Outdoors Calendar, Week beginning June 29 – Lancaster Newspapers

SATURDAY

Enjoy a nature walk at the Brunner Island Wetlands with Ryan “The Bug Man” Bridge from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Insects are an amazing and varied group of creatures. What better place to find them than at a wetland? Join us as we explore the area through a catch-and-release walk. We’ll also examine the plants and habitat that support the insects we encounter. This is a great walk for the entire family. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Meet at Wood Duck Pavilion at the Brunner Island Wetlands. For directions, please visit www.pplpreserves.com, select “Brunner Island” then click “Contacts and Directions.” For more information, contact Jon Beam at 570-437-3131 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com.

Evening ice cream hike for public, led by Lancaster Hiking Club. At 6:30 p.m., hike 4-5 moderate miles near Conestoga, partly on the Conestoga Trail. Ice cream at Pine View Dairy. Carpool from the statue at Buchanan Park at West End and College avenues.

Junior Tennis Clinic, 10-11 a.m., Central Park tennis courts. For ages 7-13. Free. The Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Lancaster Tennis Patrons Association will sponsor the junior tennis clinic. Jeff Kitsock, who is certified by the United States Professional Tennis Registry, will provide instruction along with volunteers from LTPA. The clinic is recommended for beginner level players from age 7-13. Participants should bring a racket if they have one – a small supply of “loaner” rackets will be available for use. Prizes for each participant are provided by the LTPA. Class size is limited, please register early by calling the Park Office at 717-299-8215.

Summer Leaf Prints program, 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m., Environmental Center, Central Park. All ages. Make your leaf print items for summer wear. Naturalist Mary Ann Schlegel will provide paints, stencils and leaves. Wear old clothes and bring a washed T-shirt or canvas bag. Adults must accompany children. Please call 717-295-2055 to register for this program. $3 per participant.

Fireflies program, 8-9 p.m., Environmental Center, Central Park. For all ages. Fireflies appeal to the child in each of us. Join naturalist Mary Ann Schlegel for a look at some of the curiosities about this familiar insect. We will begin indoors and move outdoors after dusk to collect and observe fireflies. Bring a flashlight if desired. Adults must remain with children. Please call 717-295-2055 to register for this program.

Trapshooting practice for public, Conewago Rod & Gun Club, Elizabethtown. From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 426-2016 or see conewagogunclub.org.

SUNDAY

Hikes for public, led by Lancaster Hiking Club. At 8 a.m. hike 11 moderate to strenuous miles on the Brandywine Carpool from corner of Race and Buchanan avenues. Or, at 1:15 p.m., hike 5.5 strenuous miles in the Steinman Run and Trout Run nature preserves. Carpool from the statue at Buchanan Park at West End and College avenues.

3-D shoot, Lancaster Archery Club, 30 targets. From 7 a.m.-noon; $10. Take Prince Street south from the city; right on Eckman Road.

Indoor handgun shoot, Mill Creek Sportsmen’s Association, from noon-2:30 p.m. Nonmembers, $15. Call 393-6416. Handgun safety course available.

Sporting clays shoot, Elstonville Sportsmen. From 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Take Route 72 north from Manheim; left on Pinch Road.

MONDAY

Lancaster Butterfly and Entomological Club meets, 7 p.m., North Museum. Program: Matt Koffroth, watershed coordinator for the Lancaster County Conservation District, will look at aquatic life in local streams. For more information, Contact Al Spoo at 626-2684 or alspoo@juno.com.

Summer Sensory Surprises for the Very Young program, 10-11:30 a.m., Environmental Center, Central Park. For children up to age 6. Join naturalist Lisa J. Sanchez for this summer’s science surprises as we explore nature through the use of our senses. We will listen, smell, see, touch and taste (what we can). Call 717-295-2055 to register for this program. Free.

Practice trap shoot, Paradise Sportsman’s Association. From 5-7 p.m.; $4. Take Route 741 east from Strasburg; right on Belmont Road.

TUESDAY

Trail maintenance hike, led by Lancaster Hiking Club. Meet at 6 p.m. at Buchanan Park. Tools provided and a treat afterward.

Trapshooting practice, Mount Joy Sportsmen. Begins at 6 p.m. Take Route 283 west; left on Route 772; right on Old Market Street.

Indoor range open for handgun practice, Manheim Sportsman’s Association. From 7-9 p.m. Fee is $5 for nonmembers of the club. The club is at 552 Oak Tree Road.

Practice trap shoot, Southern Lancaster County Farmer-Sportsmen. From 1-8:30 p.m.; $4. Take Route 272 south to Buck; left on Route 372; left on Hollow Road.

WEDNESDAY

Sporting clays shoot, Atglen Sportsmen. Begins at 5 p.m.; $5.50. The club is on Creek Road, Sadsbury Township.

Trap shoot under the lights, Adamstown Rod & Gun Club. Begins at 5 p.m.; $3. The club is at 563 Willow St., Reinholds.

Sporting clays shoot, Elstonville Sportsmen. From 4-7 p.m. Take Route 72 north from Manheim; left on Pinch Road.

