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THIS WEEK: SEPT. 4 to 10, 2009
Labor Day Family Nature Getaway. Enjoy a weekend of hiking, astronomy, canoeing, muckraking, swimming, nature journaling, crafts, orienteering, ecology and bird walks at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Begins tonight at 6 and runs through Labor Day afternoon. $175 includes lodging, meals and programs. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Watres Trail Hike, 7.5-mile loop on this new trail in the Pinchot Trail System. Meet at the Commuter Parking Area, Route 315 and Oak Street, Pittston. Saturday at 9 a.m. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. Free. 388-2338.
Atlatyl Action. Learn about this ancient weapon used by people all over the world, and then try your skill. Campground Amphitheater, Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Saturday at 3 p.m. 696-9105.
The Frances Slocum Story, a living history presentation about the park’s namesake. Campground Amphitheater, Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Saturday at 7 p.m. 696-9105.
Pennsylvania Parks, a slide presentation. Campground Amphitheater, Lackawanna State Park, Route 407, Dalton. Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Free. 343-5144.
Early Morning Bird Walk to seek out warblers, vireos and thrushes. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. Sunday at 8 a.m. Free. Registration: 403-2006.
Watkins Glen Hike, eight moderate miles. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Route 309, Dallas. Sunday at 9 a.m. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 825-7200.
Lenape Ridge Hike, five moderate miles at the Port Jervis site. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 North Blakely St., Dunmore. Sunday at 9:15 a.m. $5. 343-5144.
Salamander Meander, an afternoon searching for these slippery amphibians. Meet below the bird-feeding area. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Sunday at 2 p.m. 696-9105.
Nature Bingo, fast-paced bingo action for the whole family while learning nature facts. Campground Amphitheater, Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Saturday at 7 p.m. 696-9105.
Nature in Transition Walk, a hike with naturalist John Serrao to search for migrating songbirds and other animal life at the Lackawanna Environmental Institute, Moffett Estate, off Route 435 near Moscow. Tuesday at 6 p.m. $3. Registration: 842-1506.
North American Bluebird Society Conference, the 31st annual event with presentations by renowned authors and speakers, displays and demonstrations, entertainment by bluegrass band Crossroads, dinners and receptions, live auction, quilt raffle, vendors, tours and field trips. Holiday Inn, 604 Station Road, Grantville. Wednesday through Sept. 13. $40 per day; $60 for five days. 717-695-0700 or thebsp.org.
Cranberry Bog Walk, a guided walk to explore the habitat of the Tannersville bog, which includes orchids and insect-eating plants. Meet at the Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Wednesday at 10 a.m. $4. Registration: 629-3061.
Hickory Run Hike, six miles along the Stage, Fourth Run, Stone and Boulder Field trails at Hickory Run State Park, Route 534, White Haven. Thursday at 9 a.m. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Old Stage Road. 443-0400.
Butterfly Exhibit, a netted greenhouse with 20 species of free-fluttering butterflies among trickling water features and lush flowering plants. Through Oct. 12 at Reptiland, 18628 Route 15, Allenwood. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. after Labor Day. 538-1869 or reptiland.com.
FUTURE
Canoe Trip: Living Lightly on the Land, an introduction to overnight river camping, Leave No Trace practices, basic paddling skills and packing for overnight outings. Equipment available for rent. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Sept. 11 to 13 $200. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Kayaking 101, an introductory session with basic terminology and techniques. Geared toward beginners. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Age 10 and older. Free. Registration: 403-2006.
Hawk Mountain 75th Anniversary Celebration, with live up-close raptor programs, roundtable discussions, living-history demonstrations, book signings and food vendors followed by a barbecue dinner and talks by renowned birding and natural history experts including Jim Brett, Pete Dunne and Scott Weidensaul. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton. Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration: 610-756-6961.
Fall Warblers and Raptors Weekend. Join experienced field leaders on birding trips around the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Sept. 12 and 13. $100 includes lodging, meals and programs. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Mushroom Walk, a leisurely hike with herbalist Nathaniel Whitmore in search of mushrooms. Lackawanna Environmental Institute, Moffat Estate, Route 435, near Moscow. Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. $3. Registration: 842-1506.
