First Posted: 8/29/2014

THIS WEEK: Sept. 3 to 9, 2014

Cranberry Bog Walk, a 2.5-hour exploration of the northern boreal bog with novel plant and animal life. Meet at the Bog parking lot, 166 Cherry Lane Road, Tannersville. 10 a.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 24. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Nordic Walking. Try a free class in this technique of walking using poles which burns more calories and promotes body strength. Irem Clubhouse, 64 Ridgway Drive, Dallas. 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. 570-675-1866.

Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail Hike, an easy four-mile trek to learn about the area’s history. Meet at the Glen Onoco Access of Lehigh Gorge State Park. 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 4. Free. 570-403-2006.

Guided Bird Walk, with conservation volunteer Dave Kruel. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Free. Registration: 570-403-2006.

Iroquois Trail Birding, a leisurely, two-mile walk overlooking Tunkhannock Creek with members of the Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the Weis Market, Route 29, Tunkhannock. 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Free. Registration: 570-639-5785.

Share the Journey Suicide Prevention Walk, a family-friendly event; dogs welcome also. Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, Scranton. Saturday, Sept. 6 with registration at 9 a.m. and walk at 10 a.m. 570-575-2343.

Fall Warblers, a brief talk on identifying confusing fall warblers followed by a birding walk at the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. $5. 570-629-3061.

Family Fishing. Learn the basics, then try your luck on the pond. Equipment provided; no license required. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 6. $10 children; $5 adults. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Varden Conservation Day, the fifth annual event with a kids fishing derby, tracks and signs program, history presentations and a silent auction along with all-day family activities. Varden Conservation Area, near Lake Ariel. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. 570-676-0567.

Wild Mushroom Walk, learning to identify and differentiate between various fungi. Age 18 and older. Nescopeck State Park, 1137 Honey Hole Road, Drums. 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. 570-403-2006.

Snakes Alive! A closeup look at wild native snakes with naturalist Rick Koval. Dietrich Theater, 60 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Free. Reservations: 570-996-1500.

Ecozone Discovery Room. Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave and dig in a fossil pit in this room of hands-on exhibits. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. $2. 570-828-2319.

Sunfish Pond Hike, eight moderate miles. Meet at the Sear’s Auto Center, Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre Township. Bring lunch and water. 8:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Trailers Hiking Club. 570-825-7200.

Distance Run, the seventh annual half-marathon (13.1 mile) out-and-back race on the D&H Rail Trail from Forest City to Union Dale on a nearly flat crushed-stone surface. 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Register on line at GetMeRegistered.com.

Introduction to Canoeing. Beginners welcome. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 7. $5. Reservations: 570-828-2319.

Tree Walk, a guided hike to learn about the more than 100 trees planted at Grey Towers National Historic Site, 122 Old Owego Turnpike, Milford. 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. A second walk will be offered at 1:30 p.m. if the earlier one fills up. $8, $7 seniors, $5 children. Reservations: 570-296-9630.

Sunday for Singles. Explore nature while meeting new people. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Free. 570-828-2319.

Full Moon Bog Walk, an evening walk into the bog environment. Bring a flashlight. Tannersville Cranberry Bog, 166 Cherry Lane Road. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

FUTURE

Fall Astronomy Sessions, an illustrated lecture followed by weather-permitted telescope observation of the moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Thomas G. Cupillari Astronomical Observatory, Keystone College, La Plume. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays from Sept. 10 through Nov. 14. Free. 570-945-8402.

Trail Ride, a 25-mile ride by operators of ATVs, UTVs, RTVs and dirt bikes to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. With food, door prizes, raffles and more. Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, 4100 Route 125, Coal Township. Saturday, Sept. 13 with registration 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by the ride leaving in organized groups. $20; $10 children. 570-648-2626.

Walk for Life, the fourth annual event with live music, and games for kids including face painting, balloon animals, sidewalk chalk and a bounce house. Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, North Washington Avenue and Linden Street, Scranton. Saturday, Sept. 13 with registration at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m. and activities until noon. $25. Register at carenetofscranton.com or 570-207-1907.

Not Your 60s Tie Dye Program, using natural and man-made materials to create a tie-dye piece. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, 8050 Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13. Age 12 and older. Bring an item of 100% cotton. $8 covers materials. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Milford Walking Tour, a guided walk around downtown Milford to illustrate the contributions to the community made by the prominent Pinchot family since the 1800s. Meet on the lawn of the Milford Community House, 201 Broad St. 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Free. Reservations: 570-296-9625.

Live Eagles, a close-up look at different types of eagles with naturalists from the Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Wild Birds Unlimited, Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway. 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Free. 570-675-9900.

Saturday Bog Walk, a 2.5-hour journey into the bog environment. Meet at the parking lot of the Tannersville Cranberry Bog, 166 Cherry Lane Road. 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. $6. Registration: 570-629-3061.

Comets in Color, a 5K walk/run hosted by the Crestwood Lady Comets Basketball Booster Club, looping around Wright Township Municipal Park, 321 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top. Runners will follow a marked course and be doused in biodegradable colored cornstarch at a number of color stations. A smaller course will be available for ages 6 to 10. Saturday, Sept. 13 with check-in at 3 p.m. and race 4 to 6 p.m. $30 adults; $12 children. Applications available at leaguelineup.com/cometsincolorrace.

Fungus Among Us. Search for fungus and lichen while learning about the world of decomposition and nutrient cycling. Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 14. $5. 570-828-2319.

Tree Walk, a trek through the woods, fields and wetlands of the 400-acre preserve to identify trees. Meet at the parking lot of the Florence Shelly Wetlands Preserve, Route 171 and Stack Road, one mile north of Thompson. 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. 570-727-3362.

Compost and Carbon Footprint, a talk by Amos Valenti, Audubon Coordinator for the Huntsville Golf Club, who describes the types of composting used at the club and how it has reduced its carbon footprint. Trinity Presbyterian Church, 105 Irem Road, Dallas. 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Free. Followed by a field trip to the Huntsville Golf Club for demonstrations of the composting techniques 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Free. Registration: 570-639-5785.

Keystone’s Woodlands Campus, a guided hike to explore interpretive trails with stops at the bee farm and Sugar Shack maple-syrup operation. Keystone College Environmental Education Institute, One College Green, La Plume. 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. Free. Registration: 570-945-8555 or kceei.keystone.edu.

Mom’s Morning Out, an early kayak paddle along the lake edge to observe plants and wildlife. Frances Slocum State Park, 565 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township. 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. 570-696-3525.