THURSDAY

Fish-for-Free Day in Pennsylvania. No fishing license required to fish anywhere in the state. All limits and regulations still apply however.

3-D shoot, Lancaster Archery Club. 40 targets. From 7 a.m.-noon; $12. Take Prince Street south from the city; right on Eckman Road.

Chicken trap shoot, Paradise Sportsman’s Association. From 5-7 p.m.; $5. Take Route 741 east from Strasburg; right on Belmont Road.

Southern Lancaster County Farmers-Sportsmen’s cowboy fast-draw shooting practice from 6-8 p.m. Take Route 272 south to Buck; left on Route 372; left on Hollow Road.

3-D shoot, Hemlock Archery Club. 15 targets. From from 4 p.m. until dark; $5. Take Route 72 north over PA Turnpike; right on Spring Hill Lane.

FRIDAY

Free nighttime star watch for public, led by Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster County, 9-10 p.m., at the Environmental Center in Lancaster County Central Park. If cloudy or rainy, event will be held at the same time on Saturday. Stars to be viewed: Denebola and Alphecca; planets: Saturn and Venus; objects: galaxies M81 and M82; constellations: Hercules and Corona Borealis. Call 295-2055 to register.

Regal fritillary butterfly tours at Ft. Indiantown Gap begin. Visitors are invited to see the only population of rare Regal Fritillary butterflies in Pennsylvania on four days in July at Fort Indiantown Gap, near Annville, Lebanon County. Free guided tours will begin at 10 a.m. on July 5, 6, 11, and 12. Those wishing to attend should arrive at least 30 minutes early to fill out necessary paperwork, attend a mandatory safety and orientation briefing, and receive driving instructions. Tours will last approximately three hours, but attendees can leave earlier if needed. The tours, which have been offered for more than 10 years, allow the public to see this rare butterfly and its associated habitat on military training ranges, as well as many other natural spectacles on the 17,000-acre military post, which serves as the Pennsylvania National Guard’s headquarters. “Fort Indiantown Gap is one of the busiest National Guard training centers in the country,” said retired Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck, deputy commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Site. “And although the primary purpose of the installation is the training of soldiers for their combat mission, we also place a very high priority being environmentally friendly and conserving precious land and ecosystems for the future. “Our guided butterfly tours promise to be an exciting and educational afternoon because our biologists are knowledgeable not only about butterflies, but birds, plants and other insects.” Participants should meet at the Fort Indiantown Gap Recreation Center in Building 13-190, located at the intersection of Asher Miner Road, Clement Avenue and Route 443 (GPS coordinates in decimal degrees: North 40.431, West 76.591). Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras and binoculars and should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a nature walk on well-maintained or mowed trails. No reservations are required and no rain dates will be scheduled. The tours also will include information related to current efforts to restore native grassland habitat across Pennsylvania and current efforts to raise Regal Fritillary caterpillars from eggs in a lab with support from the PA Wild Resource Program and in partnership with ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park and Pennsylvania State University. The ultimate goal is repatriating (returning) the Regal Fritillary to areas where they were located in the recent past. The Regal Fritillary is considered a Pennsylvania responsibility species of immediate conservation concern and is the symbol of the PA Natural Heritage Program. Fort Indiantown Gap is home to 112 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan priority species. It also provides a wide variety of habitats for 36 species of mammals, 143 breeding species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and amphibians, 25 species of fish, 792 species of plants, and many notable species of invertebrates including 85 species of butterflies and 243 species of moths. The installation also features 1,000 acres of scrub oak and pitch pine barrens and 3,000 acres of native grassland habitat – the largest in the state. Fort Indiantown Gap is the only live-fire, maneuver military training facility in Pennsylvania. It balances one of the region’s most ecologically diverse areas with a military mission that annually supports 19,000 Pennsylvania National Guard personnel and more than 130,000 other states’ Guard, military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel each year. For more information about the tours, visit www.dmva.state.pa.us and click on the Featured Topics tab, email us at RA-DMVA-Wildlife@pa.gov, or call the Wildlife Office at 717-861-2449.

ONGOING

Harrisburg – Deer hunters now can apply for permits affording more hunting opportunities in state forestlands and state parks through the Game Commission’s Deer Management Assistance Program, or DMAP. DMAP allows landowners to request and offer permits to encourage antlerless harvests on their property, enabling DCNR and private landowners to more effectively manage white-tailed deer populations and curtail damage to forests and crops. New this year, DCNR, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will be studying DMAP locations in Bald Eagle, Rothrock and Susquehannock state forests. In addition to monitoring hunter experiences, the study will also look at the amount of deer in the area, vegetation impacts and other factors that could adversely affect forest tree regeneration and plant species composition. As a result, changes in enrollment status and number of DMAP permits will occur within these areas. “The goal of this study is to increase our knowledge to ensure we are making the best and most responsible management decisions for Pennsylvania’s forests and wildlife,” State Bureau of Forestry Director Dan Devlin said. Within the territory of the study, some deer have been marked with radio collars and ear tags. All marked deer are legal for hunters to harvest, provided they have the appropriate license or permit. If a hunter harvests one of the marked deer, they are asked to call the toll-free number on the collar or tag. Habitat conditions continue to guide DCNR’s DMAP applications. Tuscarora State Forest District, for instance, was added to the program after withdrawing last year because of improved forest regeneration, previously impacted by deer. Not participating are Moshannon, Weiser, Cornplanter and William Penn state forest districts. Hunters no longer apply at forest district or park offices, or on the DCNR website. Instead, permits can be obtained directly from license issuing agents or the Game Commission website, www.pgc.state.pa.us. Applicants for DMAP permits can find DCNR tract locations and maps, availability numbers, past hunter success rates, and other information by clicking on “Find a Forest”, then “State Forests”, then “DMAP”, at www.dcnr.state.pa.us. For more details, contact DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry at 717-787-3444; or email ra-askdcnr@state.pa.us.

Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists are seeking assistance from residents in a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data this summer. This monitoring is especially important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States. “WNS primarily kills during the winter, but the true impact of WNS on bat populations cannot be determined using estimates from winter hibernacula alone,” said Nate Zalik, Game Commission wildlife biologist. “Pennsylvanians can help us more fully gauge the impact of WNS on bats by hosting a bat count this summer. We are especially urging people who have ever conducted a bat count for the Game Commission in the past to redo a count this year.” To obtain applications and information on how to participate, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and put your cursor over “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, click on “Wildlife” in the drop-down menu, scroll down and choose “Pennsylvania Bats” in the Wild Mammals section, and then click on “Appalachian Bat Count.” Forms on the website guide interested participants through the steps of timing, conducting a survey and submitting their findings to the Game Commission. Scout groups, 4-H clubs, local environmental organizations, and individual homeowners can all participate in this important effort. “Pennsylvania’s two most common bat species, the little brown bat and the big brown bat, use buildings as their summer roosts,” Zalik said. “Abandoned houses, barns, church steeples – and even currently-occupied structures – can provide a summer home to female bats and their young. “Monitoring these ‘maternity colonies’ can give biologists a good idea of how bat populations in an area are doing from year to year. With the occurrence of WNS in Pennsylvania, monitoring these colonies is more important than ever.” Zalik noted that the fieldwork isn’t difficult to do, and Pennsylvanians can play a huge role in helping the Game Commission get a better understanding of what is happening to bats this summer. “We’re looking for some help, and we hope you’ll consider becoming part of the Appalachian Bat Count monitoring team,” Zalik said. “It’s a chance to make a difference for bats and to get involved in assessing the impact of WNS. Please consider lending a hand.” For more information on WNS, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and put your cursor on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, click on “Wildlife” in the drop-down menu, scroll down and choose “White-Nose Syndrome” in the Wildlife Disease section.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has opened a redesigned Appalachian Trail visitor center at 4 E. First St. in Boiling Springs. The center is open year-round on weekdays from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and closed on weekends and federal holidays though volunteers will be onsite during summer weekends.

How to report bald eagle nests. From Pa. Game Commission: Bald eagles are now deep into their nesting season with several pairs on eggs. It is an exciting time for eagle-watchers. I see posts about nests, new and established. It is especially exciting that eagles now are nesting in urban landscapes, providing us with opportunities to engage more people with wildlife and birding. If you find a new nest, report it to our Endangered bird biologist, Patti Barber, including details about location. Her mail is: patbarber@pa.gov. We have provided a lot of information about eagles and eagle-watching. Please take advantage of this information and provide it to others. See: http://www.portal.state.pa….. We hope that our experienced birders and raptor-watchers can provide some in-the-field guidance to new eagle-watchers and instill in them a respect for the birds. Yes, eagles seem more tolerant of people than in the past, but they still are vulnerable to human intrusion. You can help by providing some leadership in the field.

The Quittapahilla Audubon Society has grants up to a $500 amount for the enhancement and advancement of environmental conservation. This grant is available to any individual or organization in Pennsylvania that would need financial assistance to engage in a project beneficial to the environment, and which would otherwise not be fully funded. Acceptance will be based on, but not limited to, such factors as the expected benefits and scope of the project. Acceptance is at the discretion of the QAS board of directors. Additional information and the grant application form can be found at the QAS website www.QASAudubon.org