Hickory Run Hike, 2.25 miles along the Hawk Falls and Orchard trails at Hickory Run State Park, Route 534, White Haven. Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. Meet at the Hawk Falls parking lot. 443-0400.
Pocono Adventure Weekend, with backcountry camping, mountain biking, hiking and kayaking. Sept. 18 to 20 at Hickory Run and Lehigh Gorge state parks in Carbon County. $150 includes meals, camping and recreation equipment. Registration: 215-453-5015.
Raymondskill Cliff Hike, seven miles from the falls to the top of the cliffs to the town of Milford and back on the McDade Trail. Bring a lunch. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Sept. 19 at 9 a.m. Free. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. 388-2418.
Tuscarora State Park Hike, seven moderate miles with a wire-bridge crossing. Bring boots for a creek crossing, if you don’t want to use the bridge. Meet at the Park and Lock, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. Sept. 20 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 889-5256.
Senior Citizen Outing, a hike of three easy miles at Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca, New York. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 North Blakely St., Dunmore. Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. 343-5144.
National Public Lands Day Park Clean Up. A morning of litter pickup, weeding and other work. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. Registration: 403-2006.
National Public Lands Day Clean Up, a morning of cleaning up the lake shore. Meet at the park office. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to noon. 696-9105.
Wildflower Walk, two easy miles around Lake Scranton to seek out fall flowers, fruits and nuts. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania American Water Company. Meet at the Lake Scranton parking lot, off Route 307. Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. Free. 343-5144.
Fall Foliage Kayak Paddle around the lake at Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Registration required: 696-9105.
Ricketts Glen Hike, 13 difficult miles on the Cherry Run Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park in Red Rock. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Route 309, Dallas. Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 825-7200.
Kayaking Basics for Beginners, an easy paddle around the lake for novices. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Sept. 27, 10 a.m. Registration required: 696-9105.
An Autumn Afternoon on the Water, a leisurely paddle around the lake for kayakers. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. Registration required: 696-9105.
Honey Bees: Tiny Treasures, a session on the life cycle of the honey bee, its critical importance in the ecosystem and why they are in peril. Lackawanna Environmental Institute, Moffat Estate, Route 435, Moscow. Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. $3. Registration: 842-1506.
Columbus Day Family Nature Getaway. Enjoy a weekend of hiking, astronomy, canoeing, muckraking, nature journaling, crafts, orienteering, ecology and bird walks at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Oct. 9 to 12. $175 includes lodging, meals and programs. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Fall Hikers Weekend, three days of autumn hiking through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Pocono Environmental Education Center, off Route 209, Dingmans Ferry. Sept. 16 to 18. $140 includes lodging, meals and programs. Reservations: 828-2319 or peec.org.
Moosic Mountain Hike, a two- to three-hour hike at the Moosic Mountain Nature Conservancy over alpine barrens and lots of rocks. Meet at the Greater Scranton YMCA, 706 N. Blakely St., Dunmore. Sept. 27 at 9:30 a.m. Free. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. 383-0105.
Bark at the Park, the 19th annual fundraiser for the SPCA with two walk routes at Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. Oct. 3. Registration forms at spcaluzernecounty.org or 825-4111.
Frank Gantz Trail Hike, 12 difficult miles. Meet at the Park and Lock, Route 315 and Oak Street, Pittston. Oct. 4 at 9:45 a.m. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 825-7200.
Locust Lake State Park Hike, six moderate miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. Oct. 11 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 889-5256.
Golden Eagle Trail Hike, nine difficult miles. Meet at the Dallas Shopping Center, Route 309, Dallas. Oct. 18 at 8:45 a.m. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 457-0527.
Watres Trail Hike, 6.5 moderate miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315, in Dupont. Oct. 27 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers. 655-4979.
Camouflage and Mimicry: What You See Isn’t What You See! Learn about the fascinating techniques and adaptations animals use to avoid detection with North Branch Land Trust naturalist and WNEP-TV “Pennsylvania Outdoor Life” personality Rick Koval. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. Free. 996-1500.