The Keystone Elk Country Alliance Group is the best! This is the second year I have used them as part of my classroom teaching. My third-grade class enjoyed the long -distance Zoom learning experience, as well as the 'elk trunk' they sent. Inside the 'trunk' was a binder filled with pictures, printable hand-outs, and lessons that I could use to teach to my class. The other things in the trunk really excited the students.
There was an elk skull, elk scapula, and jawbone, also elk antlers, a huge pelt, and hoof - and deer antlers and hoof. The students were amazed at the size difference between the deer and elk, All students had the opportunity to touch and feel everything in the 'elk trunk', The following day we Zoomed with a ranger from Elk County visitor center. She taught them more about elk and ended the session with a question-and-answer session. I would recommend this group to anyone.
KECA has been an unbelievable resource for me and my students! Not only do they serve to support a stunning environmental resource, but to educate others as well. My students appreciate learning about a treasure, almost in their back yards, of the sort that many are not aware. We are treated with tangible evidence such as bones, antlers, pelts and casts that make a valuable connection with the lessons being taught. We here the sounds of nature that the majority of my students may never have the opportunity to hear otherwise. I am able to use these lessons throughout the remainder of the year as relevant illustrations of the many aspects of Biology. I can't say enough about Ben and his crew offering distance learning through the Keystone Elk Country Alliance.
Today, our second grade class had an exciting virtual presentation about elk. Our presenter, Ben, came virtually from Benezette, Pennsylvania to Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. He taught us so many cool things about these amazing animals. Ben showed us pictures and videos of elk in the wild. We loved watching them use their antlers to fight and pictures of them at night using a drone. It was so exciting to see how they live in nature. At the end of the presentation, we had a hands-on activity! Ben sent us a special truck filled with exciting things about elk. Here are some of the cool items we got to see:
- Antlers: These are the big, branch-like things on the heads of male elk.
- Footprints: We learned how to identify elk tracks! And compare them to deer tracks.
- Skull: We saw what an elk's skull looks like.
- Shoulder Bones: We learned about the bones that help elk move.
Ben did a fantastic job teaching us about elk! We learned so much and had a great time. We can't wait to share all the amazing facts we learned with our friends and family! Thank you, Ben, for a wonderful presentation! We hope to learn more about animals in our great state of Pennsyvania in the future!
Mrs. MacKay's Second Grade Class
On August 1st, the CEC planned a trip to go visit the Elk Visitor Center. There was 10 kids that were involved and they all had a great time! The group of kids were learning and being taught by Ben Porkolab and Hunter Horning from the Visitor Center. Some activities that the kids really enjoyed was antler scoring, animal identification games, a beak importance game, a breakout, and a movie! This was a great time for the kids we brought, and even for the adult supervisors! I would highly recommend to check out the activities provided and the visitor center. It is worth the time!
We were thrilled to have Ben step in on short notice to present at our STEM Camp, which hosted 30 students in grades 4-7. Ben's presentation was not only engaging but highly educational. He provided an program on Pennsylvania elk, sharing details about his work and the ecosystem of the elk. The highlight for many students was the antler measuring activity and game which were both interactive and informative. We greatly appreciate his contribution to making our STEM Camp a memorable experience for the students involved.
This is the second year that Mr. Porkolab and his team did a virtual session with the children who attend our Therapeutic Summer Program in DuBois, PA. The children really enjoyed learning about the elk by way of the graphics and information shared by staff who did a fantastic job keeping them engaged and answering the many questions they had afterwards. Following the presentation the children got to look at and touch the educational props in the Elk Trunk that was provided, which they thought was very cool. I highly recommend the distance learning session to groups that are unable to travel to the Elk Country Visitor Center in person for a field trip.
This program opportunity was well planned out and organized. I was able to learn a lot of information to use in my preschool classroom. There were many hands on, teamwork, and individualized opportunities when completing the activities. I really enjoyed the DNA one with the beads. The antler measuring was interesting also. The program really incorporated many other programs; DCNR, Game Commission, and the KECA staff. I really was excited to receive a book to use with my preschool classroom to introduce them to nature activities in a fun way.
Attended the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Ladies Day Event on June 30 of this year and enjoyed the event immensely. Have attended this event since it started several years ago and just love the different programs they provide for us ladies. Always seem to mix up the events so it's not the same programs each year. Would recommend this event for any woman that likes the outdoors as well as a mixture of indoor programs too.
Donna Schmidt
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First became involved with the the Keystone Elk Country Alliance about 10 years ago via their banquet program. Learned a lot about their mission statement at that time but really got hooked while visiting the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Visitor Center and seeing all the educational programs available for both young and old. Conservation is also one of the many programs they promote and teach at the center as well. All I can say is you need to go to the Elk Country Alliance Visitor Center to believe it. Once your their if your not hooked then something is wrong!
KECA provides a wonderful natural setting for educational programs involving conservation, elk and other wildlife information. It offers viewing areas to observe elk in the natural habitat. There are trails to hike to immerse yourself in the outdoors. Seasonal horse drawn wagon rides are available that give the opportunity of being in close proximity to the elk and deer. There is an interactive video presentation on the life and history of PA elk in the visitor center.
Elk Country Visitors Center has hosted free programs at the Samuel W Smith Memorial Public Library for our patrons, both seniors and school-age children. Ben Porkolab, the Conservation Education Coordinator, has a wonderful rapport with our patrons. He is a seasoned speaker and it is evident that he truly enjoys his work. The patrons love to see all of the artifacts from the museum that Ben brings along with his very impressive slideshow. Many patrons have stopped into the library after his presentations to say that they made a trip to the Elk Country Visitors Center and were even more impressed by the museum, surrounding grounds, and of course the elk!
This nonprofit works not only to fulfill their mission but to do so in keeping with best practices and in a manner that creates a truly engaging, quality experience for visitors and for the wildlife they seek to do right by.
