Updated 01/23/2026 from my home in Centre County, Pennsylvania.
Continuing my Commitment to Community
In 2025, I was elected to a 4-year term as Borough Councilor for Howard Borough. I appreciate the support from my community, every day I feel more thankful for living in my hometown. This year, I’m looking forward to continuing to serve as Refuse & Recycling Chair and working on bringing more awareness to our community about sustainability and continuing to hold our biannual community clean-ups.
Finding Creativity in Nature
In 2025, I started the Bald Eagle Nature Journaling Club at Bald Eagle State Park as part of my commitment to the Pennsylvania Master Naturalists. We are on break until March 2026. I will share the schedule as soon as the Park Educator has approved my plans! I enjoyed the first year of meeting nature journal keepers across the Centre Region.
Celebrating Nature with Poetry
I’m happy to share that my poem, Washerwoman’s Lament, was selected as an Honorable Mention in the October 2025 Bellefonte Art Museum Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. I was able to read this poem at the Annual Poetry Reading at the Bellefonte Art Museum in January 2026.
I am currently working on a manuscript and individual pieces for publication. I’m learning so much about the publication process for poetry and essays. While I do not possess advanced education in the fine arts, the learning process has been deeply rewarding. I feel excited by the potential to ignite a passion for nature in others through the written word.
Finding Alternative Avenues for Education
I completed the training portion of the Certified Access Birding Outing Leader course, taught by Freya McGregor, in October 2025. I’m working on arranging the outing portion of the requirements in Spring 2026.
I’m also working on finishing the Nature Journal Educator Program from the Wild Wonder Foundation. As long as everything progresses according to schedule, I will complete the requirements in 2026 and hold my Nature Journal Educator’s Certificate!
There’s many programs I wish to complete, however, my main goal is to complete the Botanical Art & Illustration Certificate Program with Phipps Conservatory within the next four years. I have a long way to go, and to be honest, I’m enjoying every small step of the journey.
autumn knepp 