HARRISBURG — If you are interested in connecting with wildlife in your own backyard, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is now selling bluebird nesting boxes at its Harrisburg headquarters at 2001 Elmerton Avenue. The boxes sell for $10.60 (includes sales tax), and customers can select from assembled boxes or kits that can be assembled as a wood-working project. “Bluebirds are early nesters, so now is the time to put up new nest boxes, as well as to clean and repair existing boxes,” said Dan Brauning, Game Commission Wildlife Diversity Division chief. “These bluebird boxes enable Pennsylvanians to help wildlife in a natural way. Also, building nesting boxes is a great project for individuals, families or civic organizations interested in connecting with wildlife. These box designs are proven to attract bluebirds and other native species, such as tree swallows and house wrens.” Bluebirds live in open country, and are a beautiful songbird native to Pennsylvania. Bluebirds are cavity nesters and became less common due to a lack of suitable nest sites. Many nest sites have been lost through changing land-use practices, as well as to urban and suburban sprawl. But the introductions of house sparrows and starlings in 1851 and 1890 were the primary reasons for the bluebirds’ decline, as these non-native species took over native bluebird nesting cavities. The bluebird boxes offered by the Game Commission include an opening that is the prescribed one-and-one-half inches in diameter. This precludes starlings from being able to enter. However, house sparrows still are able to enter the boxes. If this occurs, the house sparrow nest should be removed immediately. They’re usually easy to identify; they fill up the whole nesting cavity with grasses and almost always include feathers and manmade materials in their composition. Native species such as tree swallows and house wrens should not be excluded from nest-boxes. Wrens construct nests with twigs; swallows build a nest with a distinct cup below the entrance hole. Boxes should be erected on a free-standing pole three to five feet above the ground – facing south, if possible – and facing a nearby tree or fence where young birds can safely land on their initial flights from the box. To reduce predation and competition from other species, no perch should be placed on the box; bluebirds do not need one. Boxes placed in pairs, about 20 feet apart, may help reduce competition from swallows. Sales will continue while supplies last, and office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Game Commission’s headquarters is at 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Interstate 81 in Harrisburg. To order by phone, call the Game Commission’s Harrisburg office at 1-888-888-3459. If ordering by phone, shipping and handling costs will apply depending on how many boxes are ordered. For more information on bluebirds, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, and then select “Bluebird” in the “Wild Birds and Birding” section of the page. Also, information about additional wildlife nesting structures can be found by putting your cursor on “Self-Help” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, then clicking on “Download Forms and Brochures” in the drop-down menu listing, and then clicking on “Wildlife Homes Order Form” in the “Agency Programs” section.

Landowners interested in developing “backyard habitats” beneficial to wildlife are encouraged to check out the “Landscaping for Wildlife in Pennsylvania,” available from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Written by Marcus Schneck, a noted outdoor and nature writer from Hamburg, Berks County, the 160-page book comes complete with descriptions, drawings and photos of ideal habitat for a variety of species, from hummingbirds to bats, as well as construction plans for a number of wildlife nesting boxes. The book also contains a chapter on nuisance wildlife and steps to address certain situations, as well as the importance of planting native species and a listing of recommended plants. “While spring garden plantings may be several weeks away, now is the time to begin drawing up plans,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “If you are interested in seeing and helping wildlife on your property, then this book is a must. It can help guide any first-time backyard habitat planner, as well as an experienced hand, in helping to create an oasis for wildlife.” To order the book, which costs $9.43 (plus state sales tax and shipping and handling), visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), put your cursor over “General Store” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, click on “Visit the Outdoor Shop” in the drop down menu listing, then choose “Pennsylvania Game Commission Outdoor Shop” in the lower left-hand corner, choose “Merchandise” from the banner listing and then click on “Books” in the categories in the left-hand column. Orders also are being accepted at 1-888-888-3459.

Multi-year fishing licenses available for first time. With a new fishing season just around the corner, anglers can ready themselves for years to come by purchasing a multi-year fishing license, available for the first time this year from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). “Beginning Dec. 1, we will start selling 3-year and 5-year fishing licenses for the first time in our history,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “Customers want options when they buy products, and fishing is no different. Anglers can select from a variety of rods, reels and equipment, so it only makes sense that they should have the ability to purchase a license which is good for several years,” he said. “It’s convenient and provides for one less thing to worry about. Now anglers can purchase a multi-year license and know that when friends and family want them to go fishing, they don’t have to worry about whether they renewed their fishing license. In addition, we’re offering a number of rewards exclusively for customers who buy a multi-year license, including a free online subscription to our flagship publication, Pennsylvania Angler and Boater magazine, along with various offers from popular retailers,” added Arway. “Other incentives being offered are also pretty attractive. They include various pieces of fishing equipment and several discount coupons which can be used at sporting goods stores.” A 3-year fishing license is valid through 2015 and a 5-year license is valid through 2017. Customers who buy multi-year licenses save money by not having to pay transaction and processing fees each year. For example, a customer who buys a 5-year license will save $6.80. Anglers can also purchase multi-year trout/salmon, Lake Erie and combo permits and experience similar savings. Visit the PFBC website for more information about pricing and answers to frequently asked questions. Customers who purchase their multi-year license through either the PFBC Outdoor Shop (www.pawildlifelicense.com) or from an issuing agent will receive a website link where instructions on accessing their rewards will be located. Also starting December 1, the PFBC is launching a fishing sweepstakes contest to give away a series of fishing trips across the state for many of Pennsylvania’s popular game fish. The general public will be eligible to participate in the sweepstakes, and registration for the sweepstakes will be at www.gonefishingpa.com. In addition to the Outdoor Shop, multi-year fishing licenses can be purchased at more than 900 issuing agents (http://fishandboat.com/flag…), county treasurers’ offices, and at PFBC regional offices. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, visit www.fishandboat.com.