I have been exposed to KECA as a visitor, as a volunteer, and through attendance of a training. All of my experiences and those attending with me have been positive. Their knowledgeable staff is friendly, helpful, professional, and organized and the site and facilities are well-maintained.
I would like to thank Ben and his team for doing an outstanding presentation! We had two presentation for special needs students at Camp Friendship in Reynoldsville PA. Together we had around 50 campers. Ben and his team kept their attention and it was very educational. The campers loved the hands on activities! Thanks Again for coming to our camp this summer!
The Elk presentation was very educational for pur 4th graders here at Homer-Center Elementary School. It was a hands-on educational experience that allowed us to engage in an expert extension activity at the end of our Ecosystems unit.
The information is aligned to the PA state standards.
The Elk trunk was full of great artifacts to enhance the lesson.
Thank you!
We can't wait for next year!
Our first graders recently went here on a field trip. We had an amazing day! The leaders were wonderful with the kids and taught them so much. The trip was organized and so informative. We can not say enough good things about it. This was one of the best field trips we've ever taken. It was so great that we've already booked for next year!!
The virtual learning experience is amazing!!! I am a high school biology teacher and the advisor for our district’s Envirothon Club. We recently had Mr. Ben Porkolab do a virtual training for our Envirothon members and it was incredible. Ben sent us a large learning trunk that included all of the materials and visuals for his presentation. Students were actively engaged throughout the entire presentation and we could not be happier with the opportunity to be part of the Keystone Elk Country Alliance experience. I would highly recommend this program to all levels of learners and look forward to setting up future trainings. Thank you and we appreciate all that you do.
What an experience!! Thank you Keystone Elk Country Alliance for this opportunity. Mr. Ben Porkolab and staff did a fantastic job providing exciting information about the Elk in Pennsylvania. I teach K-5 students in Okeechobee, Florida in the Media Center. On a recent trip to PA.... I got to meet the staff at the Elk Center and set up a virtual Field trip for my students. I created a program concerning the Habitats of the Florida Everglades and wanted to include other wildlife in our studies this year. With the addition of this program ,we could see how taking care of the environment for each species of animal is so very important. We could compare and contrast... look for causes and effects of not caring for specific habitats. The hands on treasure trunk items created so much excitement. I added our state habitats to our stations and the students have spent 2 weeks enjoying learning this information. I am including some photos to share. Thank you so much for this program and we look forward to doing it again next year!!
Our first graders were recently able to participate in a multi-sensory virtual learning experience with the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Visitor Center. They had so much fun learning with Elk County Visitor Center’s Conservation Education Coordinator, Ben Porkolab, over Zoom. We were sent an elk trunk at no cost that contained an elk pelt, elk antlers, a bison horn, elk jaw, and elk skull. The kids were able to view and touch these pieces. Mr. Porkolab did a phenomenal job teaching the students about the pieces in the elk trunk, as well as an abundance of information about elk! It went along very well with our curriculum and standards. Mr. Porkolab was personable, entertaining and fabulous at communicating with our young learners! We highly recommend the Keystone Elk Country Alliance!
We just had a virtual experience with our school; this was a great experience for our 7th grade students! The presenters are knowledgable, engaging, and incredibly friendly. Along with the interactive talk, were videos of actual Pennsylvania elk sparring and calling, which really got the students' attention. The Alliance sends a prop trunk to your school before the session, full of skulls, pelts, etc., that students can touch, so that while the presentation is occurring, students can experience wildlife with even more of their senses. After the presentations, many students were excited about our state's elk and very much want to visit PA Elk Country-not too bad for one session! What a wonderful organization that can get students excited about our outdoors - and they ask nothing in return!
As a fifth grade teacher, I was thrilled to have this opportunity for my class to experience a virtual field trip to learn about elk and Elk County. The presenter, Ben Porkolab, did a superior job! He was very knowledgeable, excited to teach, and engaged the students along the way. After the presentation, the students couldn't wait to see in person the things sent in the elk trunk such as jaw bones, shoulder blade bones, deer and elk hooves, and an elk hide! Many students told me afterwards that they were going to to go home and ask their parents to drive them to Benezette!
Thank you again!!
Mrs. Miller
The Tidioute Community Charter School took the online class from Ben Prokolab and his staff about Elk Conservation. They had such a great time that we decided to bring the 4th and 5th grade classes to the center to extend their learning onsite. Ben and his staff were so wonderful teaching the students about wildlife and nature conservation. The students enjoyed the day trip of fun activities, the nature walk and the surround movie of the history of Elk and the center. It was such a great experience for our students that we plan on making this an every other year trip for our 4th and 5th grade students. We highly recommend this program. If you are not able to make the trip the online class is a must on it own. The interactive class kept the children engaged and entertained the whole time.
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Mr. Ben Porkolab along with intern Jacob did an online zoom meet with the Tidioute Community Charter school's 4th grade class this past Thursday. The children got to learn about the history of the elk at Benezette and wildlife conservation. Mr. Porkolab has set up a great way to teach children not with just an interactive online meet but also with sending a trunk full of on hands items that went along with the class. Our students were so engaged with the information that Jacob was sharing with them as well as with the items in the trunk. There was also handouts that we printed for the students to continue to learn about the elk once the zoom meet was done. I highly recommend this experience of learning about wildlife conservation and the elk to any elementary class or youth groups. We were so happy with this program that we are adding it to our 4th grade curriculum.
Our 6th grade classes really enjoyed the box of Elk items and the presentation done on Friday! The presenters were great! They discussed the history of elk in PA, their adaptations, behaviors and were able to answer all of our questions! This is a great interactive program!
The educational session far exceeded our expectations. They shipped an entire box of items for hands on learning during the educational zoom session. The Speaker, Hunter, was very informative and engaging with the students!
My sportsmen elective pe classes loved this virtual field trip. The group sends an elk trunk before the presentation so even though it is over zoom, students can touch skulls, antlers, a hide, etc. Presenters are very knowledgeable! I highly recommend it.
