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THIS WEEK: Feb. 3 to 9, 2017

Bridge the Gap: Ski the McDade Trail, beginner cross-country ski lessons with all equipment provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 4. Free. Registration: 570-828-2319.

WinterFest, wintertime fun including children’s activities, snowshoe demonstrations, warming fire, hot food and beverages. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 4. 570-403-2006.

Fire Building, how to make a fire without matches with techniques involving sparks and found or prepared tinder. Age 10 and older. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 5. $5. 570-828-2319.

Gouldsboro State Park Hike, seven moderate miles on the park trails. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. Feb. 5. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-842-2230.

Cross Country Skiing. Learn the basics of cross-country skiing with all equipment provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 5 and 26. $20, $10 children. Registration: 570-828-2319.

Eagle Watch, a field trip for seniors and retirees through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in search of wintering and resident bald eagles. Includes van transportation with stops along the way including lunch in Milford. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 8. Registration: 570-403-2006.

FUTURE

Eagle Watch, a field trip to the upper Delaware River to search for bald eagles. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10. $32. Pack a lunch and binoculars. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Full Moon Night Hike, a naturalist-led walk to explore nocturnal life under the illumination of the full Snow Moon. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Free. 570-836-3835.

Cross Country Skiing. Learn the basics of cross-country skiing with all equipment provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 11 and 25. $20, $10 children. Registration: 570-828-2319.

Building for the Birds, various kinds of easily built bird houses for cavity nesters. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. Feb. 11. $6. 570-629-3061.

Toboggan Ride or Hike. Slide down the hill at speeds up to 45 mph at Eagles Mere, followed by a five-mile hike. Meet 7:45 a.m. Feb. 12 at the Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. If the toboggan run is closed because of weather conditions, meet at 9:45 a.m. for a moderate seven-mile hike at Eagles Mere. Toboggan hotline: 570-525-3244. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-655-4979.

Winter Ecology Hike, an all-ages trek to observe animal and plant habitats during winter. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 12. $5. 570-828-2319.

Snowshoeing in Nescopeck State Park, with the Greater Wyoming Audubon Society. If you need to borrow snowshoes, reserve them by calling the park at 570-403-2006. 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 1 p.m. Feb. 12. Free but registration required: 570-474-5884.

Bridge the Gap: Intro to Snowshoeing, a winter trek along the McDade Trail to learn the basics of snowshoeing with all equipment provided. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 12. Free. Registration: 570-828-2319.

Winter Wonderland Family Getaway, with cross-country skiing, animal tracking, nature hikes, snow tubing, campfires and more. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Feb. 17 to 20. $225 includes three nights lodging and meals from Friday dinner to Monday lunch. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Sugar Notch Mountain Hike, six moderate miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. Feb. 19. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-735-4359.

The Real Wildlife of Las Vegas: Natural Areas of Southern Nevada and Vicinity, a talk on the Native American culture, geology, plant and animal life and birds of the Las Vegas area. Sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 105 Irem Road, Dallas. 7 p.m. Feb. 20. Free. 570-479-0400.

Who Lives Where? A session on where animals spend their time in winter months along with a search for some of them. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. Feb. 25. $6. 570-629-3061.

Animal Tracking, looking for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks and other signs of animals. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 25. $5. 570-828-2319.

Fuzz 92.1 Cardboard Box Sled Derby. Design and build a cardboard sled and race to the finish line at Montage Mountain, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Scranton. Feb. 26 with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. and race at 10:30 a.m. $30 per team. Details at montagemountainresorts.com.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. Feb. 26. Free. 570-371-3951.

Wild Creek Cove Hike, six moderate miles at Beltzville State Park. Meet at the Sears Automotive Center, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Township. 11:45 a.m. Feb. 26. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a field trip to the refuge in Kleinfeltersville to observe thousands of snow geese and tundra swans along with other waterfowl, songbirds and raptors. Sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at Perkins Restaurant, 50 Route 93, West Hazleton. 8 a.m. March 4. Free but registration required: 570-443-7791.

Sugar Shack Scramble, a hike through the woods to the Two Saps Sugar Shack for cocoa and pancakes with fresh maple syrup. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. March 4 with groups heading out at 9 and 9:30 a.m. $15. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Bruce Lake Natural Area Hike, eight moderate miles at Promised Land State Park. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. March 5. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-806-1754.

Active Adventures: Healthy Hikes, a guided hike on the trails of the Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 5. Free. 570-828-2319.

Tobyhanna State Park Hike, seven moderate miles on the park trails. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 10:45 a.m. March 12. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-842-2230.

Active Adventures, orienteering, an introduction to using a map and compass on the orienteering course at Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. March 12. Free. 570-828-2319.

Full Moon Night Hike, a naturalist-led walk to explore nocturnal life under the illumination of the full moon. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 12. Free. 570-836-3835.

Birding at Frances Slocum, a leisurely walkwith Bruce Troy of Wild Birds Unlimited. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Wyoming. 8:30 a.m. March 18. Free. 570-675-9900.

Active Adventures: Mindfulness, an introduction to techniques to become more focused, less stressed, more communicative and being alert to nature. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10:30 a.m. to noon. March 18. Free. 570-828-2319.

Frank Gantz Trail Hike, 8.5 moderate miles between Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna state parks. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 315 near Oak Street, Dupont. 9:45 a.m. March 19. Bring lunch and water. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-346-8010.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. March 26. Free. 570-371-3951.

Mocanaqua Loop Trail, seven difficult miles. Meet at the Park and Ride, Route 309 near Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre. 11:45 a.m. March 26. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Mushroom Inoculation. Learn how to grow Shiitake mushrooms on wooden logs with a take-home specimen. Endless Mountains Nature Center, 1309 Vosburg Road, Tunkhannock. 10 a.m. April 15. Free. 570-836-3835.

Birding in the Kirby Park Natural Area, sponsored by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the parking lot by the Nesbitt Park boat launch in Wilkes-Barre, accessed via First Avenue. 8 a.m. April 23. Free. 570-371-3951.

There are several opportunities this weekend to take part in an organized hiking event, similar to one these hikers enjoyed with the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club during a previous January.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_trailers.jpg.optimal.jpgThere are several opportunities this weekend to take part in an organized hiking event, similar to one these hikers enjoyed with the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club during a previous January. Times Leader file photo