Game Commission unveils state game lands app. The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced an update to the “PA State Game Lands” app, which can be downloaded for most mobile devices through links on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). “Using a smartphone or tablet’s built-in navigation features, this app provides turn-by-turn directions to destinations you select and includes destination-specific details such as WMU, county, acreage, hunting zones, hunting hours, 2012-13 seasons and bag limits and more,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. The app has built-in mapping capabilities allowing you to browse State Game Land boundaries, parking areas and shooting ranges displayed over your choice of USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps, satellite imagery or road maps. No cellular service where you’re headed? Cache maps on your device for use offline. Simple menus allow users to search for State Game Lands by the State Game Land number, Wildlife Management Unit or by which SGL is the closest to your present location. All results appear in distance order, allowing the user to find the nearest State Game Lands access no matter where you are. Looking for State Game Lands beyond your current location? Just enter any Pennsylvania city into the search criteria to plan your next adventure. Then save your favorite destinations for future use. The app also allows you to find and navigate to Game Commission facilities and shooting ranges. Use the “Report Your Harvest” feature to phone in or input harvests and follow turn-by-turn directions to bear and elk check stations. “This update includes significant enhancements, including many that users have requested,” Roe said. Users can now store maps on their device for navigating with or without cellular service. Other improvements include 7.5 minute USGS topographic maps, State Game Lands boundaries, new search enhancements to find destinations using maps, fast links to report violations and access a Hunting Hours table and the Game Commission’s mobile website. The app was developed by Gogal Publishing, of Warrington, Bucks County, and sells for $9.99 (plus tax). To Connect with Wildlife, visit the Game Commission at the following: Website: www.pgc.state.pa.us; Twitter: www.twitter.com/PAGameComm; YouTube: www.youtube.com/pagamecommi…; Facebook: www.facebook.com/Pennsylvan…. Also, subscribers to the agency’s monthly magazine– Pennsylvania Game News–can read their Game News issues online at www.penngamenews.com. A Game News subscription offers free access to all online issues, including the most recent before it arrives in the mailbox. Issues more than a year old are accessible without a subscription. With the digital edition you’ll enjoy links to more information, archived issues, the ability to share your favorite reads and perks like bookmarking and making notes “in the margins.” Users of iPads and iPhones will like reading via the Nxtbook Nxtstand app. Download it for free, click on “P” in the catalog, then the PA Game News cover.

As treestand use is a popular part of archery deer seasons, as well as other deer seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering hunters the opportunity to take a free, voluntary online treestand safety course. To take the course, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), put your cursor on “Education” in the menu bar under the banner, then put your cursor on “Hunter Education” in the drop-down menu list, and then click on “Online Treestand Safety Course” in the drop-down menu list. “Treestand safety has evolved over the years as new research and statistics become available,” said Keith Snyder, Game Commission Hunter-Trapper Education Division chief. “What were once considered to be ‘safe’ treestand safety practices 10 years ago are simply not considered ‘safe’ today. “By reviewing this 15-minute interactive, narrated treestand safety course, a hunter will learn about the latest Treestand Manufacturers Association’s safety standards and guidelines.”

Volunteer opportunities at North Museum of Natural History and Science. Community members can share their passion for natural history and science. Needed are docents and tour guides to lead activities and guide visitors throughout the museum. Docents are needed to lead group tours during the week. Tour guides are needed on weekends. Also needed are live animal room associates to introduce visitors to the residents of the museum’s live animal room by allowing them to touch the animals and learn more about their distinct characteristics. Candidates should have a willingness to learn about the exhibits and collections at the museum and a passion for sharing that knowledge and engaging young minds. Applicants should be flexible in their availability to volunteer during the museum’s normal business hours and willing to attend volunteer training. If interested, contact Towanda Williams, volunteer coordinator, at twilliams@northmuseum.org or 291-3943.

UPCOMING

Basic pistol safety instruction course, 7-9 p.m. Friday, July 12, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 12-13, at Mill Creek Sportsmen’s Association, 1877 Windy Hill Road. Call 393-6416.

Ladies introduction to fly fishing program, Saturday, Aug. 3, from 2-7 p.m. at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County. Course is designed to teach the basics of fly-fishing, equipment, casting and on-water skills. Participants will receive hands-on instruction from Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission instructors and have an opportunity to fly-fish for panfish, using those skills. The fishing license requirement is waived for participants 16 and older. Children must be 8 years or older. Adults must accompany children. Preregistration is required and space is limited. Go to www.takemefishingpa.com. For more information, contact Amidea Daniel at 814-359-5127 or adaniel@pa.gov.