The Crawford County Sportsmen’s Council Inc. holds an annual Youth Conservation Camp. This year on August 10th 2023, Council took a small group of campers (ages 11-16) to the Keystone Elk Country Alliance Visitor Center.
Part of Council’s mission and vision mirrors KECA’s mission – to promote youth involvement in outdoor activities and promote and preserve the conservation of our natural resources and environmental stewardship.
Ben, Hunter and Jeff were so cordial and hosted our group with professionalism and exemplary educational expertise. The campers already knew that elk were a reintroduced species of wildlife to our Commonwealth, extirpated from our landscape many years ago.
The campers left the center exuberant and excited based on the sessions the staff provided. The campers are ready to use their leadership skills and knowledge to protect and preserve the future of our Commonwealth’s natural resources. Our youth are our future. The mentoring skills of the staff certainly touched our future while they worked with the campers.
A kudos to the center and staff and a sincere thank-you for their time spent with our campers. I would highly recommend anyone involved with youth, to partake of the center’s educational opportunities.
Bob Schoenfeldt, President of the Crawford County Sportsmen's Council Inc.
Ben and his team provided a fantastic distance learning program that my students thoroughly enjoyed. The elk trunk for hands on learning was extremely engaging and the lesson was easy for learner to understand and generalize that conservation of our resources, including animals, is key!
The Keystone Elk Country Alliance was awesome! My 4th graders were so interested and were blown away by the hands on materials!
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Keystone Elk Country Alliance provided us a great presentation to our four 4th grade classes. Even through Zoom, Mr. Ben kept our kids entertained and interested the whole time. This group was so easy to work with, and the kids loved it. The best part was the box of materials they sent. The kids were in awe with the actual skull, pelt, and antlers that were provided.
My first grade class, along with two other first grade classes, attended the Elk Visitor Center for our grade level field trip. Ben and his team did a wonderful job communicating our itinerary with us prior to our field trip. The students had a chance to rotate between different learning stations which were interactive, informative, and age appropriate. They were very patient and enthusiastic working with our students, and were great at answering their questions throughout the day. The students were excited and even said they wanted to go back. We loved the visitor center and all those who made our field trip a memorable experience!
We have attended the Elk Visitor's Center field trip experience two years in a row. I believe we want to continue this experience for years to come! The staff and facilities are beyond our expectations and give our students an excellent and memorable field trip. I would recommend this field trip to all school districts looking for an excellent outdoor learning experience. Great Staff, Great Lessons, and Great Memories!!
This is the second year we have the zoom lessons in our classroom and Elk Truck hands on supplies. The zoom instructors have been very engaging and informative. Very knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions from the students. The hand on materials in the trunk are very good for my 6th graders. I also did one of the lessons on 'Elk talking' and it was good for my students. The other pages also are interactive for my students as well. Over-all it fits into Human conservation and how we are to take care of our environment and world and so goes into depth for one specific species which I am able to relate to other parts of our environment.
Thanks,
Don Brubaker, 6th Grade Science teacher, Lincoln Middle School, Lancaster, PA
I am currently a student teacher and I had the pleasure of having both Hunter and Dan present to my 7th grade students over zoom. We also got a trunk of artifacts which was super awesome, like a field trip came to us! The zoom presentation was engaging for both teachers and students in the room and fit seamlessly into our evolution unit as they talked about ancestry and similarities and bone structure between elk and deer!
As a cub scout leader I loved being able to have this opportunity. Both my cub scouts and a group of boy scouts from my pack had the awesome opportunity to enjoy a presentation put on by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. Setting up the distant learning opportunity was easy and the education director was very accommodating to our needs in regards of times in the evenings we would need. The presenter was very knowledgeable and great with the kids in the group from 1st graders to teenagers. The box of items that were sent out prior to the event for kids to get a hands on feel for such things as Elk hide and antlers was awesome and really kept the kids involved. I couldn't have been happier with the presentation and would recommend reaching out to them for any educational needs. I will definitely set this up again down the road!
Joshua B.
I had the opportunity to take a large group of students from the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys to the Elk Visitor Center over the summer. The students had an amazing time, were so engaged, and did not want to leave. I had a wide age group of students, and each and every one of them enjoyed themselves and learned something new. Ben and his crew did an amazing job at accommodating the wide age group and presenting something that every student connected too. My staff, alongside myself, learned so much and were not ready to leave when the bus arrived. I am so excited to hopefully continue to work visits to the Elk Visitor Center into our summer program!
I wanted to thank the Keystone Elk Country Alliance program for the engaging presentation at Franklin Regional Intermediate School. Attached are some of the pictures from our students' experience. The students highly enjoyed this program and it has allowed for deeper investigation and discussion about animals, adaptations, bone design and function as well as using math skills for measurement and comparison.
Since the initial presentation, multiple students have brought in animal skulls and bones from home. This intense student interest will naturally lead into their lessons later in the year when they learn about the human body/skeletal system where they will see the connections of types of bones and bone/joint function in animals and humans.
Thank you and never hesitate to visit us here at the Intermediate building.
Rob Buffone
Franklin Regional School District
Intermediate School Principal
Our 2nd Grade classroom recently participated in KECA's amazing Distance Learning experience. We were sent a trunk of hands-on items to explore and a binder of resources to use in the classroom. The lessons were engaging and aligned to our Pa State Standards. Thank you to Mr. Ben Porkolab "Mr.P" for joining us over Zoom in Connellsville, Pa! We could feel your excitement coming through the computer! Thank you to KECA's education team and generous sponsors for helping to bring this awareness into the classroom.
