acres of natural land across Lancaster and York counties. Its mission goes beyond preservation; it's about restoration and healing the land so future generations can enjoy it.

"We are deeply grateful for the generations of support from the High families, whose commitment ensures that the Lancaster Conservancy can continue protecting and restoring the natural lands that define our region," said Fritz Schroeder, president and CEO of Lancaster Conservancy. "The High Family Nature Preserve stands as a living testament to that legacy - where our dedicated team of foresters and land stewards have enhanced the habitat and created welcoming trails, inviting the community to explore, learn and find inspiration in nature."

Restoration at the preserve began with a deep study of its ecology and history. Years of human impact had altered the land, leaving it vulnerable to invasive species and declining biodiversity. The conservancy's stewardship team created a climate-smart forestry plan to nurture the forest's natural layers, restore the meadows and remove invasive plants.

That work, completed in 2023 and 2024, is already paying off. Native trees and grasses are reclaiming their space, wildlife is returning and visitors can watch the evolving ecosystem thrive. Hikers can cross small bridges over cold streams that eventually feed into Conewago Creek; wander through restored meadows alive with pollinators; and pass beneath towering trees that rise beside massive diabase boulders, ancient geological giants covered in moss and lichen.

"Our family is deeply touched by this honor," said Suzanne High, vice chair of the High Foundation. "To see this land restored and transformed with new trails by the Lancaster Conservancy is incredibly meaningful, not only to us but to the wider community. Knowing that the High Family Nature Preserve will be a place where people can gather, learn and connect with nature for generations to come is a legacy we are grateful to share."

The preserve was originally acquired from and partially donated by the Elizabethtown Area Park Authority in 2009 with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Natural Lands Preservation Fund of Lancaster County.

Today, the preserve is more than just a place for recreation. It's a critical link in a corridor of forested land that stretches from the Schuylkill Highlands of Berks County through Lebanon County's Furnace Hills and across Lancaster County to the Susquehanna River.

"The High Family Nature Preserve resides within a 40-mile-long ridge that serves as the last intact long-distance forested land corridor in Lancaster County," explained Brandon Tennis, senior vice president of stewardship at Lancaster Conservancy. "These nature preserves - including the High Family Nature Preserve - will always be strongholds of habitat and outdoor recreation in Lancaster County."