Regal fritillary butterfly tours at Ft. Indiantown Gap. Visitors are invited to see the only population of rare Regal Fritillary butterflies in Pennsylvania on four days in July at Fort Indiantown Gap, near Annville, Lebanon County. Free guided tours will begin at 10 a.m. on July 11 and 12. Those wishing to attend should arrive at least 30 minutes early to fill out necessary paperwork, attend a mandatory safety and orientation briefing, and receive driving instructions. Tours will last approximately three hours, but attendees can leave earlier if needed. The tours, which have been offered for more than 10 years, allow the public to see this rare butterfly and its associated habitat on military training ranges, as well as many other natural spectacles on the 17,000-acre military post, which serves as the Pennsylvania National Guard’s headquarters. “Fort Indiantown Gap is one of the busiest National Guard training centers in the country,” said retired Brig. Gen. Jerry Beck, deputy commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Site. “And although the primary purpose of the installation is the training of soldiers for their combat mission, we also place a very high priority being environmentally friendly and conserving precious land and ecosystems for the future. “Our guided butterfly tours promise to be an exciting and educational afternoon because our biologists are knowledgeable not only about butterflies, but birds, plants and other insects.” Participants should meet at the Fort Indiantown Gap Recreation Center in Building 13-190, located at the intersection of Asher Miner Road, Clement Avenue and Route 443 (GPS coordinates in decimal degrees: North 40.431, West 76.591). Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras and binoculars and should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for a nature walk on well-maintained or mowed trails. No reservations are required and no rain dates will be scheduled. The tours also will include information related to current efforts to restore native grassland habitat across Pennsylvania and current efforts to raise Regal Fritillary caterpillars from eggs in a lab with support from the PA Wild Resource Program and in partnership with ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park and Pennsylvania State University. The ultimate goal is repatriating (returning) the Regal Fritillary to areas where they were located in the recent past. The Regal Fritillary is considered a Pennsylvania responsibility species of immediate conservation concern and is the symbol of the PA Natural Heritage Program. Fort Indiantown Gap is home to 112 Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan priority species. It also provides a wide variety of habitats for 36 species of mammals, 143 breeding species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and amphibians, 25 species of fish, 792 species of plants, and many notable species of invertebrates including 85 species of butterflies and 243 species of moths. The installation also features 1,000 acres of scrub oak and pitch pine barrens and 3,000 acres of native grassland habitat – the largest in the state. Fort Indiantown Gap is the only live-fire, maneuver military training facility in Pennsylvania. It balances one of the region’s most ecologically diverse areas with a military mission that annually supports 19,000 Pennsylvania National Guard personnel and more than 130,000 other states’ Guard, military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel each year. For more information about the tours, visit www.dmva.state.pa.us and click on the Featured Topics tab, email us at RA-DMVA-Wildlife@pa.gov, or call the Wildlife Office at 717-861-2449.

Due to an overwhelming response to our July session, the Lancaster County Parks will be offering a second session of the Summer Survival in Central Park day camp. It will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 through Friday, Aug. 23 at the Environmental Center in Central Park. If you are 9 to 12 years old and like to play and learn in the woods and fields – this is the camp for you! With naturalists Mary Ann Schlegel and Andy Yoder, campers will learn and practice survival skills including shelter building, fire-starting, navigation, basic first aid – and have plenty of free time left over for exploring and wading. The cost is $125 per participant. Call 295-2055 to register.

Harrisburg, PA -PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is holding a Ladies Intro to Fly Fishing Program on Saturday, August 3, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to 7 p.m at Gifford Pinchot State Park Environmental Center. This 5-hour educational program is designed to teach the basics of fly-fishing, equipment, casting, and on-water skills. Participants will receive hands on instruction from PFBC instructors and have an opportunity to fly fish for panfish, using those skills. The fishing license requirement is waived for participants age 16 and older. Children must be eight years of age and older to participate. Adults must accompany children. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Visit www.takemefishingpa.com for more information or to register. For more information on this program contact Amidea Daniel at (814) 359-5127 or adaniel@pa.gov. The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Canoe the Conestoga River guided trips. Whether you’re an experienced canoeist or a novice who wants to learn the sport, come out for our canoe trips on the Conestoga River. County naturalists Lisa J. Sanchez and Mary Ann Schlegel will be leading these 5-mile trips down the waters of the Conestoga around Lancaster City. The Conestoga is a river rich with history. Steamboats plied its waters, mills dotted the shore, and beaches and amusement parks delighted the local population. Various historic points will be outlined on the trip. The River is also rich with wildlife. Great blue herons, mallard and wood ducks, geese, kingfishers, and eagles are regular sightings on downriver expeditions. Three trips will be held over the summer. The next paddle is an evening sojourn on Saturday, July 13, from 4-8:30 p.m. The last will be on Sunday, August 25, from 1-5 p.m. Each trip will meet at the Lancaster County Parks’ Environmental Center. The Park van will return paddlers to the Environmental Center after each trip. The fee for the trip is $25.00 per person. All equipment and transportation is included. Bring a packed snack/dinner in a waterproof container and wear clothes and shoes suitable for wading. Participants must be at least 12 years old. Call 717-295-2055 for more information and to register for this program.