Our third Grade classroom recently had a virtual visit to the Elk County Alliance. The students truly enjoyed the presentation. They were excited to hear about the elk and loved engaging in the interactive presentation. The elk truck provided a hands on approach to learn how amazing the elk are in Pennsylvania and the historical information presented showed how they became the largest wild elk herd in northeastern Unites States. My students could not stop talking about it. This presentation enhanced what the students were learning in Science about animals and their habitats. The presenter did a great job. It was well organized and an informative lesson. Thank you Ben.
Our fourth graders recently had the great opportunity to participate in the Keystone Elk Country Alliance distance learning session. Ben was wonderful in accommodating our large group and coordinating the times for our sessions. He replied to emails promptly and had the materials sent to our school prior to our session. We were impressed with our guide, Hunter! Even with a large group, he engaged the students in an interactive lesson. His enthusiasm, knowledge, and "antics" made the presentation very interesting and enjoyable. The students loved the materials that were sent for viewing after the presentation. We created a little museum with the bones, antlers, and hide. The children were amazed by the size comparisons! We appreciate the trust Ben had in us to send the materials to our school and the communication we received regarding their return. We thoroughly enjoyed the program and would highly recommend it!
Our three third grade classes recently had a virtual visit to the Elk Country Visitors Center. The presentation was so organized and moved smoothly through all of the content. The students learned a lot about the elk in our state. Many of them will not have the opportunity to visit the center in person, so this was a wonderful learning opportunity for them. The icing on the cake was the elk trunk. Our students were so excited to see everything they learned about in the video in person. I can't recommend this program enough!
Ben and Hunter did a great job putting together a program for our envirothon team and gifted students (grades 9-12). The students experienced a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities as well as hands-on learning. Ben and Hunter were very knowledgeable and had a great rapport with our students. Several students commented that it was the best field trip they had ever been on.
We were able take our 5th grade students from Clarion Elementary for this experience at the Elk Visitor Center. Ben and his staff led us through some elk basics, Oh Elk outdoor activity and we finished with the entertaining 4D experience. All the programs were first rate and the students loved them! The building across from the visitor center was perfect for us to enjoy our lunches. Our students got to see an elk,and they really had the perfect day to be in Elk Country. Thank you!
Our first grade classes have been visiting the Elk Country Visitor Center for 8 years. While at the center, our students are provided with a wide variety of interactive educational exhibits, nature trail walks, and a 4-D sensory theater about Pennsylvania's elk history which aligns with our current curriculum. The staff at the Center are very friendly and knowledgeable. The information is presented to the students in a manner that the students are able to understand.
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This is the third year that we have taken our first grade students to the Elk County Visitor Center for our field trip. The facility is beautiful! The program presented to our students is terrific! The staff presents the material in a professional manner. The students love to go on the nature walk, see the various reptiles, learn about the elk, and enjoy the movie that is provided.
My name is Amy Goodman and I am a First Grade Teacher at Smethport Elementary School in Smethport, PA. Yesterday, three of our First Grade classrooms visited the Elk Country Viewing Center for our field trip. Ben and his assistants did a phenomenal job planning and creating hands-on rotations for our students to participate in during the day. Students were fully engaged and excited to learn about animal adaptations, reptiles native to PA and of course, Elk! This was our second year visiting the Elk Center and they were able to offer new programs from the previous year. Feedback from the students was very enthusiastic, while many stated, "BEST DAY EVER!". We are already looking forward to next year's field trip!!
I was very fortunate to visit this center with the teacher's from my school district. I was amazed at how much I learned about Elk and the way that elk interact with our environment. This is a beautiful place. A place where children and adults can learn about animals and their environments. As we struggle with climate change and other factors that are drastically changing our world , it is nice to see places that are trying to combat these changes and help others learn to do this as well. Keystone Elk Country Alliance provides a great hands on learning adventure.
Ben and his team provided a great learning experience for our faculty and staff. The programs gave great insight on the history of the PA Elk herd and also detailed conservation and habitat information. This was by far one of the most productive and enjoyable Act 80 days that I have been involved in during my 29 years as an educator. I have no doubt that our faculty and staff will bring new educational opportunities to the classroom through their distance learning programs and field trips. Our students will certainly benefit from this educational partnership.
Michael Zinobile
Superintendent, Juniata Valley School District
I am a fourth grade teacher in DuBois, PA. My students take a yearly field trip to the Elk Center as part of our Social Studies curriculum for PA history. We spend about two weeks learning about the elk, researching some history about the elk and watching the live camera throughout the day. When the "BIG DAY" finally arrives, my students are so thrilled to make the trip to the Elk Center. They are filled with questions and are actively listening to the information that is presented to them throughout the day. My students love to see the actual size of the elk, as well as the many other animals native to Pennsylvania throughout the day. Their favorite part is the movie theater. The encompassing screen and surround sound makes them feel like they are a part of the outdoor environment, and that the elk are right beside them! The students also love the interactive games and learning about the elk and the resources that surround them. The hands on learning experience at the Elk Center is the best way to get students excited about learning! I would highly recommend this educational trip for any student!
Keystone Elk Country Alliance was kind enough to welcome my 4th grade class to their facility. They were all so welcoming, and kept the kids engaged throughout the whole time! I would definitely recommend any one to visit Keystone Elk Country Alliance.
I am a 4th grade teacher, and each year our district sends all 4th graders to the Elk Center to learn about this amazing addition to our states wildlife management program. Ben Porkolab, Conservation Education Coordinator, and his team from the Keystone Elk Country Alliance do an amazing job taking care our students while educating them on all things Elk! The rotations are well planned, engaging, and students are intrigued throughout the learning process. We appreciate the care and effort they put into educating our students, and look forward to our trip each year with a new group. This program is fantastic and highly recommended!
