Upcoming Events (more reasons to get outside)

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​Salt Springs
 
Saturday, May 18, 8:30 to 10 p.m. - FULL MOON HIKE
Bring a snack to share around a campfire afterwards, a flashlight, and an adventurous spirit. Fee: Free-will donation or nonperishable items for the food bank.

Sunday, May 19, 1 p.m. - KIDS' CLUB INITIAL GATHERING
Do your children enjoy learning by discovery? Do they enjoy being outside, or would you like to introduce them to nature in a fun and safe environment? Join us for more information about making this group work for your family. The meeting will be about an hour and is followed by an archery activity. No fee.
Sunday, May 19, 2 to 4 p.m. - ARCHERY FOR BEGINNERS
We offer a beginner's program based on the National Archery in Schools Program, which makes it easy for anyone to learn. We provide the equipment, and you bring your focus and maybe someone else for a little friendly competition. All ages are welcome. This is a great family activity taught by Diane Hawley-Wurth, a NASP-certified instructor. Fee: $5/person; $15/family. In case of rain, we'll shoot in the upper level of the Dairy Barn.
Saturday, June 1, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, June 2, 8:30 p.m.) - STAR PARTY
Mike and Mary Sinkovich will host this spring party, and this time we hope to see Mars, Jupiter, and maybe Saturn. We begin the evening with a presentation at the Wheaton House. At dusk, we'll move to a field on Salt Springs Road, where viewing is ideal. Bring a cheap flashlight and we'll transform it into a red light with nail polish, and dress for the weather. All levels of stargazers are welcome. Total cloud-out and rain are unpredictable; call the park if the weather looks iffy. Fee: $5; $15 for families; members, free.
Sunday, June 2, 1 to 3 p.m. - CONFETTI QUILT MAKING
Celebrate spring with fabric confetti! Artists in Residence Barbara Merritt and Jayne Stoll will show us how to make a small quilt using fabric scraps. All materials are supplied, and no sewing is required. This is appropriate for adults and kids; children must be accompanied by an adult. Held in the Carriage Barn. No fee.
Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to Noon - ARCHERY FOR BEGINNERS
We offer a beginner's program based on the National Archery in Schools Program, which makes it easy for anyone to learn. We provide the equipment, and you bring your focus and maybe someone else for a little friendly competition. All ages are welcome. This is a great family activity taught by Diane Hawley-Wurth, a NASP-certified instructor. Fee: $5/person; $15/family. In case of rain, we'll shoot in the upper level of the Dairy Barn.


Saturday, June 15, 8:30 to 10 p.m. - FULL MOON HIKE
Join us for a hike. We'll end the evening around a campfire sharing snacks and stories. Meet at the Wheaton House. Fee: Free-will donation or nonperishable items for the local food bank.


Saturday, June 22, 12 to 4 p.m., with an evening campfire (Rain date: Sunday, June 23, same times) - CELEBRATE THE SUMMER SOLSTICE
Come for one or all of the workshops offered. Bring your picnic to the park - blankets or lawn chairs, snacks, food, and drink. Fee: $5; members and kids, free.

•  Summer Sun. Learn about the layers of the sun and safe ways to view the center of our solar system - and make a food model.
  
  1 p.m. Bees and Honey with Jim Perkins. Bees pollinate 33% of our food as well as make honey. The presentation will include discussions, demonstrations, honey samples, and Q&A.
  
  3 p.m. Stream Stomp. Cool off in the creek and find some critters. Learn about macroinvertebrates, aquatic insects, and the ecosystem they support.
  
  Evening campfire Join us for story-telling and a campfire at dusk. Bring snacks to share and revel in the long daylight until the stars come out to shine.