HARRISBURG – Schools are now out, but educators and others who work with youth have a chance to continue their learning through wildlife-focused workshops that also fulfill mandates set forth by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Project WILD aims to provide a wildlife-based conservation education that fosters responsible action. It’s one of the most widely used conservation and environmental education programs among educators, and the activities easily can be incorporated into almost any classroom curriculum. Theresa Alberici coordinates the program in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Information and Education. She works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Education as well as conservation and environmental education organizations throughout the state and the country. Her dedication to wildlife and environmental awareness, along with her talents in creating curricula and ability to work with educators have earned her recognition from the state Department of Education and Pennsylvania’s conservation education community. “Educators leave Project WILD with a renewed appreciation of wildlife and are excited about how they’re going to share what they’ve learned with their students,” Alberici said. “This year, wildlife agencies nationwide celebrated 1 million educators ‘Gone WILD.’ More than 1 million educators have been trained in the program since Project WILD originated in 1983. “Project WILD isn’t about teaching kids what to think about wildlife; it’s about teaching kids how to think about wildlife and giving them the skills they need to become responsibly active citizens who recognize the importance of wildlife and the environment.” Those who are looking for more information on Project WILD workshops offered this year can visit the homepage of the Game Commission’s website, www.pgc.state.pa.us, and click on 2013 Teacher Workshops. Following is a listing of scheduled workshops for educators. All workshops are approved for Act 48 hours: JUNE: Project WILD (2-day workshop): Participants will experience hands-on activities that help address Department of Education state environment and ecology standards. This workshop is for formal and non-formal educators who work with youth in grades kindergarten through 12. It is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, at the Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711, Bolivar, PA 15923. Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes and dress for the weather conditions as a portion of the class will be held outdoors. To register, please contact Intermediate Unit #1 at 724-938-8722 or www.solutionwhere.com, or Intermediate Unit #7 at 724-836-2460 or http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us. The cost of the course is $140, plus a $20 materials fee. Checks should be made payable to P.J. Sleber. WILD about Elk (2-day workshop): This opportunity chronicles the history and management of elk in Pennsylvania. Meet with elk biologists, habitat managers and wildlife conservation officers and go out to the elk range to view habitat and hopefully elk. This workshop will be held on Tuesday, June 11, from noon to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, June 12, from 7 a.m. to noon, at the Elk Country Visitor Center, 134 Homestead Drive, Benezette, PA 15821. On Tuesday, lunch and dinner will be provided. A small stipend reimbursement is available to help cover cost of travel. If you are interested in receiving more information and a registration form, email Theresa Alberici at talberici@pa.gov, or call her at 717-787-1434. Deadline to register is June 1 or as soon as the workshop is full. WILD About Orienteering (2-day workshop): Educators will learn how to use a traditional map and compass, as well as GPS units, and discover how important this new technology is to wildlife and its management. This opportunity will be held on Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at the Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711 in Bolivar, PA 15923. Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes and dress for the weather conditions as a portion of the class will be held outdoors. To register, please contact Intermediate Unit #1 at 724-938-8722 or www.solutionwhere.com, or Intermediate Unit #7 at 724-836-2460 or http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us. The cost of the course is $140, plus a $20 materials fee. Checks should be made payable to P.J. Sleber. Pennsylvania Songbirds (1-day workshop): Pennsylvania Songbirds is a state-specific bird education program designed for K-12. During this workshop, participants will explore background information of songbirds and participate in hands-on activities about birds, bird identification, people and bird habitat. This workshop is for formal and nonformal educators who work with youth in grades kindergarten through seventh. This workshop is scheduled be held on Thursday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Charles Brightbill Environmental Center, 4881 Fort Loudon Road, Mercersburg, PA. The cost of the workshop is $10, with checks made payable to the Tuscarora Wildlife Education Project. Those wishing to register can call TWEP at 717-328-2126, or contact the group by email at twepmail@gmail.com. This workshop will earn educators IU Credit or Act 48 hours. WILD About Bears (2-day training): Educators will explore the world of the black bear and black bear research and management, and will have the opportunity to view black bears. This workshop is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at the Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711 in Bolivar, PA 15923. Participants should wear comfortable hiking shoes and dress for the weather conditions as a portion of the class will be held outdoors. To register, please contact Intermediate Unit #1 at 724-938-8722 or www.solutionwhere.com, or Intermediate Unit #7 at 724-836-2460 or http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us. The cost of the course is $140, plus a $20 materials fee. Checks should be made payable to P.J. Sleber. This opportunity will earn educators IU Credit and ACT 48 hours. Forest Fire Ecology: Managing Wildlife Habitat Using Prescribed Burns (1-day workshop): Educators will explore the use of prescribed burns in managing forests. This workshop, to be held on Thursday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will describe the best practices in prescribed burn management, and the corresponding benefits to forests and wildlife. The workshop will be based at the Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Road, Millersburg, PA and educators also will carpool to State Game Lands 210 to explore the soil conditions, temperatures, and plant and wildlife diversity at sites burned this year and last year, as well as tracts where no burning has been performed. There is no cost to attend the workshop. Registration deadline is June 5. For details on registration, contact Theresa Alberici at 717-783-1434 or talberici@pa.gov. WILD About Endangered and Threatened Species (2-day workshop): Educators will join the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Dauphin County Parks in the classroom and on the river to explore endangered species issues. Hands-on activities and classroom discussions comprise the first day, while a canoe trip on the Susquehanna River highlights the second. Canoes, paddles, life jackets and safety boaters will be provided. The workshop is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Wednesday, June 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17110. Rain date for the canoe trip is Thursday, June 27. Cost of the workshop is $20, paid to Dauphin County Parks. To register, contact Wildwood at 717-221-0292 before the June 18 deadline. WILD About Furbearers (1-day workshop): Participants will be taught to identify Pennsylvania’s furbearers and learn about their natural history. Educators will learn to identify furbearer sign, habitat preferences and management techniques. Pennsylvania Game Commission publications will be provided. This workshop is for educators working with students in grades fourth through 12th, and is scheduled to be held indoors and outdoors on Thursday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA 17578. There is no cost to participate. To register, contact Bert Myers at gimyers@pa.gov or 717-733-1512 by the June 1 deadline. Wonders of Wetlands (2-day workshop): Participants will explore wetlands, and discover the plants and animals that depend on them. The workshop is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at State Game Lands 223, 480 Garards Fort Road, Waynesburg, PA 15370. To register, please contact Intermediate Unit #1 at 724-938-8722 or www.solutionwhere.com, or Intermediate Unit #7 at 724-836-2460 or http://www.wiu.k12.pa.us. The cost of the course is $140, plus a $20 materials fee. Checks should be made payable to P.J. Sleber. This opportunity will earn educators IU Credit and ACT 48 hours. Pennsylvania Biodiversity (1-day workshop): Through the use of resource materials and hands-on activities, participants will investigate the concepts of biodiversity. The workshop, scheduled to be held on Friday, June 28, at PPL Montour Preserve, 700 Preserve Road, Danville, PA 17821 features both indoor and outdoor activities. There is no cost to attend. To register, contact Jon Beam at jdbeam@pplweb.com or 570-437-3131. Leave name, address, phone number, email, school/youth organization and grade/youth age taught. JULY: Project WILD (1-day workshop): Participants will experience hands-on activities that help address state Department of Education environment and ecology standards. This workshop is for formal and non-formal educators who work with youth in grades kindergarten through 12. It is scheduled to be held on Friday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Game Commission Northeast Region Office, 3917 Memorial Highway, Dallas, PA. There is no cost to participate. To register, contact Kathy Kelchner at 570-696-9105 or email nrspfrsleep@pa.gov and provide name, phone number, email address, school/youth organization and grade/age taught. WILD About Birding (2-day workshop): This workshop will be presented cooperatively by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center and staff from the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Educators will learn to hone their birding skills and develop the confidence to lead students on birding exercises. The first day of the workshop, on Monday, July 22, will be held at Nolde Forest, 2910 New Holland Road, Reading, PA and the second day on Tuesday, July, 23, will be at Middle Creek, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA. The workshops are scheduled to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on each day, and are intended for educators of students in grades kindergarten through 12th. There is no cost to participate. To register, contact Bert Myers at gimyers@pa.gov or 717-733-1512 before the July 12 deadline. AUGUST: Advanced WILD: Monarchs in the Classroom (1-day workshop): Educators can find out how to raise monarchs in the classroom to teach students about insect anatomy and life cycle. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way Harrisburg, PA 17110. There is a $10 cost to participate, paid to Dauphin County Parks. To register, contact Wildwood at 717-221-0292 before the Aug. 5 deadline. WILD About Waterfowl (1-day workshop): Educators will learn about waterfowl species and the importance of their wetland habitats. Field activities include observation of duck banding (conditions permitting), waterfowl identification and a guided field experience throughout the Middle Creek property. The workshop, to be held Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., is designed to assist educators of grades 5 through 12. There is no cost to attend the workshop to be held at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA 17578. To register, contact Bert Myers at gimyers@pa.gov or 717-733-1512 before the July 30 deadline. Participants will earn Act 48 hours. Additional information and links can be accessed for these and other Project WILD-related programs through the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on the “Educator Workshops” icon in the center of the homepage.

