Outdoors

BEST BET: Ah! Springtime – when the trees are tapped and the maple syrup begins to flow. Ever wonder where that delicious amber liquid comes from? Then head to “The Mystery of Maple Sugaring” at Nescopeck State Park in Drums Saturday for an indoor and outdoor program (Registration: 403-2006). A bit farther out, the Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry offers a Saturday orienteering outing to the Two Saps Sugar Shack followed by maple-topped pancakes and cocoa (see peec.org). And scouts can spend “A Day in the Sugarbush” courtesy of the Monroe County Environmental Education Center near Stroudsburg on Saturday. They’re serving pancakes too! Details at mcconservation.org.

THIS WEEK: MARCH 11 to 17, 2011

Bird Watching Walk to seek out migrating ducks, juncos and bluebirds. Meet at the Russell Hill Church, Route 6, Tunkhannock. Today at 9 a.m. $3. 836-3835.

Fly Fishing Seminar, including talks on equipment, casting, strategy, fly typing, basic entomology and local fishing areas. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. $8. Reservations: 629-3061.

Black and White Photography Tour. Grab your cameras and tour the historic buildings at the Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $15. Reservations: 828-2319.

Tubs Natural Area Hike, six moderate miles. Meet at the Sears Automotive parking lot, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Township. Sunday at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 457-0527.

Family Nature Walk: Wildlife That Moves Us, an outdoor exploration of animal movement to celebrate National Wildlife Week. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. Sunday, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Registration: 828-2319.

Gardening Is for the Birds, a session on attracting birds to your backyard with a variety of bird-loving trees and shrubs. Good Shepherd Church, 87 S. Hunter Highway, Drums. Wednesday, 1 to 2 p.m. $5. Sponsored by the Penn State Extension of Luzerne County. Reservations: 825-1701.

Watersheds and Wildlife of the Pocono Plateau, an illustrated talk showing rare habitats and uncommon plants and animals of the Plateau with naturalist Rick Koval. North Branch Land Trust, 11 Carverton Road, Trucksville. Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m. $5, $2 children. Reservations: 696-5545.

FUTURE

Basic Boating Class, a certification course by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for age 12 and older. Susquehanna Riverlands, 634 Salem Blvd., Berwick. March 19, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration: 866-832-3312.

Amphibian Search for the first sightings of frogs and salamanders. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. March 19, 1 to 3 p.m. $5. Reservations: 828-2319.

Moonrise Walk, a short walk to a scenic overlook to watch the moon rise over the Delaware River Valley. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. March 19, 7 to 9 p.m. Free. 828-2319.

Mocanaqua Loop Trail Hike, seven difficult miles. Meet at the Park & Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. March 20 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 825-7200.

Nature Ramble, a walk through the forest to seek out animal tracks, early blooms, bald eagles and other birds. Camp Lackawanna, Endless Mountains Nature Center, 265 Vosburg Neck Road, Tunkhannock. March 20, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. Registration: 836-3835.

Equinox Extravaganza, orienteering for signs of spring. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. March 20, 1 to 4 p.m. $5. 828-2319.

Whose Track Is That? Hit the trails to identify tracks and signs of local animals at the Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, 10 Moffat Drive, Covington Township. March 22, 5:30 to 7 p.m. $4. Registration: 842-1506.

From Seed to Kitchen, an organic gardening workshop series presented by Penn State Extension Master Gardener Ron Petro. Rock Recreation Center, 340 Carverton Road, Shavertown. Tuesdays from March 22 to April 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. $30. Reservations: 825-1701.

Woodcock Watch, a field trip to the Tannersville Bog to observe the dusk courtship display of the American woodcock. Meet at the Monroe County Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. March 23 at 6:30 p.m. $5. Binoculars suggested. Registration: 629-3061.

Conservation Volunteer Meeting for people interested in volunteering at Nescopeck, Hickory Run or Lehigh Gorge state parks. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. March 23 at 6:30 p.m. Registration: 403-2006.

Apple-Tree Grafting Workshop, with take-home grafted trees. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 1000 Turkey Hill Road, Stroudsburg. March 26, 9 to 11 a.m. $28. Registration (by March 18): 992-6161.

Art in Nature, making all-natural beeswax candles. Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, 10 Moffat Drive, Covington Township. March 26, 9 a.m. to noon. $15. Registration: 842-1506.