My class of 1st grade students in Florida got to participate in the Distance Ed program that KECA offers to teachers completely free of charge. This is the third year I have utilized the program, and every year it gets better and better! Working with the KECA staff to have the box of materials shipped to my school and then returned to them was so simple and again... FREE! My students were so engaged in the Zoom presentation and the presenter did a fantastic job sharing the information, while also tailoring it to the developmental level of 1st graders. The buzz in my classroom was infectious the day we got to take all of the items out of the box and explore them hands on. They could not wait to show myself and their friends what they were looking at and couldn't get enough information on the elk population. KECA also includes learning materials specific to multiple grade levels/standards in the box for teachers to utilize. We had done some research on conservation, elk, and watched some videos the week prior, so the Zoom presentation and elk box exploration was the perfect culminating experience for my students! I'm so happy that I can bring the excitement and wonder of elk country to my students all the way in sunny Florida! Thank you for all that you do!
My 8th graders did a Zoom lesson on Elk Conservation. They were very engaged and asked wonderful questions. The presenters were knowledgable and engaging. It was a fun way to teach my students where they didn't even realize they were learning.
What a near virtual field trip! We did this program for an urban district's afterschool program. The kids loved the hands-on nature of the lesson and had tons of questions. The Elk Center's educators were very knowledgeable and great presenters. Their internet was strong and the green-screen style of slides made it seem like we were right there! Definitely recommend this program.
The Elk Visitor Center is an amazing field trip for our kindergarten students. The staff are friendly, very-well organized, and extremely patient with young learners. There are many hands-on activities at the center and the interpreters are very knowledgeable. We have chosen this site for our annual field trip many, many years because of our wonderful experiences. Thank you for another fantastic field trip!
Every year we are fortunate to be a part of the outreach provided by Keystone Elk Country Alliance. They continue to offer a unique hands-on experience to our students in Florida. They ship a trunk, free of charge, prior to the event which contains materials that compare our Florida native deer to the elk in PA. As the presenter provides information via ZOOM, our students are engaged with the trunk contents. The students are able to make connections based on the wealth of information provided. We always look forward to this opportunity to extend our learning about vertebrate animals.
My fourth graders loved Mr. Ben's presentation. Technology allows our classroom to connect with KECA and learn about the elk living in our state! The Elk Trunk contents help to bring his information to life for the students. When a traditional field trip is not possible, KECA works hard to make it as real as possible.
I look forward to this special presentation every year!
Our 4th graders love getting a chance to learn about Elk! Even though we have to have our presentation via ZOOM, our students love having an expert teach them new things! They love that they send a box of items called the "Elk Trunk" so that they can still interact and see what they are learning about. The folks at Keystone Elk Country Alliance are so easy to work with! We have worked with them for 5 or more years, and we are never let down! They are so professional, knowledgeable, and great with the kids! This is something the fourth grade teachers look forward to each year!
The Elk Country Alliance has been providing my 4th grade students with an AMAZING presentation about elk in Pennsylvania for the past six or seven years! The Elk Alliance sends a box full of items, such as an elk skull and elk hide, to use in conjunction with the Zoom lesson they provide to our students. The program is all free and a terrific learning experience for the children of our community! I highly recommend you check this program out especially if you are a teacher!
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The Keystone Elk Country Alliance has provided an absolutely amazing program to my fourth grade students for the past several years! My students have been able to learn about the history of elk in Pennsylvania, as well as recognize the comparisons between a deer and an elk through a Zoom (prior that this year Skype) lesson. The alliance even sends a box of hands-on materials, including an elk hide, for the students to be able to see/touch in person during the lesson! The fourth grade students at Mill Hall Elementary have loved it year after year!
For the past 2 years, the sixth graders at my school have been privileged to have lessons presented by Mr. Porkolab and Mr. Wheeler. Prior to the lesson, I was able to communicate the topics that I was teaching, and the lesson they presented enhanced the learning of my students. The lessons have been engaging to my students as they are both informative and interactive.
- Pam Armanini, 6th grade science teacher at St. Marys Area Middle School
This program was very engaging, fun, and educational. My students continued to ask questions and talk about the program, even after the conclusion. At basketball practice the same evening, I had parents thanking me for bringing the program to the school. They said it was great seeing their children light up with excitement of what they learned.
My students and I were lucky enough to experience the virtual lesson presented by Mr. Ben. The presentation was not only engaging for students (and me!), but presented interesting facts that caused students to want to learn more!
If the presentation wasn't enough.....then came the box! The students "oohed and aahed" when they were able to not only see, but touch antlers, bones, pelts, and more.
I would highly recommend this program for students of all ages!
My Second Graders were lucky enough to experience the virtual elk program, and they couldn't stop talking about it! Not only was it incredibly informative, but the presenter was engaging and sparked excellent conversations in my classroom. Both the presentation and the accompanying trunk were well-organized and age-appropriate. I loved that even though we're about 3.5 hours away from the center, my students were able to still have the ability to learn about this fascinating part of their state's history. I would absolutely continue to host the program in coming years should the virtual option remain available!
I am a teacher in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and this was the second year our classes were able to be a part of the KECA's virtual field trip. The third-grade classes at my school were able to experience a very interesting presentation from Ben and Russ. My students' interest was peaked before the presentation even began when they were able to touch the deer and elk artifacts from the trunk. Both presenters grabbed my students' attention from the start, were engaging, and knew exactly how to maintain the interest and involvement of eight and nine-year-olds. Students even had a chance to ask questions at the end of the presentation. Keep up the great work educating ALL of us!
We found out about this program from a teacher. This program is such a great way to teach compare and contrasting! The students were involved and engaged. Elk Country sends a huge trunk of real artifacts for kids to touch and see. They presented to us via zoom and WE LOVED IT. Thank you- 3rd Grade Shamona Creek Chester County PA
My name is Garett Thomas, I am a teacher at Cambria Heights Elementary school. I teamed up with Mr. Olenchick in the library for a lesson for a 4th grade science lesson. We contacted the Keystone Elk Country Alliance for help. Ben and Russ did a wonderful job with their remote lesson on all aspects of our elk here in Pennsylvania. The kids learned a lot and they especially loved the trunk that had real artifacts of PA elk and deer.