Permaculture Design Course offered. The Susquehanna Farm School, in association with the Lancaster County Conservancy, is offering “PDC: Establishing a Food Forest — from Resilient Gardens to Forest Gardens.” Presented by Brandon Tennis of the Susquehanna Farm School, and co-facilitated by Jon Darby of the Horn Farm Center, Eli Weaver of the Lancaster Farmacy, Wilson Alvarez of Rebel Garden Tools, Nathan Carlos Rupley of nathanrupley.wordpress.com, Dale Hendricks of Green Light Plants, Wendy Brister of Harvey’s Gardens and other bioregional permaculture practitioners. Earn an internationally recognized certification in permaculture while learning how to produce food within sustainable, natural, and local ecosystems… across public lands and even in your own backyard! Help design a forest garden that will be established on Lancaster County Conservancy public land. This class is intended for teens and adults, the beginner, the novice, and the advanced, as well as the guerrilla gardener, the organic farmer, the hunter/gatherer, the backyard grower, the homesteader, the prepper, the community planner, and the outdoor educator in all of us. Visit www.SusquehannaFarmSchool.org or www.LancasterConservancy.org for more details.

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The Outdoors Calendar welcomes information on hunting, fishing, hiking and other outdoors events. E-mail details to acrable@lnpnews.com; or send to Ad Crable, PO Box 1328, Lancaster, Pa. 17608-1328; or call 481-6029.

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