Basic Boating Course, a certification course on boating safety. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. March 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $10. Registration: 406-4041.

Montour Preserve Field Trip, sponsored by the Lackawanna Audubon Society. Meet at the park office, 700 Preserve Road, Danville. March 26 at 10 a.m. 759-1322.

Plan Your Garden Day, a discussion on spring gardening tips. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. March 26, 1 to 3 p.m. $5. 828-2319.

Boulder Field Hike, six easy miles. Meet at the Mountain Top Fire House, Route 437. March 27 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 696-3501.

Signs of Spring: Wood Frog Trail Hike, a walk to learn about phenology, the study of the connection between climate and seasonal events. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. March 27, 1 to 3 p.m. Registration: 403-2006.

Sunday for Singles: Waterfalls. Explore the Pocono waterfalls and meet new people. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. March 27, 1 to 4 p.m. $20. Reservations: 828-2319.

Maple Sugar Workshop, the history and methods of maple sugaring including a demonstration and tasting. Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, 10 Moffat Drive, Covington Township. March 29, 5:30 to 7 p.m. $4. Registration: 842-1506.

Spring Waterfall Tour of area waterfalls. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. April 2, 1 to 4 p.m. $20. Reservations: 828-2319.

Bruce Lake Hike, seven moderate miles. Meet at the Park & Ride, Route 315, Dupont. April 3 at 10:45 a.m. Bring a lunch. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 814-2803.

Volunteer Day: Spring Cleaning. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. April 9, 9 a.m. to noon. Snacks provided. 828-2319.

Lackawanna State Forest Hike, seven moderate miles with some bushwhacking. Meet at the First National Bank, Routes 29 and 118, Sweet Valley. April 10 at 11:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 477-2210.

Sunday for Singles. Explore nature and meet new people. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. April 10, 1 to 3 p.m. Free. 828-2319.

Permaculture Gardening, a session on sustainable practices. Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, 10 Moffat Drive, Covington Township. April 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $4. Registration: 842-1506.

Spring Plant Workshop, how to start spring seedlings indoors and propagate houseplants. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 1000 Turkey Hill Road, Stroudsburg. April 16, 9 to 11:30 a.m. $15. Registration (by April 9): 992-6161.

Salamander Egg Search. Explore nearby breeding pools for salamander egg masses and study collected specimens up close. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Brisco Mountain and Emery roads, Dingmans Ferry. April, 16, 1 to 3 p.m. $5. 828-2319.

State Game Lands 57 Hike, nine moderate miles. Meet at the First National Bank, Routes 118 and 29, Sweet Valley. Bring a lunch. April 17 at 10:45 a.m. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 477-2210.

Protecting Your Property with a Conservation Easement, a review of the process with the Lackawanna Valley Conservancy. Lackawanna College Environmental Institute, 10 Moffat Drive, Covington Township. April 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m. $4. Registration: 842-1506.

Do It for the Kids 5K Run, a loop from Wilkes-Barre’s Millennium Circle at the River Common to Kirby Park and back. Sponsored by the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association. April 27 with registration at 5 p.m. and race at 6 p.m. with a Kids Fun Run at 6:05 p.m. Followed by a Post-Race Bash and Happy Hour at Rodano’s, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre. 714-1246.

Spring into Gardening Workshop, an all-day session covering vegetables, garden pests and diseases, native plants, herbs, sustainable lawns, period gardening and new-plant introductions. Also: a plant sale and flea market along with garden-related giveaways. Sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners at the Technology Center, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, off Old Route 115, Lehman. April 30, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 825-1701.

Do It for the Kids Walk-a-Thon, sponsored by the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, 1133 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. April 30 at 10 a.m. Followed by a Family Celebration with children’s activities, games, food and music. 714-1246.

Fight for Air Walk, the annual American Lung Association fundraiser followed by an ice cream social and raffle. King’s College Betzler Fields, Highland Park Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre Township. June 4 at 10 a.m. 823-2212 or lunginfo.org/wbwalk.

Walk to Defeat ALS, a two-mile walk to benefit amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Town Park, off Market Street, Bloomsburg. June 11 with registration at 9 a.m. and walk at 10 a.m. 458-4393.