I had a great experience working with Ben! We had 25 kids from my local homeschool group show up to learn all about elk. I'm not typically a fan of Zoom, but the fact they ship a trunk full of antlers, pelts, and bones, makes the whole presentation very fun and hands on. We really enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot! Getting the trunk and mailing it back couldn't have been easier. They do all the work and make it seamless. I highly recommend!
The Keystone Elk Country Alliance has taught my 4th graders so much! For the past 2 years, they have provided us with a "Virtual Field" trip to Elk County and their center. Both guides we've had were wonderful! The information goes perfectly with our 4th-grade science curriculum. Vocabulary is reinforced and students are engaged in learning for about 45 minutes. They send a "trunk" that includes an actual elk pelt, skull, and antlers of both elk and deer for comparison. My students enjoyed this experience very much and it was provided for us at no cost, not even for shipping! I will hopefully share this experience with my students for years to come!
This organization is wonderful! My students (Rockwood FFA) love the presentation that they put on for elk and having the elk trunk sent to our school. They are very willing to work with us and are a fantastic resource.
Thanks to Ben and the Keystone Elk Country Alliance for sharing the distance learning opportunity about the Pennsylvania Elk herd with our 5th grade classes here at Holiday Park Elementary School in Plum, PA. Only a handful of our students have been to the visitor center in Benezette and/or have seen the elk. Thanks to you, all of our students have been able to experience the elk and will hopefully talk their parents into taking them to Elk County to see them up close and personal. Being a native of Weedville and a property owner in Benezette, I take for granted what a wonderful resource we have in the elk herd and what a beautiful place I had the opportunity to grow up in. Can't wait until next year when our incoming 5th graders will get to experience this learning event.
My name is Alyssa Toy, and I am a first grade teacher at South Buffalo Elementary School. This is the second year I have reached out to Ben at KECA about scheduling a virtual program for my students. Last year, I was so impressed with how organized Ben was. He spent time asking me about my class to create the perfect program for my 6 and 7 year old students. This year, I was equally impressed. Hunter presented our virtual program and was amazing! He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and engaging. My students learned so much and really enjoyed getting to learn hands on with the artifacts that were shipped directly to our school prior to our program. I would highly recommend this program and KECA! Thank you Ben and Hunter!
The Keystone Elk County Alliance shared three distance learning activities with my classrooms today. Ben presented a meaningful and interesting view of the Pennsylvania Elk to 75 Grade 5 students.They loved it! I appreciate the opportunity to bring the awesome natural resource to the students that live in a suburban/urban environment. We have shared the program previously and have inspired a few families to take a drive with their children.
I take my 9th grade biology classes to the Elk Center every school year.
Ben and the staff set up learning stations for each of my groups. I like to schedule the visit during the one week of the Pennsylvania Elk hunting season. The center is a checkpoint for the elk harvest. This has been a great part of the trip every year because my students get to see the wildlife biologists at work weighing, measuring, inspecting, and taking samples from the elk that are brought in. The students are able to talk directly to the biologists as they work. The other stations include the 4D movie, which is very good, and things such as radio telemetry, antler scoring, history of PA elk, and ecology.
The staff goes above and beyond every year to meet the needs of my students. Even if you are not planning to take a group, please visit this center! It is well worth the trip.
We recently(10/18/21) took a class field trip to the Elk Country Visitor Center and attended a program facilitated by the Keystone Elk Country Alliance and I don't have enough positive words to say about it! Mr. Ben was great to work with and Mr. Russ and Mr. Ben were very knowledgeable and patient with the students. They broke out students into 3 groups and had 3 different activities planned for the students to participate in. It was interactive, hands on and engaging. I would recommend the program to any colleague or friend that wanted to experience or learn more able Elk country!
We brought a large group of 12th grade Environmental Science Students up to Benezette on September 20th. So many, in fact, that we had to bring two buses to get them all there. The KECA staff did a magnificent job of accommodating the large group and designing activities that kept students of all ability-levels engaged. The visitor center is a great place to learn new things any time of the year, but there's nothing like being there in early fall. Many students got to see their first elk and hear bugling right on the visitor center grounds. The staff is great, the kids love this field trip, and we look forward to returning next fall.
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I've been taking my 12th grade Environmental Science students to the Elk Country Visitor's Center for the past five school years. The Keystone Elk Country Alliance staff consistently provide informative and age-appropriate activities for our students. From a teacher's perspective, Ben Porkolab is easy to work with, the topics covered align with state standards, and the balance between learning and fun is perfectly struck. Ben's background in education ensures a cohesive and well-run experience. We just had our students up to Benezette last week(as our district was not approving field trips last fall) and we are already planning on returning in the fall!
I had the privilege to chaperone a field trip hosted by Ben and Russ from the Keystone Elk Country Alliance. This field trip was to the Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette, PA. High School students attended this field trip. During the 4 hours with our hosts, students had the opportunity to learn about the elk, their habitat, and local wildlife in and around Elk County. Students engaged in hands on activities including measuring antlers, going on a nature walk, exploring the visitor center, participating in an escape room activity, and watching a 4D movie. Both Ben and Russ were knowledgeable and engaging. I would highly recommend taking students (of all ages) to the Elk County visitor center and participate in the Keystone Elk Country Alliance presentations.
Our 3rd grade has been attending The Elk Visitor's Center for many years now as our grade level field trip. This has been an outstanding field trip! Students are introduced to many activities in and around the visitors' center involving topics from elk, predators/prey, herbivore/carnivore/omnivore, food chains, reptiles and birds in our area, and etc. The students thoroughly enjoy the hands-on experiences of touching animal pelts, antlers, and taxidermized animals. Most of our students have not had these types of experiences. The center accommodates 3-4 of our classrooms with rotating centers, a place to eat our packed lunches out of the weather, and hands-on activities to make an excellent field trip experience for everyone. I would encourage anyone who enjoys the outdoors and/or wildlife and wildlife conservation to explore the Elk Visitors' Center in Benezette, PA.
