By Dennis J. Loerch,
President of The Nittany House Foundation
Have you ever heard it said that “Mount Nittany draws people to it”? It’s true. Ask the villagers in Lemont, the residents of Happy Valley or the students and faculty from around the world at Penn State and you will hear the truth. You may also realize that Mount Nittany attracts the best, the brightest and the most diverse people and all of life. There is a reason the mountain lions on Mount Nittany were given their own name.
Two Sundays ago, 188 people came to the Mount Nittany trailhead. They came from 20 different states and 14 nations. Half of the visitors were drawn to Mount Nittany for the first time. For some, it was their very first time visiting the United States.
Since August, I have met and spoken with 1,000 people who were inspired to hike on Mount Nittany. They were old and young. They were from Snow Shoe and Shanghai. In short, the people who come to Mount Nittany are the most diverse group of human beings imaginable. The one quality, label, or “name” I could place on them is simply “best.” Whether they are mothers taking their children for an afternoon walk in the woods, a student from India studying biomedical genetic engineering or a fan from a visiting football team, they all had some things in common. They took the time to take a hike. They weren’t looking at the world through a cell phone. They without a doubt are the most clever and kind group of people I have ever met. Eventually, we will be able to include those who have mobility and a diverse range of challenges which prevent their accessibility.
On Oct. 28, come see for yourself, on the lawn of The Nittany House, aka, the Mount Nittany Trailhead, The Old House, The Last House Up, The Lemont Village Vista, The End of The Road, The Top of the Town, along The Great Western Road.
The Stars and Stripes will fly high on the lawn of The Nittany House. Alongside, smaller state flags will be hung indicating the states represented that day by visitors on the mountain. On the lawn below, visitors will place the flags of the nations from where they are from. We have all 50 U.S. state flags and more than fifty international flags available. For any nations we miss, we are committed to obtaining their flag for the future. An area will also be provided to encourage visitors to bring their own flags representing anything they wish: their school, their group, their family, their football team, any free thought. An endless supply of poles has been provided courtesy of the Mount Nittany bamboo infestation.
Come witness this amazing display of human diversity and also be overwhelmed by the diversity of life that a hike on Mount Nittany has to offer. I know you feel drawn to Mount Nittany, because like it always has, Mount Nittany brings out the best in us, and of us. There is a reason that the native people here before us named it “Nit-a-nee”, “The Single Mountain”.
For accessibility questions please email thenittanyhouse@gmail.com. We may not have the resources, but we do have some clever solutions.
