Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) has announced that Megan Salvatore, visitor services manager at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, has been named Best Activity Leader by Discover Lancaster. The accolade was the first honor presented at Discover Lancaster's first-ever Host Awards event this year. Nearly 500 people were in attendance.

Nominations for a variety of hospitality categories were submitted by attractions, tour operators, and businesses across the county. Salvatore was one of five finalists for Best Activity Leader. Whether Salvatore is preparing for guided paddle trips, teaching fourth-graders about macroinvertebrates, or connecting visitors to outdoor adventures, Salvatore's enthusiasm for sharing the river's resources is evident.

In addition, SNHA has introduced its new heritage partnerships planner, Kara Yost. Yost collaborates with community partners across the region to celebrate and elevate the area's shared heritage through the Heritage Partnerships Program - a growing initiative that offers technical assistance, fosters networking and resource-sharing, and advances inclusive, regionwide interpretation of the nationally significant stories, history, and culture of Lancaster and York counties.

Last year, the program awarded $100,000 in partnership grants to six organizations, supporting preservation, interpretation, and public education projects across the region. SNHA anticipates launching another round of grants next year. SNHA is also planning a networking event to bring the heritage partners together.

For more information, visit https://susqnha.org/what-we-do/partnerships/partner-hub/.