Keystone Elk Country Alliance (KECA) offers distance learning that is second to none!
A teacher at Mercer Elementary, KECA has taught a virtual lesson to our entire 4th grade each May for many years. The students look forward to this and are excited to learn about PA wildlife.
Not only does KECA ship a large box of hands-on elk products, visuals, and a binder of lessons...they also deliver an excellent science lesson on elk, the environment, and so much more.
Following a knowledgeable and engaging lesson, students get to ask questions of the experts.
I would highly recommend KECA to every school at any age level.
Marshall Nych
Mercer Area School District
The Keystone Elk Country Alliance has been a one-of-a-kind experience for our students at Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School. They tailored their presentation to connect the ecosystem where we live in Florida and how it relates to the Pennsylvania environment where elk live. Their friendly staff were engaging throughout their enhanced greenscreen technology presentation using the hands-on elk/deer artifacts that were sent in the mail. The process to borrow these items was so easy and organized. By being able to see and touch the items as the presenter talked about them made the presentation more powerful. The students were able to compare deer and elk, learn about the history of elk, realize the important role conservation plays to protect the species, and how collecting data relates to real-world problem solving. It was clear that Ben and Russell have a passion for education and a desire to educate and motivate students.
I am a teacher in Edina, Minnesota. Due to being quarantined at home we were not able to take advantage of the hands on artifacts, but experience the presentation only virtually. It was fantastic! We had 41 2nd -5th graders on the call and the presenters did a wonderful job keeping the kiddos engaged. Thank you for a wonderfule presentation!
As a Third Grade Teacher at Dassa McKinney Elementary School, I fully recommend other educators reach out to the KECA and check out the programs available for their students. Ben Porkolab recently connected with my class in a live virtual setting to teach my students science content related to the Elk in Pennsylvania. His experience as a teacher shined through, as he kept the students engaged and interested the whole session. The program aligns with state standards and correlated well with our classroom lessons. Along with his virtual meet with us, the center also sent a trunk of artifacts for the students to explore and get a hands on opportunity to learn from. Students, teachers, and administrators loved this presentation! I look forward to working with KECA again in the future!
Amanda Negley
3rd Grade Teacher
Dassa McKinney Elementary School
Hello....My name is Brian Marchese and I am a 3rd grade teacher at Pocono Mountain School District. I team teach with Mathew Loringer. The Keystone Elk County Alliance distance Learning is awesome! Ben Porkolab and staff do a wonderful job. They send a trunk with Elk materials and the live online presentation is excellent. It was one of our favorite activities of the year. They go out of their way to make things work and they have an incredible presentation. I can't say enough about this organization. I would recommend this to anyone in education. Just fantastic!!!
My name is Don Bickford and I am Managing Director of Cameron County Outdoor Youth Activities, a registered 501 (c) 3, non-profit. We feel that we have done much since we started on this project in January 2011. We also recognize the work ahead of us to achieve our goal to provide our area youth the opportunity and education to become more aware of the outdoor lifestyle and the benefits this can bring to them in their lives and personal growth. In return, we feel we will inspire our youth to carry on and help support our program as they become productive adults, leaders in our communities and practice good conservation measures to become good stewards of our outdoor world. We accomplish our goals by partnering with several area conservation and like-minded organizations with our largest partner being the Cameron County School District. We have also partnered with Keystone Elk Country Alliance and utilized the resources available at the Elk Country Visitor Center. The Staff and Management are some of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to conservation. They are also the most passionate people I know when it comes sharing their knowledge with others, especially the youth. I am also an advisor to Cameron County High School Outdoor Club. One of our favorite annual field trips is an evening spent elk viewing during the rut, with a final destination being the Elk Country Visitor Center. There we leave time for students to visit the Center, take in the 4D movie and take advantage of touring the grounds looking for elk. We also partner with Cameron County Recreation Center. In June 2020 we took 24 youth on a bus trip to Elk Country Visitor Center to attend their 2nd annual Youth Elk Camp. It was an amazing and educational day for all the young people that attended. Students rotated through educational stations that included, camp/mapping, animal track molds, decorating tree cookies, antler/shed hunting and watching the 4D Elk movie. We are working now on organizing another field trip with Cameron County Students to this year’s Elk Camp. CCOYA has also taken advantage of borrowing the Elk Trunk for some of our special events that adds a great opportunity for hands on Elk Education. CCOYA is also very involved in the Eastern Chapter Wild Sheep Foundation that each year holds a Hunting and Fishing Expo in Lancaster Pa. At this venue CCOYA helps coordination a one day Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE). At this event the youth are exposed to archery, air rifles, trapping, wildlife identification, hands on crafts as they rotate through many education stations throughout the day. KECA has now also become a partner at this event as an outreach program for Elk education. Unfortunately this event did not take place in 2021 due to Covid-19 but we are all looking forward to participating in the 2022 event. I encourage anyone, especially those in education if you have not already taken advantage of KECA and the Elk Country Visitor Center to contact them now to see how they can help you. Do not let logistics be an issue for you. Their Distance learning program is beyond compare and hundreds of educators have taken advantage of this program in their classrooms. Thank You Keystone Elk Country Alliance, Management, Staff and volunteers for providing this opportunity.
Each year our High School's Outdoor Club visits the Elk Country Alliance Visitor Center- Which is always a great experience. This year, we were unable to visit in person, but I immediately thought of KECA when I was asked to organize a presentation for Outdoor Careers.
Ben prepared and coordinated other presenters for an awesome "Careers in the Outdoors" presentation for our students. He organized it all for us- All we had to do was log on and enjoy the engaging virtual presentations from Ben and a couple of other professionals from our area that Ben had contacted. It was great working with KECA on this project.