 
 
Rail Trail Council of NEPA
 
Yoga Hike on the D&H Rail-Trail
June 15 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us Saturday June 15th at 9am at Frank’s Place parking lot for one of our favorite events on the trail: Yoga Hike! We will be hiking north on the D&H Rail-Trail and visiting a beautiful section of the Lackawanna River where Tiffany Debish, of Studio Be. Yoga, will lead us in slow, meditative yoga focused on breath awareness and proper alignment. We hope to see you there.
All are welcome to join. Dress appropriately, wear sturdy sneakers or boots, bring water, snacks, use tick and bug spray and sunscreen!
We ask for a $5 donation for Yoga.
Happy Trails!
 
Nature Hike at Ararat
July 6 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join us Saturday July 6th at 9 am as we join Naturalist Jane Frye on an exploration of the natural world in summer. We will meet at the Ararat Trailhead and hike south on the newly improved trail. This part of the D&H Rail-Trail is scattered with marshlands and ponds which are the headwaters of the West Branch of the Lackawanna River. It’s truly one of the many gems of the trail, you don’t want to miss this hike. We will be on the lookout for summer blooms, ferns and explore the habitats around the water and maybe an Eagle!  Bring your thinking caps and lots of questions. Tell your friends and family. We hope to see you there. Wear sturdy shoes; bring water and snacks, bug spray and sun protecting. This hike is rated easy and is approximately 3 hours long.
Go north on SR 171, past Union Dale, past the turn for SR 370,  towards Thompson. Before Thompson is an intersection with Ararat sign. Turn left on to Ararat Rd –a dirt road (the right turn is Dunn Pond).Go about 1.5 miles and parking on the left.

 
Woodbourne Preserve
 
May 25th
Come join our expert birders to find, hear and enjoy the migrating birds in our area. All skill levels welcome!
For this bird walk we head to State Game Lands #35. We will meet at 7:30am at the McDonald's Parking Lot in Great Bend and car pool from there.
Bring a pair of binoculars, if you have them, and we recommend you wear long pants and boots to navigate birding terrain.
For more info, call Joyce Stone, Woodbourne Naturalist Alum 278-4494 or Dr. Jerry Skinner, Woodbourne's Resident Naturalist, 278-3384.
All programs are free (donations are appreciated) and open to the public.
 
Endless Mountains Nature Center
 
July 1-5: Fantastical Creatures
Endless Mountains Nature Center, Tunkhannock, PA
9AM-2PM
4-12 year old children
BUS TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
 
July 8-12: Feathers & Flutter
Little Rocky Glen Preserve, Factoryville, PA
9AM-Noon
4-10 year old children
 
July 8-12: Sharing the World with Wildlife
Little Rocky Glen Preserve, Factoryville, PA
1-4 PM
11-13 year old children
 
July 15-19: Feathers & Flutter
Endless Mountains Nature Center in Tunkhannock, PA
9 AM-Noon
4-6 year old children
 
July 15-19: Sharing the World with Wildlife
Endless Mountains Nature Center in Tunkhannock, PA
1-4 PM
11-13 year olds
 
July 22-26: Watershed Explorers
Endless Mountains Nature Center in Tunkhannock, PA
9 AM-2 PM
4-12 year old children
BUS TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE
 
July 29-Aug 2: Watershed Explorers
Keystone College, LaPlume, PA
8:30 AM-1:30 PM
8-12 year old children
 
Aug 5-9: Yoga, Art & Nature
Howland Preserve, Tunkhannock, PA
9 AM-3 PM
8-12 year old children
 
Aug 12-16: Feathers & Flutter
Greenwood Sanctuary, Dimock, PA
9 AM-1 PM
4-10 year old children
 
Florence Shelly Preserve (Thompson)
 
*Saturday, May 18, 7:00 AM
Birds—Evan Mann
*Sunday, July 21
2:00 PM
Human and Natural Influences—Andy Gardner
*September 8
2:00 PM
Trees—Hank Hartman
 
Meet in the parking lot off Route 171 just opposite Stack Road, one mile north of Thompson. The ground may be wet and will definitely be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.