Ben and Russell hosted three distance learning program for our residents here in Gerry, NY for Heritage Ministries.The programs were so educational and fun to participant in and the Elk Trunk was outstanding! Ben and Russell talked to the residents while asking and answering questions for everyone. It was a hit with all. I can not thank the Keystone Elk Country Alliance for such a wonderful program and being able to show a bit of Benezette and the Majestic Elk Herd to us.
Have had the distinct privilege of being part of KECA since its inception. It has been nothing short of amazing to watch the ongoing and unwavering growth of this unique organization and its absolute commitment to its Mission. The dedication of staff and army of volunteers is second to none! Watching the ever increasing visitation at the Visitor Center and the steady growth of education outreach to children and adults is very encouraging as to the long term success of our Mission to "Conserve and Enhance Pennsylvania's Elk Country for Future Generations".
KECA provides unique elk and other wildlife viewing opportunities like no one else. Horse-drawn wagon rides allow the public to experience free-ranging elk in their world while creating memories that last a lifetime.
The Keystone Elk Country Alliance has been extremely beneficial in helping bring conservation awareness to my students. I have worked with this organization since 2019 with my kindergarten students and also my third grade students. We have been so fortunate to be able to participate in not only the educational, live lessons online while we are in Minnesota but also we have been able to use the hands-on pieces that were sent to us. The connections the kids made with their learning has been fantastic, not only during the hands-on portion but also the connections they make in other lessons that we do. How fortunate we are that we can bring this amazing learning from Pennsylvania to Minnesota and have the staff relate their knowledge by bringing in the elk that we have in Minnesota into the conversation. Great connections and a great resource!
My wife and I first attended a KECA banquet 8 years ago. Not knowing what to anticipate, we assumed it would be similar to gun drawings that we had attended in the past. It quickly became evident that KECA was much different than any non-profit organization that we had previously come in contact with and we immediately fell in love with their mission.
Today, my wife and I, along with our daughter, are all volunteers for KECA and committee members of the Ah'tic Chapter. Like us, our daughter has also fallen in love with KECA and everything that it stands for. We are proud to be a part of this amazing organization and we hope to see you all in Elk Country!
My wife and I have been KECA members for several years - as a matter of fact, since our honeymoon in the Pennsylvania Wilds in 2015. Since our honeymoon, we've volunteered at the Visitor Center a number of times, joined a local chapter, helped put on banquets and enjoy the area so much that we recently built a rustic cabin not far from Benezette.
KECA is clearly a very well-managed and disciplined nonprofit with a dedication to conservation, habitat improvement and education and the Elk Country Visitor Center on Winslow Hill is at the center of KECA activities. The Visitor Center is one of the most frequently visited sites in Pennsylvania, and for good reason. It's a beautiful facility just outside the village of Benezette with wonderful, interactive educational opportunities for children and adults alike. In addition to the numerous educational displays on Pennsylvania wildlife, habitat and other conservation-related topics, there's a theater, a well-stocked gift shop and all the facilities a family might need after a long drive to the Pennsylvania Wilds.
The grounds around the Visitor Center are exceptionally well maintained and include trails with designated areas for viewing wildlife, especially wild elk. For those wanting an opportunity to view the elk "up close and personal" and take some incredible photos, get on the list for a wagon ride through the fields adjacent to the Visitor Center - it's an experience you'll not soon forget, especially in the Fall when the rut is on. The forest rings with the sound of bugling bulls and the occasional clash of antlers as the bulls vie for the right to earn the affections of the ladies.
If you haven't already done so, visit the Pennsylvania Wilds and Keystone Elk Country, but be sure to visit the KECA Visitor Center, view the new movie and enjoy the scenery, the fresh air, our wildlife, but most of all, our elk.
In the past 5 or 6 years, I have had the opportunity to get to know this organization. From the start, I found them to be a very professional organization. They are well organized and well led by people who are passionate about their mission of helping the local wildlife, the local citizens, and the general wellbeing of the ecosystem.
This organization has served as a motivator for hundreds if not thousands of people to be more conscious of their surroundings and to take an active role in managing and improving the natural resources we have inherited.
I am very proud to be a part of this organization, and look forward to continued involvement with them.
The Keystone Elk Country Alliance is a vital resource in so many ways. Their role as environmental educators has really expanded since they started and they reach everyone from kids to seniors. Their educators are top notch, cover a wide range of topics, and they also have fantastic educational resources on site. They support the Pennsylvania Game Commission's elk management program in many ways and support the local community by attracting visitors from around the world. They do great work all around!
I am a natural resource professional and educator that has used KECA extensively for years to help educate my students, continue my own education, make professional contacts, and as a source of entertainment for family and friends for years! The Elk Country Visitor Center is gorgeous to visit even when there aren't elk bugling in the fields (which is magical) and their staff make all visitors feel welcome. They don't just educate about elk, but about everything from pollinators, recreation, reptiles, and more! There is always something new to see or do and their programs are very high quality. People come from all over to visit the Center, see elk, and learn about the beauty of Central PA.
I started volunteering with Keystone Elk Country Alliance over 8 years ago and I have to say that this organization stands above and beyond any other wildlife and conservation organization that I have ever volunteered with. My entire family has now become involved in both volunteering and attending fundraising events. My son has grown to absolutely love Elk Country and often also helps at the fundraising events as well.
I now have the pleasure of working for this organization and am truly blessed to be able say that I work for such an amazing organization. I am able to share my passion for Elk Country with others as part of my every day routine. For me, the most important part about KECA is the fact that every penny raised by this organization stays in Pennsylvania... there are very few organizations that can make a statement like that! The values and mission of KECA show a long lasting commitment to PA's Elk Country and I know that this organization will continue do as much as they can to enhance every visitors experience and conserve all that they are able for Elk Country.
Wildlife Conservation organization that focuses their efforts on the education of youths and adults both in person and virtually for those geographically able to visit. It is my pleasure to be a part of this success story as KECA grows to be able to expand their work of habitat improvement for all wildlife and permanent land protection.